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This is an overview of the University on the side of campus I work on. It is a couple of years old, but overall you can see that there are 5 buildings within a close proximity to one another. The number of handicap spots for those buildings is 4. There are three more located behind Levine Hall and next to Sanford Hall, but the access to those is a hinderance as there is no direct access to an elevator, only a set of stairs. The closest elevator is in Sanford Hall where you have to walk around the landscaped drive to the back of the building to get inside the building and take an elevator up to the main floor to get out onto the courtyard. It is not very convenient for a wheelchair or a walking disability.
This is an overview of the University on the side of campus I work on. It is a couple of years old, but overall you can see that there are 5 buildings within a close proximity to one another. The number of handicap spots for those buildings is 4. There are three more located behind Levine Hall and next to Sanford Hall, but the access to those is a hinderance as there is no direct access to an elevator, only a set of stairs. The closest elevator is in Sanford Hall where you have to walk around the landscaped drive to the back of the building to get inside the building and take an elevator up to the main floor to get out onto the courtyard. It is not very convenient for a wheelchair or a walking disability.
"It meets ADA Compliance"
Photo by Debra Bunker
"Huntersville, NC, 2024. “Being disabled is a part-time to full-time job”
Photo by Kim Looby
Which is my work to-do list and which is my medical to-do list?
Same week:
Doctors appointments - scheduling, rescheduling, follow ups
Messaging doctors with questions
Arguing with CVS, doctors offices and health insurance about getting medication filled
Making sure I get all of my medications filled on time (I have about 30)
Filling out paperwork for work including FMLA and accommodation requests and making sure everyone gets the right documents and fills them out
Changing and organizing medications at home so none get lost or run out
Keeping up with test results and making sure they get read and shared with doctors
If I had more money, I could hire someone to do this for me. This kind of work also takes experience and knowledge to know how to fight these systems. And if you don't know how, it can cost your more money in the long run: where to get lower cost or free medications, what to do if pharmacies don't fill meds, where to get medical devices and what to do if they don't work, making sure bills get paid and don't get sent to collections but ALSO that every public hospital in the US has a program that will significantly waive medical bills if you live below certain incomes which are often higher than you might think.
“Where Can I Go?”
Photo by Othelia Lee
My biggest challenge with my vision impairment is driving. In the US, it's like being a fish out of water because getting around without driving is tough. But now that I'm in South Korea, it's a whole different story. With their amazing public transportation system, I can go anywhere on my own!
My biggest challenge with my vision impairment is driving. In the US, it's like being a fish out of water because getting around without driving is tough. But now that I'm in South Korea, it's a whole different story. With their amazing public transportation system, I can go anywhere on my own!
After living with my disability for over half a century, it doesn't bother me anymore. What really gets to me is the social construction of race in the US. I still feel like an "other," like an animal in the zoo. This is something I don't think I'll ever be able to fully overcome. Some people with prejudices don't seem to grasp the idea of a professional Asian woman, and this can affect my work performance.
After living with my disability for over half a century, it doesn't bother me anymore. What really gets to me is the social construction of race in the US. I still feel like an "other," like an animal in the zoo. This is something I don't think I'll ever be able to fully overcome. Some people with prejudices don't seem to grasp the idea of a professional Asian woman, and this can affect my work performance.
“Like Animals at the Zoo”
Photo by Othelia Lee
"Self portrait of a person who finds finances to be maddening"
Photo by Sydney Gallup
The subject of personal finance is sore for me, it causes me so much anxiety and mental anguish. I grew up lower middle class and often did without. I also deal with bipolar depression combined with ADHD that can at times, make me financially irresponsible. I will purchase things I don't need (mindless spending) while putting on the backburner that medical bill and consolidating my student loans. Countless times I have procrastinated something financial and it ends up costing me, it may not be a lot at a time, but it adds up. Or, if I know I don't have to pay something right away, I either pay it to get it out of the way or put it off and forget. I don't struggle financially, I keep myself afloat, the problem is that I know what I need to do or should do and put it off.
The subject of personal finance is sore for me, it causes me so much anxiety and mental anguish. I grew up lower middle class and often did without. I also deal with bipolar depression combined with ADHD that can at times, make me financially irresponsible. I will purchase things I don't need (mindless spending) while putting on the backburner that medical bill and consolidating my student loans. Countless times I have procrastinated something financial and it ends up costing me, it may not be a lot at a time, but it adds up. Or, if I know I don't have to pay something right away, I either pay it to get it out of the way or put it off and forget. I don't struggle financially, I keep myself afloat, the problem is that I know what I need to do or should do and put it off.
Like many of my self reflections, I will always go to the idea that "at least I'm ok," "someone has it worse," "I'm surviving and doing well given my circumstances so how I am a victim?" As much as that is painful to experience and awful for my mind to think that of myself, there is some truth. I am surviving, I have a home that is warm and safe, I can choose to eat healthy to manage some symptoms, I always have food, I have health insurance that covers my therapy, I have the ability to choose a psychiatrist, when things are tough I have a support group who will hear me out and understand me, and I'm largely OK.
Like many of my self reflections, I will always go to the idea that "at least I'm ok," "someone has it worse," "I'm surviving and doing well given my circumstances so how I am a victim?" As much as that is painful to experience and awful for my mind to think that of myself, there is some truth. I am surviving, I have a home that is warm and safe, I can choose to eat healthy to manage some symptoms, I always have food, I have health insurance that covers my therapy, I have the ability to choose a psychiatrist, when things are tough I have a support group who will hear me out and understand me, and I'm largely OK.
"An apple a day keeps the doctors away"
Photo by Sydney Gallup
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