Disabilities-R-Us

Hello people of the interwebs. I am here to hopefully introduce myself as I've been looking for a community of like minded people. I am 33, disabled, and if that wasn't enough, a little person (or whatever the hell the PC term is). I live in PA, USA. Originally I'm from Russia though.

As far as my disabilities go, I have rheumatoid arthritis pretty much damaging all my joints since I was 3, severely limiting my movement and abilities.

As if all my disabilities and problems weren't enough, all of my life was spent in neglect, mind abuse and isolation due to living with my psycho narcissistic human waste of a mother.

Far too late did I wake up to the possibility that I don't have to take this for the rest of my life, but by then I was already balls deep into depression.

I have gotten myself a powerchair relatively recently and started going outside the house on my own, which I couldn't even dream of before.

Right now my entire life force is spent on looking for acceptable supportive living situation where I could move out and live in privacy and enough dignity that I think every person needs to have. I am excluding nursing homes and group homes as that isn't what I am looking for. And yes these things exist. Apartments in a building staffed by professionals on hand for transferring and such.

This isn't a very good photo but this is me

Crawlerz,
I remember when I got my first power chair. The best part of it was that I could get outside again. I started off by staying close to home, but before long I was going a few miles to the library and the grocery store with it. I was able to move around my neighborhood and my yard in a way that I not been able to do for many years. Although I had resisted getting one for years, it didn't take me long to come to the conclusion that I shouldn't have fought it for so long. I was still walking a little When I got my first chair, but the wheelchair gave me more freedom and security than I had Experienced since my illness began. These days I can't do anything unless I'm in the chair. I haven't walked for years and I can't even lift my arms. Even with my weakness I am fairly independent. I drive a modified car and I work three days a week.

Louie

welcome!

welcome to our forum. Hope to see you in the chat room.