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Beyond Representation: When Inclusion Stops Short of Power

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Before Lived Expertise Had a Name

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Beyond Representation: When Inclusion Stops Short of Power

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The Power of Self-Advocacy: Choosing Hope in a Broken System

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Routine Laparoscopic Surgery

The longer I take to recover from an illness or procedure, the more my routine becomes disrupted. This leads to a ripple effect: increased pain, limited movement, tremors, and muscle weakness. Ultimately, if I cannot return to a normal routine within 6 to 8 weeks, I may need to go back to the hospital for…
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Nine Months of Self Discovery

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NDIS Knock Back No. 2

I have been working on my NDIS application since August 2022, with nearly six months of evidence collection, specialist appointments, and storytelling. Rejected. #fnd #fndawareness #fndwarrior #fndaware #withfnd #chronicillness #disability #functionalneaurilogicaldisorder #functionalneurologicaldisorderawareness #functionalneurologicalsymptomdisorder #functionalneurology #NDIS
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Disability Support Declined

In my previous blog, I wrote about the fact my disability is permanent. My current state is my new normal. The ironic thing is that the NDIS declined my application due to their opinion of my disability not being permanent or, in NDIS language, ‘fully treated’. This is despite having letters confirming my disability from…
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FND, I didn’t sign up for this.

I have been struggling this week! I’ve started the journey this month of collating evidence of my permanent disability. I have found this confronting, and honestly has lowered my mood. Having to ask health professionals to test and prod, explain my FND symptoms has caused me to reflect back on my flare-ups. I’ve dug up 7…
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My FND NDIS Journey Begins

The single most challenging thing I have needed to do on this seven-year journey with a functional neurological disorder (FND) is formalising the diagnosis. Formalising the diagnosis requires me to be honest with myself. Meaning I can no longer mask or hide from my unusual walk (FND gait disorder) and other unusual symptoms. As a…