7 Everyday Hacks You Wouldn’t Have Without Disabled People
You know the little ramp at the end of a pavement? That’s called a curb cut; made for wheelchair users, but now used by parents with buggies, cyclists, delivery drivers, people with suitcases and more.
That’s the curb cut effect: when access for disabled people ends up helping everyone.
You might have seen this video going around recently, this is my original video explaining the curb cut effect and how disability drives innovation. So here are 7 everyday hacks and gadgets you wouldn't have without disabled people:
1. The Electric Toothbrush
Originally designed for people with limited grip or coordination, now you find them in almost every household.
2. Ramps
Built for wheelchair access, but perfect for buggies, bikes and suitcases too.
3. Text-to-Speech & Voice Assistants
Created for blind people and those who struggle with mobility, now it’s how half of us set timers.
4. Velcro
Widely used in disability care settings for ease of use, now everywhere from trainers to schoolbags.
5. Audiobooks
Originally made for blind readers, now a go-to for multitasking or rest. It's one of my favourite pastimes.
6. Touchless & Automatic Doors
Made for accessibility but now essential in supermarkets, airports and hospitals.
7. Subtitles & Captions
Originally for Deaf and hard of hearing people, now everyone uses them, on the train, at night, or just to focus better.
Disability drives innovation. Accessibility helps everyone.
So next time you use one of these, remember where it came from. Share this so more people understand the impact disability has on their everyday lives.
Is there something I've missed from the list? Let me know what other everyday hacks we wouldn’t have without Disabled People. I’ve got a part 2 coming with even more examples like this, follow along if you want to see it!
#CurbCutEffect #UniversalDesign #DisabilityEducation
Don't touch someone's mobility aid without their express consent!! You'd think this might be common sense but it happens way too often.
Please share this with someone who can relate or needs to hear this!
As disabled people we get asked all sorts of questions that people would never dare to ask a non-disabled person, but unfortunately it doesn't stop at questions. What other behaviours have you seen towards disabled people that people would never do to a non-disabled person. Let me know in the comments.
You wouldn't move someone's personal belongings away from them, like a handbag, tablet or phone, without asking. They are often expensive & personal items we don't want others to touch. So don't move someone's mobility aid out of the way without asking, even if they aren't directly using it. It's necessary for a mobility aid to be available to it's user whenever they need it and they are very expensive pieces of kit and it can be devastating if they get lost or damaged because someone has moved it. I've had a walking stick taken off me whilst I was using it and used by someone as a microphone & air guitar before and it's just not okay!
You wouldn't lean on someone mid conversation especially if it's your first meeting. It would be a very uncomfortable situation. So please don't lean on someone's mobility aid without asking. This one happens to me all the time and it's very uncomfortable. It may cause pain or discomfort to the user or end up accidentally adjusting carefully chosen settings. Please treat people's mobility aids as extension of their bodies.
You wouldn't move someone out of the way if you wanted to get past. You would probably either wait or simply say 'sorry, excuse me'. So don't try and move a wheelchair user just because their chair has wheels. It's a very scary experience and can cause injury. Just take the 2 seconds to ask, like you would for anyone else.
#DisabilityAwareness #DisabilityEducation #MobilityAid
Hey friend, I’m Chronically Jenni and welcome to my little corner of the internet! There's been a few new faces around here recently so I thought it was time I reintroduced myself.
I'm a disabled & chronically ill content creator, speaker and model based in Essex, UK. I live with my partner Ian & our two adorable girls, Coco the labradoodle and Honey the hedgehog.
I started this journey in 2017 after being diagnosed with a cocktail of chronic illnesses. What began as sharing my story quickly grew into a community. These days I create content around disability education, chronic illness hacks, mobility aid tips and all the joyful, frustrating, messy bits of disabled life, from accessibility wins to fashion finds and a little bit of adventure thrown in.
When I first became disabled, I felt so alone. But this space changed that. We've built a community where disabled people & allies can connect, learn and feel seen. And thanks to my amazing support team (Poppy, Eboni and Beth) I get to keep doing this work.
So whether you’re here to learn, laugh or just not feel so alone, I’m so glad you’ve found your way here.
I’d love for you to introduce yourself in the comments & help us keep growing this beautiful, supportive space. Thank you so much for being here.
