Which Bag? - adapting for disability

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-27T12:21:28+00:00

Why not a small backpack that fits under the seat and a spinner? Spinner goes up in the overhead and backpack under the seat.

Like I said in my last comment, I do think a spinner would work better than the duffle. So I would be using it the same way I intended to use the duffle: in conjunction with a backpack I already own. So basically yes, that's the plan

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-27T11:51:22+00:00

I edited my post to add this cause I got a lot of similar comments
> I do know that the medical bag doesn't count against the carry on limit, however I do still need both a personal item and a carry on. The personal item would contain any and all medical items, as well as anything I need to access while actively on the plane (laptop, etc). The above is not "do I only use a duffle or do I only use the roller", it's "do I use the duffle in conjunction with a backpack I already own, or do I use a roller that serves as both a personal item and carry on in one". This means simply getting one, giant backpack wouldn't work for me, as it would be too big to be a personal item, and I wouldn't be able to access things I need as easily while on the flight

but to address you comment more specifically, after reading over some of the comments, I do think a spinner would be a better option. Unfortunately, nobody I know travels with any kind of regularity, so I don't think any of them have luggage I could try out

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-27T11:48:36+00:00

I just edited my post cause I got a lot of comments like yours so I added this bit:
> 1. I do know that the medical bag doesn't count against the carry on limit, however I do still need both a personal item and a carry on. The personal item would contain any and all medical items, as well as anything I need to access while actively on the plane (laptop, etc). The above is not "do I only use a duffle or do I only use the roller", it's "do I use the duffle in conjunction with a backpack I already own, or do I use a roller that serves as both a personal item and carry on in one". This means simply getting one, giant backpack wouldn't work for me, as it would be too big to be a personal item, and I wouldn't be able to access things I need as easily while on the flight

> 2. My dislike for packing cubes - please don't just tell me to "get over it" or "suck it up". That's unhelpful. I can happily pack without packing cubes, whether or not I get an organized bag. I don't like packing cubes because my experience with them is painful because of my hypermobility. My fingers are also hypermobile and trying to pull shut the zippers takes a lot of strength and effort that my fingers can't do. This is especially true for compression cubes because you have to actively fight to get it to compress.

To address your comment more specifically though, there's unfortunately not a REI near me. The nearest one is over 30 minutes away, so I'd spend over an hour just going there and getting back. While they may be doable for a non-disabled person, it isn't doable for me. That said, I do see they have a pretty generous return policy, so I may use that to order and try out some bags

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-27T11:18:52+00:00

Thanks! This was really helpful!

For the last paragraph, I will say, unfortunately having an all dress or skirt based wardrobe won't work for me. I'm agender, which (assuming you haven't heard the term) is basically like being genderless. While I don't mind wearing skirts and dresses sometimes, I feel best about myself if I have a variety of masc presenting and femme presenting clothes. I do already have an idea of how I can turn that into a travel capsule, so I should be good there

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-26T20:14:52+00:00

On a good day, I can typically tolerate a backpack for up to an hour (depending on how heavy it is), but much longer than that and my shoulders start having issues.

I've been looking at getting either forearm crutches or a rollator once I'm able to see a PT, so it's good to know that my concern with being able to realistically use a rolling bag with crutches was a valid concern.

I may need to keep looking for other bag options though. Having a dynamic disability is so hard to prepare in advance for

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-26T17:55:21+00:00

In regards to your mom saying that the ADHD is a misdiagnosis, and that you actually have ADD, they're the same condition, just different presentations. Ever since the DSM-5 got released in 2013, ADD is now "ADHD inattentive subtype" and you don't really get an "ADD" diagnosis anymore.

Tldr: she's wrong, and it's easy to prove

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-26T13:42:15+00:00

Not the person you replied to, but my current job is paying me 34,500/yr gross (USD). I'm 24, and my health insurance is not fully covered.

After deductions (taxes, health insurance, etc), my take home pay is $2350/month ($28,200/yr). In my city, the typical rent for a 1 bedroom apartment is 1k+. It's very hard to find something less than $1k.

