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Stickman Communications

@stickmancomms.bsky.social

Stickmen helping to build understanding and acceptance of hidden disabilities and chronic illness, in a way that empowers us. (Run by Hannah Ensor - who has #hypermobility #PoTS and probably other stuff.) +talking about personal experience of #disability

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Stickman Communications@stickmancomms.bsky.social · 2d ago

In my experience, one of the things that can make communicating about what you need as an autistic person so hard, is other people's misconceptions about what autism means. Combined with the frequent autistic experience of temporarily not being able to speak, or find the right words, or

An Autism disclosure card, saying: “I am autistic. While getting on with my life I may become overwhelmed by: • Lights, noise, touch, or smells. • Stressful or unfamiliar situations. • Information or demands. • Unexpected changes or problems. When overwhelmed I may find it difficult to communicate, need extra help, or need to remove myself from a situation until I’m OK.”This sensory sensitivites card says "Sensations most people find okay can be extremely painful, exhausting or overwhelming for me.I have difficulties with: □ sound □ sight □ touch □ taste □ smell □ other: How much I can deal with varies. I may need to do things differently. Please be patient. See the back of this card for more info." You can tick the ones that apply to you, and add any others - like vibration, heat, or cold. On the back there is a write-on space where you can write more information about problematic sensations/sensory icks, or important coping/management strategies.This 'more info needed' card says "I need more information so I can process/understand what is going on. Please would you explain: what is happening, why, what to expect next. If there's anything I should be doing, please explain that to me too - one step at a time. Thank you."A card for people who sometimes can't speak. It says “I can't speak at the moment. I can understand you. I may respond with a gesture instead of speaking. Please let me be involved without speaking. I will speak if/when I am able to.”
Stickman Communications@stickmancomms.bsky.social · 2d ago

In my experience, one of the things that can make communicating about what you need as an autistic person so hard, is other people's misconceptions about what autism means. Combined with the frequent autistic experience of temporarily not being able to speak, or find the right words, or

An Autism disclosure card, saying: “I am autistic. While getting on with my life I may become overwhelmed by: • Lights, noise, touch, or smells. • Stressful or unfamiliar situations. • Information or demands. • Unexpected changes or problems. When overwhelmed I may find it difficult to communicate, need extra help, or need to remove myself from a situation until I’m OK.”This sensory sensitivites card says "Sensations most people find okay can be extremely painful, exhausting or overwhelming for me.I have difficulties with: □ sound □ sight □ touch □ taste □ smell □ other: How much I can deal with varies. I may need to do things differently. Please be patient. See the back of this card for more info." You can tick the ones that apply to you, and add any others - like vibration, heat, or cold. On the back there is a write-on space where you can write more information about problematic sensations/sensory icks, or important coping/management strategies.This 'more info needed' card says "I need more information so I can process/understand what is going on. Please would you explain: what is happening, why, what to expect next. If there's anything I should be doing, please explain that to me too - one step at a time. Thank you."A card for people who sometimes can't speak. It says “I can't speak at the moment. I can understand you. I may respond with a gesture instead of speaking. Please let me be involved without speaking. I will speak if/when I am able to.”
Stickman Communications@stickmancomms.bsky.social · 4d ago

Many wheelchair users have some ability to stand and walk - but the wheelchair makes life SO much more manageable, and creates so many more possibilities. What are your reasons to wheel? Mine include: Dizziness/fainting Poor balance and coordination - becoming worse the longer I'm upright. -

This Reasons to need a wheelchair card, shows 5 stickmen - one with pain zaps, one falling over, one with legs that are dotted lines and dont work (sitting on the floor), one is bent over asleep, half standing. And one dizzy. Text: Many wheelchair users can stand or walk a little, but use a wheelchair for activities they couldn't other wise do. Many conditions are variable,so many people only need to use a wheelchair sometimes.
Stickman Communications@stickmancomms.bsky.social · 5d ago

Many people assume that anyone who is visually impaired or blind cannot use a smartphone/tablet etc - so if the person is seen using one, they must be faking it. But it is simply not true! Apps that read text aloud, and transcribe speech, and magnify/zoom in on content can all make devices useable -

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A Chronic Voice@achronicvoice.com · 2w ago

"But I am saying that if a request can't be met, or a #compromise may be needed: ALWAYS approach it from the perspective that [ #DisabledPeople ] are making that request for a very good reason.": buff.ly/GCw1Y7s by @stickmancomms.bsky.social #disability #InvisibleIllness #inclusion #accommodations

Disabled people, self management, and 'being controlling'

Disabled people are often seen as demanding and controlling - here I look at an example of why this might be, and what is really going on.

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Stickman Communications@stickmancomms.bsky.social · 2w ago

I'm going to be significantly under par for the next few days, so I've been wondering what I can do that is within capacity, and I realised 'follow people!' is a good answer - so please comment with disability/neurodivergence pages/people that you recommend I follow!