And remember, you can always find more information, videos, blog posts and contact details on my website:
Video Description:
Jenni, a white disabled woman with auburn hair is outdoors using her manual wheelchair. She speaks to the camera, introducing herself and sharing what her platform is about. Cutaway clips show her with her partner, dog & hedgehog . There are also clips of her out and about with mobility aids, showcasing moments of disabled joy and community. The video has a bright, friendly tone with soft, upbeat background music.
#ChronicallyJenni #DisabilityAwareness #ChronicIllnessCommunity #DisabledAndProud #DisabilityEducation #DisabledCreator #MobilityAids #WheelchairLife #AccessMatters #ChronicIllnessHacks #DisabledJoy #SpoonieCommunity
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day
License code: NYS5S8KXFRSR5S52
My top hacks for living with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) or Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD):
Comment 'Send me the hacks' to get the links for these sent straight to your dms.
1. Ring splints – These help prevent hyperextension and provide stability in the hands, making everyday tasks easier and less painful.
2. Pillows – A long body pillow gives support to shoulders, hips and knees at night and can really improve comfort and joint alignment.
3. Hot & cold therapy – Great for easing pain, calming inflammation, and helping with subluxations. I love using mini heat and ice packs for on-the-go relief.
4. Supports – My shoulder and hip orthoses from DM Orthotics give gentle compression and stability, which helps reduce pain and improve function.
5. Biofreeze – I’ve tried so many topical pain relief products, but Biofreeze is my go-to. The roll-on design is especially useful for mess-free application.
6. Ergonomic knife – This design puts less pressure on finger joints and uses wrist movement for more power, making food prep much easier.
What would you add to the list? Let me know in the comments. And feel free to save or share if you think this could help someone else.
#EhlersDanlosSyndrome #EDS #HSD #EDSAwarenessMonth
Oh but you’re too beautiful to be disabled.
It’s often said as a compliment, but it reveals something much bigger about how society views disability.
Because why is disability seen as the opposite of beauty in the first place?
Disabled people are constantly desexualised, infantilised, overlooked, or treated as though beauty, attractiveness, confidence, fashion, romance, or femininity somehow don’t belong to us.
But disabled and beautiful are not mutually exclusive.
We are not “beautiful despite being disabled”.
We are not “beautiful for a disabled person”.
Disabled people can be beautiful, attractive, stylish, confident, glamorous, desirable, and worthy of being seen exactly as we are.
We’re just beautiful. Full stop.
If you’re disabled, I hope you never let the world make you feel like your disability makes you less worthy of being seen, celebrated, or loved.
Share this if you agree!
#DisabilityAwareness #DisabledAndProud #DisabledAndBeautiful
ad I’m getting married in a few weeks, and I’ve been thinking a lot about growth lately, not just my hair, but me as a person.
Growth hasn’t always felt linear or consistent for me. Living with chronic illness, things can be really up and down, but over the last few years I’ve learnt a lot, and I’ve grown in ways that have allowed me to be more myself.
I want to be my best self for my wedding, so I’ve just started using the OGX ProGrowth + Peptide range, especially the Scalp Serum Pen. It’s really easy to use, you just click and apply it directly to your scalp.
For me, consistency doesn’t look like doing something perfectly every single day. It’s more about building a routine that works for you and showing up when you can. It’s all about progress, not perfection. So this is one of those small things I’m incorporating into my routine in the lead-up to the wedding, alongside everything else I’m working on to take care of myself a little better.
The OGX ProGrowth + Peptide range is designed to give visibly thicker, fuller hair in 30 days when used as a full routine* so I’m going to use it in a way that works for me and see how I get on.
I’ll check back in a few weeks and let you know how it goes.
Tell me in the comments, what’s something small you’re working on at the moment? What does growth look like for you right now?
And if you want to check out the OGX ProGrowth + Peptide range, head to my stories to find out more.
*Instrumental test using OGX ProGrowth + Peptide shampoo, conditioner and scalp serum.
@OGXBeautyUK@AmazonUK #ItsGivingOGX #WhenItClicks
What we wish you knew about getting support as a disabled person
Because It’s not automatic and it doesn’t just happen.
1. Support exists, but it’s confusing, inconsistent, and different depending on where you live. The systems don't talk to each other and there’s no clear guide on what you’re even entitled to but you’re expected to just know what you need.
