Two years ago I moved into my first house. Since then, I’ve lived by myself. There’s been a lot of trial and error to figure out how I can do things independently. The post Independent living as a disabled young adult appeared first on Chloe Tear ..read more

I’ve been qualified with Dezzie for 6 months now. If you don’t know, Dezzie is my first guide dog. He’s a 2 year old yellow Labrador cross retriever who has so much love to give. The last 6 months together has gone so quickly. If anything, it still feels like we’re getting to know each other. Here’s an update about what we’ve been up to in the last 6 months. The post 6 months of having a guide dog appeared first on Chloe Tear ..read more

As the cold weather creeps up on us, pain levels start to rise. My muscles begin to contract and ache in a way that’s persistent and loud. I know I say it every year, but surely it wasn’t this bad last year. The post Cerebral palsy and winter: “Surely it wasn’t this bad last year…” appeared first on Chloe Tear ..read more

I have mild cerebral palsy and I’ve worn AFO splints on and off my whole life. I initially wore 1 AFO on my left leg as a child. After a deterioration in my walking, I started to wear 2 AFO splints as a young adult. Despite my walking being unrecognisable from when I got AFO splints again, I continue to wear them.  The post Wearing AFO splints as an adult with cerebral palsy  appeared first on Chloe Tear ..read more

I’m writing this blog post while sat in a cafe, with Dezzie sleeping at my feet. This seemingly mundane task is something I’ve looked forward to for a long time — it’s huge and I’m actually emotional. Dezzie is oblivious to the enormity of this moment, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Dezzie and I are now a qualified partnership! It’s been about a month, it has gone so quickly! The post The emotional adjustment of getting a guide dog appeared first on Chloe Tear ..read more

As some of you may know, I’m on the waiting list for a guide dog. With the pandemic causing longer waiting times, I’ve been on the waiting list for nearly 2 and a half years. A client day was the chance to learn more about the process and meet some of the staff at Guide Dogs. The post Attending a Guide Dogs client day  appeared first on Chloe Tear ..read more

People don’t expect to become disabled. Yet it’s more common to acquire a disability then it is to be born with a condition or impairment. I appreciate that it’s a lot to take in. You find yourself in this whole new world. Fortunately, the disabled community have lots of advice. The post Becoming disabled: Advice from the disabled community appeared first on Chloe Tear ..read more

When I bought my first house, I knew I wanted it to be cosy, colourful and accessible. Without realising, I had made certain decisions that meant it was more accessible for me. I have made adaptations that are due to having cerebral palsy, but in this blog I will focus on things that are related to my visual impairment. The post Things in my house as someone who’s visually impaired appeared first on Chloe Tear ..read more

Independence is a concept that we’re all familiar with. It almost seems odd to be discussing it. Yet I know, as a disabled adult, that independence can be a core aspect when transitioning from adolescence to adulthood. Independence is what you want from life. Surely it’s the end goal for everyone. When you’re disabled you might have been told you’ll never be independent. I hope to challenge those views. But what does independence mean? The post Reframing independence appeared first on Chloe Tear ..read more

I certainly would not class myself as a sporty person, but swimming is something I’ve always enjoyed. Despite this, it’s not something I did regularly. However, towards the end of the first lockdown, the swimming pools opened up again. It felt like a chance. The post Swimming when you’re a disabled adult appeared first on Chloe Tear ..read more