Alzheimer's - An Invisible Disability

I just read an informative article by a woman, Cyntianna C. Ledesma Ortega, who was asked to give up her seat at an event because her disability wasn't visible. It really hit home that anyone should have to "prove" that they have cancer, Alzheimer's, or any other invisible affliction. She said, "It turns out that when you suddenly become disabled, there is no committee to ask if you qualify to label yourself as such or to ask what accommodations might be available. You have to learn to advocate for yourself."

I don't seem to have that problem. I learned very early on to announce, when necessary, that I have Alzheimer's and that I'm really doing great unless I get stressed. Then, all hell will break loose and either I will become irrational or I will start to stutter and cry. I don't tell everyone, just when it is important that whomever I am speaking to slows down and gives me the chance to follow what they are saying.

I still travel once a year back to my home in Arizona and use Southwest Airlines. They, as probably others do, have someone who is trained to aid anyone with cognitive or physical disabilities. They even give you a number that is a hotline just in case one runs into issues while traveling. I was fearful on my first flight as there were delays, missed flights, broken planes and such but most everyone went out of their way to help. On one of my layovers, however, there was some unpleasantness where a wheel chair could not be found, nobody seemed to care, and I was in danger of missing yet another flight. I called the hotline and within minutes someone was there with the wheelchair with apologies. I know that heads rolled on that one as I have never had an issue since. That wheelchair is always waiting for me. (It's not that I am unable to walk, it is the sheer magnitude of the airport, the masses of people, and the confusing ways to get to different areas that I use the wheel chair for. It alleviates all that stress, which is what I need to avoid.)

I recently had an issue with my new MacBook and had to call the help desk. The technician asked if I could do troubleshooting and so I explained the situation and he was amazing. He gave step by step instructions, where we had to go into the programming brain of the Mac and waited patiently until I had announced that I had completed a step before he went on to the next. This is just an example of how accommodating people can be if you let them know up front before anything begins to boil. I have had this experience with banking and other online and phone conversations.

Don't be afraid to speak up. Don't let anyone bully you. You can remain in control and demand respect.

On a lighter note:

My four "indoor" pets.