2. Access barriers. Most support is means tested but not just on your income, but your household. So if you live with someone, they’re expected to support you even if they can’t afford to.Criteria is narrow, complicated, and often doesn’t reflect real life. You can be too disabled to work… but not disabled enough to qualify for support.
3. The reality of applying. Getting support is a fight. It takes time, money, energy, things many of us don’t have. You have to prove your disability again and again and again. The process can be dehumanising, and honestly, traumatic and even when you get support… it’s often not enough.
4. The emotional side. A lot of us don’t ask for help until things are really bad. Because of guilt, internalised ableism or because we don’t feel “disabled enough”.Self-advocating when you’re already unwell is exhausting and there’s always that fear that the support you do have could be taken away.
5. There are lots of gaps in support. It doesn’t carry through properly from childhood into adulthood, careers often don’t know how to support disabled employees and getting help that actually understands your condition can be really hard. Sometimes, you’ll find more help from other disabled people than from the systems meant to support you.
Support isn’t just ramps and equipment.
It’s systems that work.
It’s understanding.
It’s kindness.
And right now too many disabled people are being left to figure it out alone.
If this resonated with you, feel free to share your experiences in the comments and let me know what you wish people knew about getting support as a disabled person! And be sure to share this video to help more people understand the realities.
#DisabilityAwareness #DisabilitySupport #DisabilityBenefits
So if we’ve known about Ehlers Danlos Syndromes for over 100 years, why are people still fighting for a diagnosis?
From the 1960s onwards, doctors began trying to properly classify different types of EDS. Scoring systems like the Beighton score were introduced to measure hypermobility & rarer types, like vascular EDS, started to be recognised.
In 1988, a major classification was introduced, then refined in 1997. But the problem: many of the criteria were open to interpretation, while some parts were incredibly specific & if you didn’t fit that definition you often weren’t diagnosed at all, especially if your main symptom was hypermobility. Many people were given completely separate labels, like Joint Hypermobility Syndrome.
So for decades, people were misdiagnosed, underdiagnosed, or told nothing was wrong at all. Not because the condition didn’t exist, but because medicine hadn’t agreed on what it looked like.Over time, research into genetics started to change things.
We began to understand that Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome isn’t one condition, but a group of different disorders affecting connective tissue in different ways.
In 2017, new international criteria were introduced with a clear structure for diagnosing different types of EDS. And for those who didn’t meet the full criteria, a new diagnosis was introduced: Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD).
But for many people, that didn’t fix things. Many doctors are still not up to date. Diagnosis is still difficult. Awareness is still low. And many people are still being told their symptoms don’t make sense.
Right now, new criteria are being developed, with updated guidance expected around December 2026, because our understanding of these conditions is still evolving.
This isn’t a new condition. It’s a condition we’ve been trying, and often failing, to understand for over 100 years.
If this is something you’ve experienced, or you’re still fighting for answers, you’re not alone.
Share this to help raise awareness this EDS & HSD awareness month and comment 'deep dive' if you'd like a link to the full 15min video discussing all things EDS History.
#EhlersDanlosSyndrome #EDSAwaren
'No other disease in modern medicine has been neglected in quite the same way as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.' - Professor Rodney Grahame
This historical quote refers to the long history of under-recognition, inconsistent diagnosis, and medical misunderstanding surrounding EDS/HSD. It is not intended to dismiss the experiences of people living with other under-researched or neglected conditions.
For a condition first described over 100 years ago, it’s still widely misunderstood.
Ehlers Danlos Syndromes and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder affect connective tissue. The structure that holds your entire body together. But what is the history of these conditions?
There are descriptions that go all the way back to Hippocrates, but one of the most well-known suspected cases is Niccolò Paganini, a violinist known for his flexibility, long fingers, and almost inhuman range. Something many now believe could have been EDS.
By the late 1800s, people with these traits were often found in circuses, labelled “The Elastic Lady” or “The Human Rubber Band”.
And in 1892, a doctor described a patient with extremely stretchy skin, so unusual it was compared to rubber. But still, no one connected the dots.
