Disability Care | FAQs
Q |​ What is important for me to know about my healthcare if I have a disability or chronic illness?
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Trans and gender-expansive people with disabilities or those living with a chronic illness should receive the same quality of care that cisgender people receive. However, trans and gender-expansive people with disabilities may be more at risk for experiencing healthcare discrimination.
People with disabilities may spend more time in healthcare settings for appointments and treatments. To advocate for competent and respectful care during these visits, consider the following tips:
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Bring a trusted person with you to appointments or request a patient advocate.
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Plan how you would respond if a healthcare provider or staff member misnames or misgenders you, or treats you differently because of your disability, to prevent it from happening again.
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Look for a healthcare provider who is knowledgeable about care related to your disability AND related to your gender identity.
Example. A trans man with low vision needs specialist care from an eye doctor. He should expect the doctor and medical staff to provide competent care for his vision loss while also using his correct name and pronouns, even if his gender identity is not discussed during the visit.
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Q |​ What resources are available for trans and gender-expansive people with disabilities?
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Check out the links below for resources on disabilities in the LGBTQIA+ community:
Q |​ I have a new disability. What do I need to know and how do I cope?
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Whether you were just diagnosed with autism or you are feeling the effects of long COVID, knowing what to do and how to cope with a new disability can be difficult. You might feel upset and overwhelmed. If you do, it is important to give yourself time to process this major change. You may benefit from some personal soul-searching and self-reflection. You may also find support among friends, mentors, or counselors. You may have to do tasks differently than before, so it can be helpful to define what independence means for you now with a disability. As you work to establish new routines and maintain your well-being, you may also wish to get involved with disability rights groups and support services. Here are a few examples:
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For more details, check out the Forbes article 7 Things Newly Disabled People Should Know→ by Andrew Pulrang, who writes about disability practices, policy, and culture.
Q |​ What is important to know about my care as a trans person on the autism spectrum?
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Care for trans adults should be inclusive of both gender diversity and neurodiversity. Trans and nonbinary people with autism have reported that healthcare providers without proper training dismissed their experience of gender dysphoria because of the autism diagnosis.
Example. A nonbinary person with autism and chronic health conditions reported that their healthcare providers didn't believe them and undermined their experience of gender dysphoria.
As a trans person with autism, you would benefit from seeing providers, especially mental health counselors, who have knowledge of both autism and transgender health. If your care takes both neurodiversity and gender identity into consideration, you may see improvements in mental health and more life satisfaction.
Example. A trans man is more willing to open up about himself because his counselor listened to him and recognized his needs as a trans person with autism.
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Advocates for Trans Equality. (n.d.). Autistic Self Advocacy Network, National Center for Transgender Equality, and National LGBTQ Task Force Joint Statement on the Rights of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Autistic People. Retrieved from https://transequality.org/issues/resources/autistic-self-advocacy-network-national-center-for-transgender-equality-and
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Autism Research Institute. Gender Discomfort and Autism. 2023. Retrieved from https://autism.org/gender-discomfort-and-autism/
​Q |​ Where can I find information about Social Security disability benefits?
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Find more information about Social Security disability benefits from the Social Security Administration website→. A counselor, social worker, or advocate may also help you find information on disability benefits.
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​Q |​ How can marriage affect disability benefits?
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When you get married, your Social Security Disability Insurance benefits should stay the same, but if you get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, your spouse’s income may affect the amount you receive.
Sources
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Advocates for Trans Equality. (n.d.). Autistic Self Advocacy Network, National Center for Transgender Equality, and National LGBTQ Task Force Joint Statement on the Rights of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Autistic People. Retrieved from https://transequality.org/issues/resources/autistic-self-advocacy-network-national-center-for-transgender-equality-and
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Autism Research Institute. Gender Discomfort and Autism. 2023. Retrieved from https://autism.org/gender-discomfort-and-autism/
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Resources
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7 Things Newly Disabled People Should Know→ by Andrew Pulrang for Forbes