How Disability Fatigue Is Different From Being Tired: The Exhaustion No One Sees

 

“Maybe you just need a nap.”

“You’re probably just overworked.”

“Everyone’s tired these days.”

These are the well-meaning but frustrating things disabled people hear every time we try to explain fatigue — not the regular tired kind, but disability fatigue. It’s not sleepiness. It’s not something that goes away with a coffee or a good night’s rest.

Disability fatigue is a full-body shutdown. It can feel like gravity has tripled. Like your bones are hollow. Like thinking, moving, or speaking takes energy you simply don’t have.

And the worst part?
It’s invisible.

Unless someone has experienced it, most people don’t understand what it’s like to live with this type of exhaustion every day — or how debilitating it really is.

So let’s talk about it.

“You Don’t Look Disabled”: The Harm of Invisible Disability Erasure

 “You don’t look disabled.”

If I had a dollar for every time someone said that to me — well, I might finally afford that custom wheelchair cushion insurance won’t cover.

It’s meant as a compliment, right? It’s said with a smile, with a tone that implies I’ve somehow “beaten” disability by appearing “normal.” But here’s the truth:

It’s not a compliment. It’s a dismissal.

I Thought No One Was Listening Anymore — Then 3,606 People Showed Up

 There’s a particular kind of silence that comes from being disabled online.

Not the peaceful kind — the empty kind.

The kind where you pour yourself into writing about accessibility, survival, hope, pain… and for months, or years, it feels like the words go nowhere.

I’ve felt that silence.

But this month, something changed. 3,606 people visited my blog — the highest since 2015.

I Just Hit My Highest Blog Views Since 2015 — Here’s What It Means (and What Comes Next)

 In July 2025, my blog crossed 3,606 monthly views — a number I haven’t seen in over a decade.

Not since the early days of this blog — back in 2015, maybe even earlier — have I hit that kind of reach. For some, that might sound like a humble number. But for me, it means a comeback, a connection, and a whole lot of momentum.

This isn’t just a number.

This is a signal that the work I’m doing — sharing life with a disability, pushing for accessibility, helping others find empowerment — is being seen, heard, and felt.

Let’s talk about how we got here, what’s working, and what’s next.

Disability Rights Under Threat: Why We Need Immediate Action in 2025

As we find ourselves midway through 2025, it has become abundantly clear that the fight for disability rights isn't merely ongoing—it's intensifying. The recent policy changes, public narratives, and economic pressures across Canada and internationally highlight a concerning trend: disability rights are not only under threat but are actively being dismantled. This article aims to illuminate the urgency of the situation, underscore why it matters to all of us, and outline clear actions we can take right now to safeguard these essential human rights.