It wasn’t until 1901, when Edvard Ehlers documented a patient with unusual joint laxity, stretchy skin, and frequent dislocations, that someone suggested these symptoms might all be connected. Then in 1908, Henri-Alexandre Danlos described another case, focusing on the fragility of the skin and blood vessels. By 1936, the condition finally had a name: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.
But what happened next is where things get complicated.
Part 2 is coming next. Follow along and let me know in the comments what you wish people knew about EDS and HSD, or share this to help raise awareness this EDS and HSD Awareness Month.
#EhlersDanlosSyndrome #Hypermobility #EDSAwarenessMonth
4 more things we wish you knew about pacing!
1. There is so much of our lives you will not see. You might see us at one event but not the days of rest before and after to be able to attend. You will often only see us when we are well enough to be seen. We spend more time resting than you’ll ever actually see. And even things that look “easy” like a shower or a hospital appointment can be exhausting.
2. It’s a constant calculation. A constant guessing game of “have I done too much?”. It’s saying no even when we want to say yes.
It’s setting boundaries and being seen as rude or difficult for it.
3. The emotional side of having to pace yourself. It’s hard to be gentle with yourself & to accept your limits. Internalised ableism makes you think maybe I should be able to do more. Even when you feel okay it doesn’t mean you should do more.
4. The reality. Pacing doesn’t mean we’re suddenly well. We’re still dealing with symptoms and real life doesn’t always line up with pacing. Sometimes things happen and that’s not failure.
Pacing is a skill, a constant learning process.
It’s not easy.
It’s not predictable.
And honestly, it’s exhausting.
But it’s what allows us to keep going at all.
What would you add to the list, let me know in the comments. And if you havent already be sure to go back and watch part 1!
Plus If you want a deeper breakdown of pacing, I’ve shared a full long form Q&A all about it! Comment “PACING 101” and I’ll pop it right to your dms.
#ChronicIllness #DisabilityAwareness #Pacing
What do you wish people knew about disability?
Last week I had the honour of attending the @ScopeCharity Awards so I thought I'd ask some fabulous friends, old and new what they wished people knew about disability. Here's what they said:
@Mali.And.M.E :That disability isn’t one-size-fits-all. Even people with the same condition can have completely different experiences.
@DisabilityWithBailey : That we belong everywhere. In every space, including nature. Inaccessibility doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be there, it means access needs to improve. Things like removing stiles, adding accessible gates, and sharing clear access information matter, because access information is autonomy. Sometimes we just want to know, can we go out and enjoy something as simple as a walk?
@Gem_Turner That we’re just people. You don’t need to be scared of us. We’re alright.
@Dis_swing_thing : That disability doesn’t fit one definition. We come in all different shapes, sizes, colours, and experiences. And don't be surprised by the unexpected.
@Luuudaw : That disability is not a monolith and it has no uniform. It looks so many different ways. There's no particular way that disability presents. For example, people get so confused when they hear that I have a brain injury, but here I am in a flurry of pink Barbie chaos. But also, I struggle a lot, and maybe you wouldn't assume it immediately when you see me, but it doesn't mean it's not true. Like, there are so many non-apparent or invisible disabilities that need just as much accommodations and accessibility as apparent and visible disabilities do.
We are all different doesn’t mean we are 'less'. Invisible doesn’t mean imaginary. And access should never depend on how disabled someone 'looks'.
What do you wish people knew about Disability? Let me know in the comments!
#DisabilityAwareness #AccessibilityMatters #InvisibleDisability
“Honestly, you’re so brave. I could never manage in your situation.”
I hear this a lot. And I know it’s usually meant as a compliment, but it never quite sits right.
Because when you actually pause and ask the question:
“What would you do instead?”
There isn’t really an answer.
Because there isn’t an alternative.
Disabled people aren’t “brave” for existing. We’re not choosing a harder path for fun or pushing through something optional. We’re just living our lives with the circumstances we have.
And if you were in the same situation, you wouldn’t magically have some different, stronger response. You’d do exactly what you needed to do to get through the day, just like we do.
So it’s not about bravery. It’s about reality. And maybe instead of calling disabled people brave, we can start recognising the barriers that make our lives harder in the first place.
Have you ever been told you’re “brave” like this, or caught yourself saying it to someone else? Let’s talk about it in the comments. Be sure to share this so more people realise we aren't brave for just existing.
#DisabilityAwareness #Ableism #Exactly
