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
Authors Wanted!
We are looking for new contributors to the site. Do you have BIID? Are you interested in writing regularly about your experience living with BIID? If so, becoming an author on this site may be what you are looking for. Get more information about becoming an author »
Latest entries
by Sean - 30 July 2010
I spent most of the day doing chores, and walking to do these chores. At some point during the day I was reminded of a conversation I had with a woman who has osteogenesis imperfecta, and knows about BIID. Mostly, she gets it, but she has a few issues. One of these issues is the fact that some of us do walk. If we need to be paralysed, and use a wheelchair to help with BIID, we should be consistant and never walk, they say.
Is It Moral (Or Ethical) For Us To Walk At All? continues »
by Chloe - 29 July 2010
Every Sunday Alicia and I set aside several hours specifically to discuss our feelings. It’s what we do instead of going to church. In fact, for us it IS going to church. Today I went on a hike which exemplified and consolidated what we had discussed on the previous two Sundays. As usual, my hike is dripping with metaphors for BIID; but I’ll let you figure those out.
Winning and Losing continues »
by Sean - 26 July 2010
I am an angry man. I cannot deny it. It usualy simmers under the surface. It often burns hot. I control it, I retain it, I reduce it as I can. But it’s there.
Anger And Frustration continues »
by Elisabeth - 22 July 2010
My BIID has been at around 2 out of 10 badness for the last two or three months. So why do I still wheel? Wouldn’t it be easier both for me and my marriage to stop wheeling when my BIID is quiet?
Still Wheeling continues »
by Sophie - 21 July 2010
It’s getting harder and harder not to use labels in life. We all like the idea of using labels, it would mean we’d fit into something easy and predictable compared to what the norm actually is. In regards to BIID although specific labels are argued, a lot of us are happy to put ourselves under a label if it means we get the help we need, we consider labels a means to an end.
Labels continues »