Blog
The (invisibly) disabled Minister
| Part 1 |
I am a Baptist minister, looking after a small congregation in Streatham Vale, South London. I also have a chronic health condition called Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS).[@1] This is a genetic connective tissue disorder which causes pain; loose, unstable joints; fatigue; digestive issues to name just a few things.[@2] Due to the nature of this condition, you often cannot see that I have any kind of disability. Unless my joint pain or the looseness of my joints is particularly bad, I do not usually use any mobility aids to get around. I am able to participate in ‘normal’ life most of the time, and so people may not realise I have a disability. However, for pretty much every second of every day I experience a fairly high level of pain. My condition is variable, so sometimes, on good days, my pain might be fairly low, but on extremely bad days, I’m not getting out of bed unless it is to crawl to the toilet! (Thankfully, there aren’t that many of these!) Read more
I am a Baptist minister, looking after a small congregation in Streatham Vale, South London. I also have a chronic health condition called Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS).[@1] This is a genetic connective tissue disorder which causes pain; loose, unstable joints; fatigue; digestive issues to name just a few things.[@2] Due to the nature of this condition, you often cannot see that I have any kind of disability. Unless my joint pain or the looseness of my joints is particularly bad, I do not usually use any mobility aids to get around. I am able to participate in ‘normal’ life most of the time, and so people may not realise I have a disability. However, for pretty much every second of every day I experience a fairly high level of pain. My condition is variable, so sometimes, on good days, my pain might be fairly low, but on extremely bad days, I’m not getting out of bed unless it is to crawl to the toilet! (Thankfully, there aren’t that many of these!) Read more
