Living independently can be a real challenge for disabled
people. Whether you are moving away from home or going off to university,
looking after yourself can bring about a whole host of hurdles that you
wouldn’t necessarily be able to predict.
My name is Ruby, I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and I am a
student at Exeter University. I run a blog
where I share my experiences of chronic illness and a project called Chronically Cute Cards where I
send out free, handmade, personalised cards to chronically ill people.
I’ve been living with students for the last few years but
have recently just moved into a house with my sister. This has meant I have
been spending a lot more time by myself and have had to adapt. I wanted to
share a few little tips and tricks that I have found to make life slightly
easier when living independently as a disabled person.
The perks of a bum bag
Purchasing a bum bag to carry all the things I may need
throughout the day has meant less trips up and down stairs and ensures I never
get caught without the essentials if I get stuck on the sofa! Having your
medication, phone, glasses and phone charger on hand can also be really helpful
in case of a fall or emergency.
Kitchen gadgets
The kitchen can be one of the toughest rooms when it comes
to independence as a disabled person due to the countless hazards. Kitchen aids
can be a great way to ease your concerns. Choppers, Nutri Bullets, kettle
tippers and cutlery grips make cooking safer and easier especially if you have
dexterity issues or painful hands.
Smart technology
One thing that I have found incredibly useful, but can occasionally be a bit pricey, is the Phillips Hue lightbulbs or smart lights. Being able to control the lights in your home via your phone saves you having to get up and down to turn lights off and on. You can also control the brightness which helps if you suffer from migraines as you can dim the lights.
Snuggles with a dog!
A huge bonus for moving in with my sister is her dog Murphy!
Having a pet is obviously not an option for everyone, but it really helps with
my anxiety when I am home alone, and he keeps me company on the days where I am
stuck in bed.
Food straight to the door
One tip that I cannot stress enough is online food shopping.
Food shopping is an exhausting activity, doing it online saves so much energy
and the people that deliver your order are usually super helpful and will often
help you unpack if you ask.
My version of independence
Finally, I think the most important tip for me has been to create
my own definition of independence. When I first started thinking about becoming
more independent, I was terrified that this meant I would no longer be able to
have help with anything. Now I have realised that there are certain things I
can do that serve my independence all whilst still asking and accepting help in
other aspects of living. Define your own independence, it looks different for
everyone!
These are a few of the things that have helped me to feel
confident being independent in my home and I really hope that you can draw some
inspiration from these ideas and that they will help you.
What do you find helps you around the house? Are there
any little hacks that make living independently easier? I would love for you to
share your tips and tricks!
