Living with a disability isn’t always easy, but sometimes the greatest struggle can come from discrimination from non-disabled people, as the trending hashtag #AbledsAreWeird details. Users by the thousands have shared their experiences this week, shining a spotlight on the uncomfortable, rude, and sometimes just downright bizarre harassment people with disabilities face. Writer and advocate Imani Barbarin created the hashtag last Friday when she shared that a stranger once threw her crutch into the pool to help her learn how to swim. It quickly garnered nearly 9,000 likes as other people with disabilities began sharing their similarly frustrating experiences.

I think about the time an abled random stranger threw my crutch into the pool “to help me swim” a lot. #AbledsAreWeird — Crutches&Spice ♿️ : Rude For A Disabled Person (@Imani_Barbarin) March 15, 2019

Stories on Twitter outlined how people with disabilities routinely face such invasions of privacy and consent, even if sometimes the non-disabled person at fault means well. Others allow their curiosity and lack of experience with people with disabilities to totally disregard personal boundaries. “…a woman made a beeline to me and, [with] no introduction, asked, ‘Can you have sex?'” wrote photographer Kathryne Husk, and they were hardly surprised; it wasn’t the first time a stranger asked them that.

At a grocery store, a woman made a beeline to me and, w/ no introduction, asked, "Can you have sex?" It wasn't the 1st time I've been asked this, so I said flirtatiously, "Why, you offering?" She literally jumped back in disgust and told me I was gross. #AbledsAreWeird — Kathryne Grimm ♿🏳️‍🌈 (@KatGrimmArt) March 17, 2019

I was an ambulatory wheelchair user for a year in high school, while I awaited spinal surgery. A peer told me I would get better if I just took the stairs, and she tried to block the elevator entrance several times. We were on the fifth floor. I agree, #AbledsAreWeird — BestingRitchFace (@eirpaC) March 15, 2019

#AbledsAreWeird. They think it’s okay to ask strangers about their medical history because they have a service animal or mobility device, but get indignant if they are asked in return about the results of their last STD test. — Abrea♿️ (@Cadenza_33) March 16, 2019

#AbledsAreWeird The random woman who insisted to my 5 year old that she wrong when she referred to me as mum because “you can’t be a mum being like.. that”. She legit tried to argue with my 5 year old that I must just be an aunt or something. — Kat Harrison (@chronicparent30) March 16, 2019

The viral hashtag also highlighted how people with disabilities are constantly fielding health suggestions from acquaintances and strangers, as if they haven’t heard them a million times before.

"Have you tried sleeping with a pillow between your knees" Diagnosed with scoliosis 26 years ago, hip dysplasia & autoimmune arthritis as an adult; my life has been a neverending odyssey of "diagnostic treatments" & a rotating cast of specialists, but sure#AbledsAreWeird — AR Hamed (@MadMaxFlapper) March 16, 2019

"Just change your diet!"

"Just take up yoga!"

" Just practice mindfulness!"

"Just have CBT!"

" Just go for a run!"

"Just do exercise!"

" Just go vegan!" "That's how I stopped being sad!" Actually depression isn't being- "JUST BE HAPPY 😡😡" #abledsAreWeird — thal (hiatus) (@thalestral) March 18, 2019

Neurotypical person: "Lol, I'm sorry I forgot, I'm so ADHD"

Me, a human with ADHD: No worries Me: "Sorry, I forgot, I have been really overwhelmed and didn't put it in my calendar."

Same neurotypical person: "Stop using your ADHD as an excuse."#AbledsAreWeird — Andrew (@lAndrewh98) March 16, 2019

Perhaps most horrific of all was how many stories mentioned such mistreatment from medical professionals and educators.

https://twitter.com/WENEEDTOTALK40/status/1106923739416064002

All the neurotypical teachers I had that thought they knew more than me about mental disorders & disabilities. I had one that assumed that because she taught an honors class, there was no way she could have any ND students #AbledsAreWeird — WATCH KIPO (@cosmicreindrops) March 16, 2019

It’s horrifying how many of the stories in #AbledsAreWeird are about educational or medical professionals. And then they wonder why disabled people don’t trust them. — Jay (@MsJayTeeR) March 16, 2019

Guidance counselor: you’re too disabled for AP English Guidance counselor: but not disabled enough for the gym class that’s specifically for disabled students (Generally paraphrasing what she said. I won on the AP English thing but I’m still in abled gym 😑)#AbledsAreWeird — Elizabeth M. (@hypo_awareness) March 16, 2019

Doctor: Do you want to try this medicine with bad side effects that has never been tested on your illness and I have no real proof it will work but maybe it will? Me: No Doctor: Do you even want to get better?#AbledsAreWeird — Kayla A. K. Jean (@KaylaAKJean) March 17, 2019

Suffice to say, the stories succeeded in making an impact. As #AbledsAreWeird started trending, several non-disabled people began spreading the word about it as a reference for others to learn how to treat (or, perhaps, not treat) people with disabilities. “We can learn to do better by listening, and this hashtag can help you start,” wrote Twitter user @surliestgirl.

Hey, friends, take a stroll through the #AbledsAreWeird posts for a serious education and eye-opener. I'm sure I have done some stupid-ass things when interacting with people with disabilities. We can learn to do better by listening, and this hashtag can help you start. — Holly Frey (@surliestgirl) March 16, 2019

If you need a reality check as able-bodied person, educate yourself with #AbledsAreWeird. This hashtag isn’t a joke, it’s about harassment and bullying. World, do better. — Laila Alawa (@lulainlife) March 16, 2019

Update 5:01pm CT, March 19: The creator of #AbledsAreWeird, writer and advocate Imani Barbarin, told the Daily Dot she was ecstatic her efforts could help people with disabilities feel heard. “I always say that the content I make isn’t for abled people to be comforted in their fear of disability,” Barbarin said, “but for disabled people to feel like they’re less alone.” That was the very reason she created the hashtag in the first place: to build a conversation around their shared experiences. She knew the hashtag’s wording would be particularly important in facilitating that intent. “[I]t flips societal expectations on its head,” she said, “and posits that it is not disabled people that are weird or ‘other’ but a society that constantly treats us as such and doesn’t listen to us.”

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