4 panel cartoon. Dealing with my 'failure' thoughts while in splat mode. 1: Stickman unhappy and exhausted hiding under a purple blanket. Thought bubble: I'm such a failure, I can't manage anything. I. Just. Can't. 2: Stickman peeks out from under the blanket to see a big grey monster with factors that can make health conditions worse written on it (heat, stress, sensory overload, pushing too hard for too long, hormones, infection) 3: surprised stickman, a bit thoughtful, back under the blanket. Thought: Well... that explains a lot! 4: smiling exhausted stickman hiding under the blanket. Thought: "Of course I can't. Today I need to recharge and recover. Everything else can wait for another day."
Stickman Communications@stickmancomms.bsky.social · 2w ago

1/6 "But you did it before, so I know you can" is something I often hear. In reality what I can do is affected by many variable factors - And right now, for me, that includes weeks of heatwave, plus low B12 and hormones wreaking havoc on my PoTS and hypermobility. So many -

card with pale blue border and 2 confused stickmen. disabled person stickman saying "I can't do that". Non-disabled stickman thinking "But I saw you do it before!" Then text: “My condition is variable. I did it before but right now my symptom levels are different, and/or it caused an increase in symptoms which I cannot risk repeating right now. Please don’t try to encourage me – instead please respect my limits and, if I ask you to, help me find an suitable alternative.”
gothbookdragon.bsky.social@gothbookdragon.bsky.social · 3w ago

This is me at work. The good side of hyper focus is I can work at levels well above the norm, and with high accuracy as well. I joke that it's my workplace superpower. But yeah, I come out of it and realise I'm thirsty, and needed the loo quite some time before. It's also exhausting 🫠

Stickman Communications@stickmancomms.bsky.social · 3w ago

Did you know that #hyperfocus is common in the neurodivergent community? Being so focused on one thing that nothing else is noticed for the duration - including hunger, temperature, pain, needing the loo. www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/product-page...

Hyperfocus card, with striped border, saying "I can become hyperfocused on one thing. It means I won't notice anything else: people talking to me, time passing, being hungry or thirsty etc. It may mean I'm able to complete an important task. But it can also mean I spend too long doing something. See the back of this card for when and how to help me if I'm hyperfocused. After being interrupted, it may take me a few minutes to adjust to what is going on around me. Please be patient."
Stickman Communications@stickmancomms.bsky.social · 3w ago

I was going to write something insightful, but nope. Not got the brain for that. So instead: solidarity with all those of you who are in that strange no-mans land of 'kinda capable of doing stuff, but also kinda a zombie' - May you all find the right way to be kind to yourself, and

exhausted woman with a slight smile, brown hair, and glasses, holding up a card that has a stickman hiding in a blanket, and says "“Fatigue has wrapped me in it’s blanket, making the world seem fluffy and unreal. I can’t concentrate enough for important decisions, but I can do small tasks which don’t need too much brain or energy.”
Stickman Communications@stickmancomms.bsky.social · 3w ago

Touch can be deeply unpleasant for people with pain, sensory processing issues, PTSD etc. We know it might be meant as caring or connecting - but when it's painful, overwhelming, or causes flashbacks, it won't create connection or trust! Quite the opposite. This is why -

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Stickman Communications@stickmancomms.bsky.social · 3w ago

Touch can be deeply unpleasant for people with pain, sensory processing issues, PTSD etc. We know it might be meant as caring or connecting - but when it's painful, overwhelming, or causes flashbacks, it won't create connection or trust! Quite the opposite. This is why -

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Stickman Communications@stickmancomms.bsky.social · 4w ago

When wanting to be supportive of someone who has an eating disorder, it can be hard to know what to say or do - do you ignore it? Do you encourage eating? What should you do? Creating this card took a lot of input from people with lived experience - what they find helpful, what they -

This eating disorder card says "I am working to manage/recover from an eating disorder. When you are with me, it would really help if you would: • Avoid talking about, or giving me written information on nutritional content e.g. calories. • Not comment on whether, what, or how much I have eaten. • Avoid commenting on anyone’s weight or shape (including mine and yours). • Avoid moralising about food (e.g. good/bad/unhealthy/healthy/treat/special/diet etc)."
Stickman Communications@stickmancomms.bsky.social · 4w ago

1/4 So many people assume that if you aren't using a mobility aid (wheelchair, crutch, walker etc) then it must mean you are 'better' - but actually it is often about whether the environment is accessible, and any symptoms that might be preventing me from using my usual aid. For example:

walking aid card has 3 smiling stickmen - one in a wheelchair, one with a walking stick, one with a rollator - and one slightly sad stickman without any mobility aid. Text: I sometimes use a walking aid due to a variable condition. Often things are harder when I’m not using my walking aid. If you see me without it, I might be having a better day, or my symptoms or situation might mean using it isn’t practical.
Stickman Communications@stickmancomms.bsky.social · 4w ago

Being in the middle of a medical emergency is when you have least energy/headspace for explaining. Having a card that gives clear instructions and doesn't rely on your in-the-moment coherence can be extremely useful. The back of this card is blank so you can write the information relevant to you.

Card with red border and an ambulance line drawing - it says "Please call an ambulance. I'm having a medical emergency. See the back of this card for more information."
Stickman Communications@stickmancomms.bsky.social · 4w ago

Just discovered google thinks I'm selling prescription drugs because some of my keyring cards cover needing taking insulin! Not quite sure how this was mistaken for selling actual insulin...but hey, anything is possible with AI making the decisions.

card that says "I have T1 diabetes. I don't need a special diet. I adjust my insulin dose to match what I eat. I have already taken my insulin dose for this food. I need to eat it otherwise I will become ill."
Stickman Communications@stickmancomms.bsky.social · last mo.

Absolutely gutted. I've had to stop all overseas shipping. Today I discovered that Royal Mail has updated the requirements for sending post overseas - and it's now completely unusable for stickman orders. (massive amount of admin, only permits tiny orders, and stupidly expensive.)

red bordered flash card that says "I can't cope" with a stickman looking stressed out of it's head - hair on end, eyes popping, mouth all wiggly. copyright stickman communications 2023
Stickman Communications@stickmancomms.bsky.social · last mo.

Being prepared for flare-ups makes them a lot easier to manage - having a routine to follow instead of needing to remember in the moment what I need and have to come up with a plan when I'm least able to function. However, I find it easy to forget to

a cross stitch kit, with the guide printed directly on the canvas - there is a robin perched on a pink foxglove.