Kate Jennings
I turned to blogging at the tender age of 35 after my kidneys went into failure and my job as an event officer was no longer manageable.
After a a sufficient amount of procrastination, I finally sat down at my computer and started to think about what I wanted to do.
The answer was that I could write about myself, as any millennial worth their salt can! Specifically I could write about my illness and disability in the hopes to help and reach out to others with similar experiences to myself. After all, I have a plethora of stuff going on, including chronic kidney disease, I pee out of a tube and poop in a bag, not to mention I picked up the fun condition that is endometriosis a few years ago.
In February 2018, The Indisposed was launched. Its mission: to defy the powers that be that say those living with illness or a disability should live in a cave, or a tree or Croydon. I write to lend a voice to the chronically ill and disabled community, a voice which is already growing in strength – just look at the many brilliant bloggers out there doing so much to remove the stigma attached to illness and disability.
Growing up, especially in my teens and early twenties, I was jealous of able-bodied people. People without a poop bag attached to their bodies, without the need to worry where the nearest loo was in case anything started leaking.
Kate with her family in the ’80s
Having started my blog and following other bloggers in the illness and disability niche, I have grown more confident in myself and no longer do I look at my body and think “if only I were normal”. Because, what is ‘normal’? And more importantly, by putting myself out there and talking about my illness and disability, I value my body a lot more than I used to and hope others do too by reading my blog.
I became an #ALLin Ambassador because I wholeheartedly agree with its message of strength through building a community committed to making the world a better place for anyone at a disadvantage.
It is through community that we are changing the way disability is seen just by talking about our experiences and being seen as the humans we are rather than being seen as our disability.
Disability or no disability, we are all human and should be allowed to be who we are with no apologies.
We’re all just sexy humans trying to get on in the world and whether you feel your disability marks you out as different or not, your body is awesome – its got you this far after all.
And remember: just because you’re indisposed, doesn’t mean you’re not capable of great things.
……………………………………………..
To become an #ALLin Ambassador simply contact us: info@disabilitytalk.co.uk