Nelly is a powerful voice in the chronic illness and disability community. She shares her journey living with visible and invisible disabilities, embracing self-worth, and advocating for a more inclusive world. Through her journey, she has learned to embrace all parts of herself — even the ones others might overlook.
Keep reading to learn more about about Nelly's journey.
Living with Both Visible and Invisible Disabilities
I live with both visible and invisible disabilities. You might notice my scars, the way I move, or my mobility aids — but the deepest challenges, like chronic pain, fatigue, and nausea, are often hidden.
Living in this dual reality has made me deeply empathetic and incredibly resilient. It’s taught me that you never really know what someone is carrying just by looking at them. It’s also revealed how easily people with complex conditions are misunderstood or overlooked — especially when those conditions don’t fit into a neat or visible category.
That’s why I advocate — not just for myself, but for everyone who feels invisible in a world that only sees what it can easily define.
Embracing My Disability Took Time
It took time. I grieved the life I thought I’d have, but slowly began to see my disability as sacred — not something to fix.
For a while, I felt like I was always mourning the things I couldn’t do, the person I thought I was supposed to be. But then I began to shift my perspective. My disability taught me to honor softness, slowness, and the strength it takes just to survive.
Now, I celebrate how hard my body works to keep me here. My body might not move the way others do, but it holds stories, endurance, and wisdom that I no longer take for granted.
Challenging Internalized Ableism
it’s the voice that says I’m too sick to matter or not enough to belong. I used to believe it.
For a long time, I pushed myself too hard trying to prove I was ‘still capable,’ because I didn’t want to be seen as a burden. But I’ve learned that rest isn’t laziness. Needing help isn’t weakness. And disability doesn’t make me less — it connects me to a powerful community.
Working through internalized ableism has meant unlearning a lot of what society told me about worth and value. It’s meant giving myself grace, speaking to myself with kindness, and finding belonging exactly as I am.
A Moment That Made Me Feel Powerful
The first time I shared my story online.
For so long, I hid my pain to make others comfortable. I kept everything quiet, private — worried that sharing would make me seem dramatic or too much. But posting was an act of reclamation.
It was my way of saying: I exist. I matter. And my story deserves space. That moment helped me connect with others who felt the same way, and it reminded me that vulnerability can be a source of deep strength.
My Vision of an Inclusive World
It’s one where disabled people are seen as whole.
A more inclusive world is one where accessibility is built in — not added later as an afterthought. Where healthcare actually listens. Where representation reflects the full spectrum of our experiences.
It’s a world where softness, slowness, and rest are valued just as much as productivity. A world where no one feels like they have to hide who they are to be accepted.
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