How Disability Inclusion Can Expand Your Communication Skills
A Spoon Theory primer from a spoonie
If you’ve never heard of a spoonie, it’s a person, often with invisible mental or physical disabilities and conditions that affect daily functioning. Any chronic illness ushers you into the spoonie club. Frequent migraines, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, and anxiety are among the myriad debilitating diagnoses that impair the flow of life for sufferers.
Spoon Theory
The term spoonie comes from Spoon Theory, which was coined by award-winning blogger and patient advocate, Christine Miserandino. She wanted to explain the challenges inherent to people living with Lupus. The problem is that people with invisible conditions often appear healthy and able-bodied. This makes it hard for people to comprehend their need for rest and support, especially if they are young. Christine laid out a pile of spoons on a table and likened them to the finite energy reserves of an affected individual.
Every single activity depletes spoons. High-energy tasks, like running errands and visiting friends, require more spoons. But even low-energy tasks like getting dressed or taking a bath, still require a spoon or two. In a twelve-spoon day, going to work takes four spoons and getting out of bed takes one. Allocating the…
