Hi all!

Just wanted to put out there for feedback that we've added the RBlind set of themes (credit to rblind.com for making them available).

Known bugs (incompatibilities on our end, nothing to do with the theme creators):

• usernames are too small
• Some button colors are hardcoded to magenta
• Username/pronouns preview is borked on light theme
• Featured posts box is slightly misaligned compared to the XL up/downvote buttons
• I haven't tried it on mobile

Try it out under the Themes drop-down on https://hexbear.net/settings !

Now I know I'm very lurky on this mega (for those on trans mega and/or especially the tracha matrix space, hi :3) but I thought I'd get this up and running for the week and share a bit of a related update for me.

I'm looking into meds! I've really been struggling with ADHD and Anxiety a lot for a while, so this is a long time coming. I'm hoping they'll help me function better, because wow does it feel like I'm dysfunctional a lot of the time, even compared to other neurodivergent people I know IRL

As always, we ask that in order to participate in the weekly megathread, one self-identifies as some form of disabled, which is broadly defined in the community sidebar:

"Disability" is an umbrella term which encompasses physical disabilities, emotional/psychiatric disabilities, neurodivergence, intellectual/developmental disabilities, sensory disabilities, invisible disabilities, and more. You do not have to have an official diagnosis to consider yourself disabled.

Mask up, love one another, and stay alive for one more week.

cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/4481922

I have a disabled friend who badly needs some help at home. Her health has taken a rough turn lately and she's having trouble taking care of herself and is extremely worried that she'll have to give up her pets because she can't take care of them.

This is the listing she using: "Petite female in search of long Term, live-in companion/support aide. Female preferred. Duties include - Housekeeping, Laundry, Cooking, Caring for animals, Pick up Rx, Taking to various appointments, Grocery shopping, help moving around the house. Homeowner is easy to get along with and just needs that extra helping hand around home! All of this is in exchange for a room and the stipend MD provides. MUST HAVE REFERENCES AND PASS A BACKGROUND CHECK. If interested please email houseuponmoon@hotmail.com"

As it says it will be a paid position plus a room. It's not an x hours of work thing more just hanging around to help out. She lives a couple hours from Pittsburgh in a really rural area. The pets are three cats and two dogs as well as some chickens. I can answer questions or you can email.

Hello disabled comrades! Sorry about the last mega going a bit long. It looks like we are all busy . I hope everyone is doing well! Anywho, here's the new one.

As always, we ask that in order to participate in the weekly megathread, one self-identifies as some form of disabled, which is broadly defined in the community sidebar:

"Disability" is an umbrella term which encompasses physical disabilities, emotional/psychiatric disabilities, neurodivergence, intellectual/developmental disabilities, sensory disabilities, invisible disabilities, and more. You do not have to have an official diagnosis to consider yourself disabled.

Mask up, love one another, and stay alive for one more week.

Hello disabled comrades! I hope everyone is doing well. I'm sorry I haven't been on this site much recently. If you've written me a nice message on the mega over the past few weeks I want you to know that I have read it and I appreciate it very much, even if I haven't responded. Thank you all.

As always, we ask that in order to participate in the weekly megathread, one self-identifies as some form of disabled, which is broadly defined in the community sidebar:

"Disability" is an umbrella term which encompasses physical disabilities, emotional/psychiatric disabilities, neurodivergence, intellectual/developmental disabilities, sensory disabilities, invisible disabilities, and more. You do not have to have an official diagnosis to consider yourself disabled.

Mask up, love one another, and stay alive for one more week.

Hello disabled comrades! I continue to be incredibly busy — I've been working on some COVID advocacy work at my school recently and I've also applied to get a free wheelchair from an organization that donates second-hand assistive tech. On the (very) bright side, my orthostatic intolerance has been a lot better recently. I don't know what happened, maybe all my lying down really did do something! I'm not counting on this being permanent but it does feel really great to be able to sit up for multiple hours right now.

As always, we ask that in order to participate in the weekly megathread, one self-identifies as some form of disabled, which is broadly defined in the community sidebar:

"Disability" is an umbrella term which encompasses physical disabilities, emotional/psychiatric disabilities, neurodivergence, intellectual/developmental disabilities, sensory disabilities, invisible disabilities, and more. You do not have to have an official diagnosis to consider yourself disabled.

