This video is a long time coming. I’ve wanted to make it for a while, but I was afraid. I changed my social bios (so that they reflected my disabilities) quite a while ago, but speaking directly about it all felt much more daunting. My disabilities are mostly invisible and I can effectively hide them but I wanted to stop hiding. I could be an advocate for disability if I stopped hiding. I also have been trying to stick to the niche of art but because my disabilities affect how I work, I have lots of footage I can’t share without revealing my disabilities. Talking Heads are faster to film and easier to edit but I was avoiding them because I didn’t want to talk just about art. I prefer to cover a variety of topics. I am happy to say that making this video makes me feel freer to not worry about having a niche and to make more authentic content.

NonExhaustive List of Current Diagnosis:
Neurodivergence
Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder
MCAS
Dysautonomia
Multiple Food Allergies

⚕From the CDC:

"A disability is any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions)."
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disability...

♿ Featured Disability Advocates:
   / @specialbooksbyspecialkids  
   / @purpleella  
   / @mommingwithmigraine  
   / @squirmyandgru  
   / @hannahwitton  
   / @jessicaoutofthecloset  
   / @momonthespectrum  
   / @coleandcharisma  
   / @theannieelainey  
   / @aneva  
https://instagram.com/slayleebays?igs...\

0:00 Coming Up
0:14 Hello
1:05 Realizing I Was Disabled
2:15 My Current Short List of Diagnosis’s
2:26 CDC Definition of Disability
4:35 Disability isn’t a Bad Word
4:45 Why I Didn’t Think I Was Disabled
5:56 Discovering My ADHD at 15 from a Magazine Article
6:05 ADD Journal Entry from 1995
8:17 First Attempt at a ADD Diagnosis
8:55 Starting YouTube Channel
10:49 My Failure to Take ADHD Seriously Enough
11:25 My Full Neuropsych Evaluation
12:07 Exploring Overlap Between ADHD and Autism
12:45 Cognitive Dissonance with My Autism Diagnosis
14:40 Being High Masking and Stress
15:05 The Crossover Between Hypermobility/EDS and Autism/ADHD
16:52 Why I Didn’t Want to Disclose I am Disabled
18:55 Why I am Choosing to Share Now
19:37 Trying To Unmask and Not Hide Anymore
21:49 I Want My Voice to Be Heard: Asking for Accommodations and Advocating for Others
22:52 Other Reasons For Not Wanting To Disclose
23:21 Preexisting Conditions and Discrimination
24:57 The Least Important Reason I Didn’t Want To Make This Video
27:48 Not Choosing Just One Niche and Promising More Talking Heads
29:44 Bye
30:39 Another Diary Entry: Internalized Ableism