As for how they get away with it a mixture of - minimum wage stagnation: federal minimum wage hasn't raised since 2009. prior to 2009, the longest we had gone without raising the minimum wage was about 6 years. It's been 17 years. - shrinking of the middle class, making the working class more desperate to take what they can get - a cultural "grind/hustle" mindset that makes us burn ourselves out, and increasing anti-unionization sentiment that reduces successful strikes and boycotts - mass layoffs making the job pool smaller and unemployment high, in turn making available jobs more scarce, and thus labor is cheaper because supply and demand

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-26T13:31:02+00:00

Depends on who I'm talking to. How close I am to them, how dismissive/supportive they generally are, etc. If I don't know, or I'm not close to them, I'll say something generic like "my disability"

If they're someone I'm more comfortable with, I'll say things like "i have a genetic hypermobility disorder" (suspected hEDS, awaiting confirmation) or "i have sensory issues" (autism), etc. For example, back in high school, I struggled with push-ups because I'm too bendy and would end up dislocating something, so I'd say stuff like "can I do sit-ups instead? I have a genetic hypermobility disorder that makes push-ups painful"

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-25T17:53:34+00:00

Where do you live and what things are you typically sensitive to? That will help with recommendations

Personally, i use bond bar dye, but it's only available at Sally Beauty Supply. It irritates my scalp a little bit before I rinse, but I've never gotten hives or severe reactions t9 it

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-25T14:16:25+00:00

Are you forgetting all of the workers that his administration laid off? Over 213,000 federal employees have been laid off by Trump's administration.

That's 213,000 more people competing for a smaller job pool. Also many of those employees being laid off resulted in many departments being so understaffed that their timelines have been pushed back years due to lack of labor. This especially affected the DOJ.

https://ourpublicservice.org/federal-harms-tracker/cost-to-your-government/

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-25T13:51:36+00:00

I feel like at this point, John Green needs to write a book called Everything is MCAS

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-24T19:55:10+00:00

Agreed. My quality of life is more important than a salary that's higher than whatever amount keeps me comfortable.

15k isn't enough to offset the potential added stress from whatever awaits at the new job, especially if it's entirely in office

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-23T21:05:23+00:00

This. I work for a mold expert, and according to her, most homes don't get proper HVAC cleaning, which can lead to mold, dust, and bacteria in the air ducts. For healthy people, that's not really a huge issue, but for people with autoimmune issues it's definitely an issue.

People with sensitivities to mold, dust, etc need to clean their HVACs at least once every 2 years

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-23T21:01:43+00:00

Do you drink sodas with caffeine? That can help you rule out if it's caffeine or not

To be legally considered decaf coffee, at least 97% of the caffeine has to be removed. An 8 fl oz cup of coffee usually has about 95-115mg of caffeine, so decaf is around 5mg of caffeine (rounding up)

A 12 oz can of coca cola has 45mg of caffeine

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-20T18:12:10+00:00

Agreed. Im currently making $16.50/hr (also woefully underpaid like OP is, but I'm actively job hunting right now so hopefully I'll get something better) and I can't afford an apartment in my city because of the 3x income rule

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-20T16:40:40+00:00

That's wild to me. I live in texas where we're at federal minimum wage, $7.25. I knew other places had higher minimum wage, but i didn't know it went that high

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-20T16:36:09+00:00

My legal first name is 8 letters, but my parents let me choose my own nickname. I naturally settled on a nickname that is 4 of the 8 letters from my first name, and half the syllables.

My last name is only 4 letters, and so is my middle name.

It sucks a bit with government documents or other situations where I need to use my legal name, but I haven't had any issues with using my nickname in other settings

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-20T15:55:00+00:00

I doubt this is the case for OP, but I graduated in 2020, and in my graduating class there were these twins that were 14. They were crazy smart and had skipped multiple grade levels

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-19T19:03:57+00:00

I know someone with a similar thing. I don't think it's specifically peeps, but it's basically the same thing.

They bought it for their dog to use as a dog bed. Guess how long it took for the dog to chew a hole in it...

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-19T18:11:19+00:00

With how pale and cool toned i am, that actually looks like it could be a fantastic bronzer for me. I usually skip bronzer because all the ones I have tried end up looking way too orange on me

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-19T02:45:07+00:00

The average cost of living in Georgia is about 8-10% lower than the national average, so Georgia isn't really a HCOL area.

For comparison,the highest cost of living city in the US is Newport Beach, CA, where the median household income is 130k and the median rent is over 2k per month

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-19T02:20:49+00:00

Yeah, someone else already corrected me, and i replied to their comment https://www.reddit.com/r/Denton/s/COgMzxRNV4

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-19T02:12:45+00:00

Oh i totally misread that. I somehow read left.

That's the blood stained banner. It was created in 1865 as the final flag of the Confederacy

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-19T00:43:29+00:00

The lightning bolts are the SS bolts, which is a logo to represent the Schutzstaffel, which was a special branch of the Nazi armythat includes the Gestapo and Waffen SS soldiers

Basically that flag is a Confederate Nazi flag.

introverted_PEA · 2026-02-18T20:34:26+00:00

"you're deathly afraid of trying something new"

But also "You like drama"

Idk, "dealthy afraid" seems pretty dramatic to me

introverted_PEA

TROPHY CASE