Disclosure – I was kindly gifted this product to review, therefore all thoughts are my own. All links in this review are NOT affiliate, therefore I will not earn a commission if you buy the item through a link. For more information, you can read my full disclosure.
“But you don’t look disabled” “You’re too young and pretty to be disabled” “How are you disabled if you can walk?”
Bit blunt, ain’t it?
Believe it or not, many people make these statements when a disabled person talks about their disability. Unfortunately, this has led to a society full of stigma surrounding the perception that disability has a certain look.
As I was non-disabled up until turning 22, I can see both sides and I’m ashamed to say up until I became disabled, I did question if some people were disabled.
I was surrounded by people who did fake having a disability and as a result, I started judging people and I hate myself for that. I did report them but due to the confidentiality part, I never knew what the outcome was and I broke off all contact.
Now, as a disabled person, the frustration is staggering when non-disabled people question our disabilities. We shouldn’t have to provide our medical history when strangers come up to us and ask, “Oh, what’s wrong with you then?”
We just want to be able to go about our daily lives without the invasive questions.
Some disabled people prefer to wear awareness badges or a sunflower lanyard to let others know that they have a disability, especially the ones you can’t see like hearing loss or autism, for example.
I have been looking for something to wear for quite a while, all I wanted was something minimal but pretty.
Away With The Stars offers beautiful handmade accessories such as the Hidden Disability Keyring, crystal jewellery, and colour-changing keyrings. With the rising cost of living, we’re struggling to afford the necessities we need on a daily basis, so it’s really good to see this small business offer inexpensive and very affordable awareness accessories.
I love the design, with the cursive writing and the small yellow petals, I’ve not seen anything like it before so it’s very unique.
What I’m about to say, please take with a pinch of salt as I have central vision loss so I struggle to see if things are lined up correctly. But, to me, the writing appears too big and the letters (first and last letters) look like some are missing.
Also, on the back with the yellow petals that create the shape of a sunflower, the entire design doesn’t look like it’s centred, but instead, it seems like it’s positioned towards the bottom left.
I suspect that was an error when printing/placing the design on the keyring but overall, it is a beautiful design and I’ll definitely be wearing it on my lanyard.
You can find more products at Away With The Stars and follow them on Instagram.
Do you wear any awareness accessories? Have they helped prevent strangers from asking invasive questions?