Mask up, love one another, and stay alive for one more week.

Hello disabled comrades! Hoping that everyone is doing alright. If you are struggling, I’m with you. We will get through it together.

As always, we ask that in order to participate in the weekly megathread, one self-identifies as some form of disabled, which is broadly defined in the community sidebar:

"Disability" is an umbrella term which encompasses physical disabilities, emotional/psychiatric disabilities, neurodivergence, intellectual/developmental disabilities, sensory disabilities, invisible disabilities, and more. You do not have to have an official diagnosis to consider yourself disabled.

Mask up, love one another, and stay alive for one more week.

I finally got a cane! It’s not really the mobility aid I would benefit from the most (that’s an electric wheelchair but I’m so intimidated by the process to get one of those sob) but it’s a first step and I’m still excited. How is everyone else doing?

As always, we ask that in order to participate in the weekly megathread, one self-identifies as some form of disabled, which is broadly defined in the community sidebar:

"Disability" is an umbrella term which encompasses physical disabilities, emotional/psychiatric disabilities, neurodivergence, intellectual/developmental disabilities, sensory disabilities, invisible disabilities, and more. You do not have to have an official diagnosis to consider yourself disabled.

Mask up, love one another, and stay alive for one more week.

Hello disabled comrades! Sorry the mega is late again. I hope we’re all weathering the COVID surge as best as we can.

As always, we ask that in order to participate in the weekly megathread, one self-identifies as some form of disabled, which is broadly defined in the community sidebar:

"Disability" is an umbrella term which encompasses physical disabilities, emotional/psychiatric disabilities, neurodivergence, intellectual/developmental disabilities, sensory disabilities, invisible disabilities, and more. You do not have to have an official diagnosis to consider yourself disabled.

Mask up, love one another, and stay alive for one more week.

Hello disabled comrades! This week, I am feeling very relieved for the ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Palestinian hostages. I hope we are all doing okay. If you're just surviving, barely making it through — I see you and I'm proud of you; and I hope this week brings you a little joy.

As always, we ask that in order to participate in the weekly megathread, one self-identifies as some form of disabled, which is broadly defined in the community sidebar:

"Disability" is an umbrella term which encompasses physical disabilities, emotional/psychiatric disabilities, neurodivergence, intellectual/developmental disabilities, sensory disabilities, invisible disabilities, and more. You do not have to have an official diagnosis to consider yourself disabled.

Mask up, love one another, and stay alive for one more week.

Hello disables comrades! I hope things are going well.

As always, we ask that in order to participate in the weekly megathread, one self-identifies as some form of disabled, which is broadly defined in the community sidebar:

"Disability" is an umbrella term which encompasses physical disabilities, emotional/psychiatric disabilities, neurodivergence, intellectual/developmental disabilities, sensory disabilities, invisible disabilities, and more. You do not have to have an official diagnosis to consider yourself disabled.

Mask up, love one another, and stay alive for one more week.

Hi disabled community! I'm so sorry the megathread is late this week. I hope everyone's new year is going well so far!

As always, we ask that in order to participate in the weekly megathread, one self-identifies as some form of disabled, which is broadly defined in the community sidebar:

"Disability" is an umbrella term which encompasses physical disabilities, emotional/psychiatric disabilities, neurodivergence, intellectual/developmental disabilities, sensory disabilities, invisible disabilities, and more. You do not have to have an official diagnosis to consider yourself disabled.

Mask up, love one another, and stay alive for one more week.

Hello disabled comrades! I can't believe we're entering a new year... which is year six of the pandemic, hooray. I'm a firm believer that we must always have revolutionary optimism, but I can't say it hasn't been hard for the past few years as more and more leftists have abandoned COVID precautions. But as disabled people, we keep agitating, we keep organizing, and we keep going. Solidarity in the face of pandemic eugenics, always.

