Just a goofy story to interrupt the drudgery of everything (especially here in the US, sheesh).

I got on the bus at the terminal but was last in the line, and everyone in the accessible seats needed them more than me so I scooted up the stupid bus stairs and sat wayyy in the back. This seat had space behind it so I wedged my cane behind it using my backpack to make sure it wouldn’t go flying if the bus suddenly braked.

This lady gets on a few stops after and sits on the seats across from my seat, so she’s facing me and apparently saw my cane behind me. After about 20 minutes she stands up at a stop and I think she’s leaving, but she approaches me. I’m like uhhh? She doesn’t even look at me before reaching OVER, not around, and not saying “excuse me” or anything polite like that. Just OVER me with my face in her whole armpit and side of her boob while she tries to untangle my cane from my backpack straps. Which she does, and then tries to walk to the front of the bus with my cane (a nice one, mind you!). She only got as far as she did because I was so shocked??? Like I get I don’t necessarily look disabled while seated but like. ????? It was RIGHT NEXT TO ME. Tangled up in what is clearly MY BACKPACK (it’s very visually apparent the backpack is mine). This lady must have made some wild assumptions about me to not say “excuse me is this your bag, and can you move it so I can give this lost walking cane to the bus driver?” Like she fully leaned over my body to grab my cane, and wiggle it around to get the foot out from under my backpack to lift over my head and deliver to the bus driver.

So obviously I LOUDLY said “uhm can I have my cane back please?” Because I’m a meek human and was super tired from classes, but also didn’t really process anything besides this stranger taking my mobility aid after being FAR more privy to her upper half than I cared to be, and I say that as a certified queer. Like lady I love the bajingas in general but gimme some SPACE yanno?

She immediately gave it back and explained she thought it was left behind by somebody who looks more like they’d use a cane than I do, and sat down and didn’t look away from the window until she got off the bus (another 10ish minutes).

So lady, for one, chill the fuck out on public transit lol. For two, TALK to people! Like even making the assumption that it was left by somebody else, if it’s clearly underneath another person’s item, SAY something. Again, she rangjangled my cane around for like 10 seconds. That is a LONG time to be bent over a stranger on a fucking public bus. My face was in her sweaty side boob for 10 seconds and I DIDNT LIKE IT. For three, I get you’re embarrassed after trying to do something good that was not good, but ya gotta let it go girl. I really hope once you got off the bus you focused on more important things, but retained the memory enough to fucking ASK before grabbing the mobility devices of cute, stylish ladies because you assume disabled people can’t look this good.

Photo bc this is what I looked like on the bus when this lady assumed I wasn’t disabled enough to use a cane that was beneath my backpack, directly behind me, about 6” away. Also, disabled people can be hot and cute and stylish. There is no way to LOOK disabled. I’m sick to death of getting sneers and looks because I use some of my little energy on looking the way that I want to. I go in public twice a week and wanna look good and I use some energy on that. I already saved all that energy for that day! I’m going to USE IT! I’m adorable AND I’m disabled and I’m fucking angry.

Since this seems to be a necessary PSA.

Given that most of us are already in enough systems, I thought we should be aware of this info. Be safe, my friends.

Since I only have an arm, I grabbed a hammer and dressed up as baking soda! Did anyone else work their disabilities into their Halloween costumes?

Alt: Oval glossy vinyl sticker with the phrase “Disabled Labour Isn’t Free” in bold purple lettering on a soft pastel sky background with light clouds and small sparkles.

I designed these because I was truly fed up with how many times I’ve been exploited for free labour or people profiting off of my work without me seeing any return. I hate that this is so truly rampant in our community.

It took her like 20min to finally move. Even after I tried gently prodding her with my foot, she had the AUDACITY to just roll over and start purring lol

Info from the caption:

The Trump administration is rolling back disability protections for air travelers.

The Transportation Department announced it will no longer enforce Biden-era policies requiring airlines to reimburse passengers when wheelchairs are damaged or when accessible flights cost more.

Also, airlines will no longer be required to give passengers written notice of their rights when checking mobility devices.

According to disability advocates, an estimated 5.5 million Americans rely on wheelchairs and airlines damage or lose about one wheelchair for every 100 they transport.

Source: Reuters

Michaela Benthaus, a 33-year-old German aerospace and mechatronics engineer, made history as the first wheelchair user to travel past the Kármán Line, a common marker for outer space.

Her voyage on a Blue Origin New Shepard capsule launched Saturday morning in West Texas.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/20/science/blue-origin-koenigsmann-benthaus-wheelchair

I struggled with my balance when walking, and my poor balance made it super difficult to walk while holding something in each hand. So I combined both together, my cane and my bouquet, so that I’d be able to have a bridal bouquet at my wedding 🙂✨ This is some of the lemonade I made when life threw me it’s lousy lemons 🍋♿️

I've heard this comment before and it bothers me a lot.

I was originally put on disability for such severe PTSD I was considered unable to be alone or independent. I expected to work on myself and get off it. And I am... Except now I'm on disability for a permanent physical disability.

Neither is more or less valid. I still believe my mental health struggles are far harder than my physical ones.

If this doesn’t belong here let me know! Just wanted to share my moment of joy it’s nice to be included!