By way of an introduction
Transabled.org is an outlet for those of us who are transabled. The main focus is strongly on my thoughts about being transabled, wheelchairs, wannabes, disability, body identity integrity disorder (BIID) and related topics. Initially, it was merely a blog of sorts, before blogs even existed as such. Now, we have other people sharing their experiences, discussing their use of wheelchairs, of "pretending", of being who they are.
So you'll ask: "That 'thing', transabled, just exactly what is it?". It is hard to define in just a few words, the best way to learn is by going through the site, but in a nutshell, someone who is transabled "wants" to be disabled.
But it is not so much a "want" as much as a "need". Our "desire" is more a reflection of the fact that our self-image is that of a paraplegic (or amputee, or blind, or any number of other disabilities) than that of an able bodied man or woman.
The dichotomy between what our psyche tells us and what our body tells us is ripping us apart.
I well remember the first time I discovered I wasn't the only one feeling this way. I had a long discussion that evening with Sue, who told me about her desire to be paralysed. From there, I started looking around the 'net for more information about wheelchairs, wannabes (this is what most people call transabled). At the time, there was next to nothing. But it was enough to make me realise I was not the only one. That I was not sick in the head.
I only hope to repay the favour, and that a few people will find solace in knowing they are not alone.
You may think this pretty weird, obscene, even. But before you get upset about how we feel, I beg you to keep an open mind and read more about it. Explore the site, learn a little bit more. I always welcome an intelligent discussion about it, whether we agree or not.
And if you don't find it in you to be open minded, please move on.
Welcome!
Sean
Latest entries
by Julia - 29 August 2008
As a well-trained and experienced full-time-represser (insert smirk here), I’ve experienced that many times: Things you repress eventually sneak out in some way you wouldn’t have expected them to. As soon as I realised that I made some decisions, like confronting myself with the difficult things in my life and not wanting to repress anymore and to do what I can to avoid it. Since I’ve made those decisions, several things really changed in my life. I still find it hard to face things instead of fleeing from them, but I can see the results, which are clearly positive.
BIID sneaking out through the back door continues »
by Sean - 28 August 2008
As I said in a recent post, I went to see a psychiatrist, and he basically said he couldn’t help me with BIID. We discussed some help with depression, and he suggested that I might want to try a couse of anti-psychotics to appease the "BIID demons". I’m not particularly keen on trying yet another course of medication, but I’ll probably do it nonetheless.
Anti-psychotics to treat BIID? continues »
by Julia - 27 August 2008
When I read Gordo’s screenplay, some childhood memories came back. For which I am really grateful, because I’m a digger for memories. I miss the first ten years of my life almost completely, I don’t know where they’ve gone. The couple of sequences I did remember until now mostly had to do with situations in which I were embarassed. Anybody relate to that? ;-) But now I also remember two BIID-related sequences and I want to tell you a bit about them and how it all developed to where I am now.
How well can you hide your own feelings from yourself? continues »
by Gordo - 26 August 2008
I’ve stated many times that I wish that Canada had a policy similar to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), because there’s no federal legislation that forces institutions and companies to make their services available to those with disabilities. Obviously, from my perspective, the most significant problem lies in physical access from a wheelchair.
Canada gets an ADA continues »
by Chloe - 25 August 2008
The continuation of my first wheelchair adventure, at a convention out of town: By day three I was well and truly stuck in the wheelchair, having been seen by more than a hundred people who knew me.
In the Deep End: Part 2 continues »