As always, we ask that in order to participate in the weekly megathread, one self-identifies as some form of disabled, which is broadly defined in the community sidebar:

"Disability" is an umbrella term which encompasses physical disabilities, emotional/psychiatric disabilities, neurodivergence, intellectual/developmental disabilities, sensory disabilities, invisible disabilities, and more. You do not have to have an official diagnosis to consider yourself disabled.

Mask up, love one another, and stay alive for one more week.

Hi! How are we all holding up? Any wins? Any frustrations? This is the space to discuss them all!

As always, we ask that in order to participate in the weekly megathread, one self-identifies as some form of disabled, which is broadly defined in the community sidebar:

"Disability" is an umbrella term which encompasses physical disabilities, emotional/psychiatric disabilities, neurodivergence, intellectual/developmental disabilities, sensory disabilities, invisible disabilities, and more. You do not have to have an official diagnosis to consider yourself disabled.

Mask up, love one another, and stay alive for one more week.

Hi, I’m Bijhan Agha, a trans Muslim comics creator, and I want to share something deeply personal with you. Creating Legendary X-Knights has been a journey shaped by my own challenges and experiences. As someone who’s autistic and lives with chronic anxiety and depression, traditional work settings have never been a space where I could thrive. But storytelling? That’s where I’ve always found my purpose.

Legendary X-Knights is the kind of story I’ve dreamed of making for years. It’s about three strangers, brought together by destiny, who are given elemental powers to fight a larger evil. At its heart, it’s a story about overcoming obstacles, finding strength in who you are, and building something greater together.

This comic means so much to me because it’s not just a creative outlet—it’s my way of proving to myself that I can create something meaningful, even when the world feels overwhelming. If that resonates with you, I’d love for you to take a look and consider supporting the Kickstarter. Thank you for being part of this journey.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jamsheedstudios/the-legendary-x-knights-issue-1-the-legend-begins/

Hello! Sorry for the late mega last week. How are my disabled comrades doing?

As always, we ask that in order to participate in the weekly megathread, one self-identifies as some form of disabled, which is broadly defined in the community sidebar:

"Disability" is an umbrella term which encompasses physical disabilities, emotional/psychiatric disabilities, neurodivergence, intellectual/developmental disabilities, sensory disabilities, invisible disabilities, and more. You do not have to have an official diagnosis to consider yourself disabled.

Mask up, love one another, and stay alive for one more week.

No fancy OP this time because I am running on E! I'm definitely not a couple of days late! This week's person of interest is you, dear reader. Tell this fat frog lady all about your lovely selves this week. Tell me what makes you laugh and what brings you joy in this hell on earth we call home.

As always, we ask that in order to participate in the weekly megathread, one self-identifies as some form of disabled, which is broadly defined in the community sidebar:

"Disability" is an umbrella term which encompasses physical disabilities, emotional/psychiatric disabilities, neurodivergence, intellectual/developmental disabilities, sensory disabilities, invisible disabilities, and more. You do not have to have an official diagnosis to consider yourself disabled.

Mask up, love one another, and stay alive for one more week.

That's a wrap for today. Hope to see you at the next one!

Hi comrades, you might have seen that recently I've been hosting Drop-In Peer Support in the game Webfishing via my announcement posts in the neurodiverse comm. I'm excited to announce that it’s yappening again - you're invited to drop in chat about what's on your mind!

That's a wrap for today, thanks to everyone who stopped by!

For all info check out the FAQ and server Rules found in this post

Looking forward to seeing you there!

This week in people of interest: Marta Russell

Marta Russell proposes a theory of disability that rejects arguments about culture and identity, instead charging that specific systems and values embedded within capitalism are the primary driver of (and justification for) legal frameworks sanctioning the institutionalization and economic exclusion of disabled people. A key question for Russell was: What do systems of production and wealth accumulation gain from the way in which disability certification frameworks are constructed and public benefits allocated? Centered in an analysis of means-testing, war spending, administrative burdens, and underfunded social safety net supports, Russell’s work showed how a society obsessed with optimization, efficiency, and cost-benefit analysis had created a vast network of laws and institutions that worked together to perpetuate what she called “the money model of disablement,” better known as “the money model.”

The money model, best articulated in Russell’s 1998 book, Beyond Ramps: Disability at the End of the Social Contract, posits that disabled people are not, as they are often framed in dominant culture, a “burden to society,” but are actually a valuable resource. As Russell explains: “…persons who do not offer a body which will enhance profitmaking as laborers are used to shore up US capitalism by other means.” Disabled people are a nexus around which the capacity for surplus labor power can be built (often financed in part by federal money)—whole sectors of our economy have sprung forth from the money model, which has normalized the commodification of things, systems, and places that maintain disabled bodies in pursuit of squeezing profit from the money which passes through disabled people towards their survival and care. For example, nursing homes, Russell argued, are not places of rest and comfort, but a strategy for commodifying the “least productive” so that they can both be “made of use to the economic order” and free up the labor supply of those who love and wish to care for them. This system benefits neither the workers nor disabled people, only what Russell called the “owning class.” US disability policy, instead of being oriented around supporting the needs of disabled people, sanctions and facilitates the capitalist capture of nearly all aspects of disablement, impairment, chronic illness, and disability, including the way that “reasonable accommodations” are commodified (as explored by Ruth Colker in her essay for this symposium).

Russell was not just a theorist but also was a long-time disability rights activist. Throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s she was involved in disability advocacy and organizing with ADAPT, Not Dead Yet, and the ACLU. Her efforts focused on policy interventions like assisted suicide laws and SSDI cuts, campaigns that challenged the many stigmatizing portrayals of disabled people sold to the public via the charity industrial complex, and more formal organizing and direct action with ADAPT agitating for home and community-based services as alternatives to nursing homes and other institutions of warehousing. As Nate Holdren argues in his piece for this symposium, Russell’s significant contributions to both disability theory and Marxism were crucially informed by her work in social movements. This connection between theory and praxis is reflected not just in the subject matter of her work, or in her citational practices, but also in the empathy, clarity, and rage with which she argues for the need for the left to begin to engage in a broad refusal of the economic valuation of life.

Russell’s political writing was extensive, covering the topics she organized around as well as more explicit political economic analysis of US policy and critique of the disabling effects of the then-expanding criminal justice system. Russell’s work was also highly critical of the liberal disability rights movement, arguing that disability rights discourse would benefit from embracing leftist thought and political economic analysis. Russell’s approach rejected the court-oriented civil rights strategy that was widely celebrated by liberal disability organizations and activists in the post-ADA era. This strategy, she argued, only sought to tamp down the violence caused by the ways that the state interacted with disabled people; instead, she focused on the political economic, not merely the “cultural” forces, driving systemic oppression of disabled people—an approach on which Jules Gill-Peterson expands in her essay for this symposium.

The lack of exposure that Russell’s small yet incredibly powerful body of work has had cannot be overstated. Her books are hard to find, there is one major printed collection of her essays, and one important book of essays about or incorporating her work. Until Capitalism and Disability: Selected Writings by Marta Russell was published by Haymarket Books in 2019, no comprehensive volume of her collected writings existed, nor was there broad citation of them within disability studies or law. Three years prior, when legal scholar and her former collaborator Ravi Malhotra edited Disability Politics in a Global Economy, an important anthology dedicated to Marta Russell’s memory, it was one of the first times Russell’s work was broadly celebrated within a purely academic context.

— from The Law and Political Economy Project.

As always, we ask that in order to participate in the weekly megathread, one self-identifies as some form of disabled, which is broadly defined in the community sidebar:

"Disability" is an umbrella term which encompasses physical disabilities, emotional/psychiatric disabilities, neurodivergence, intellectual/developmental disabilities, sensory disabilities, invisible disabilities, and more. You do not have to have an official diagnosis to consider yourself disabled.

Mask up, love one another, and stay alive for one more week.

Salutations Everybody!

As always, we ask that in order to participate in the weekly megathread, one self-identifies as some form of disabled, which is broadly defined in the community sidebar:

"Disability" is an umbrella term which encompasses physical disabilities, emotional/psychiatric disabilities, neurodivergence, intellectual/developmental disabilities, sensory disabilities, invisible disabilities, and more. You do not have to have an official diagnosis to consider yourself disabled.

Mask up, love one another, and stay alive for one more week.