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myneads.bsky.social
NEADS
@myneads.bsky.social
97 followers 250 following 440 posts
National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS)
Cross-disability | By-and-for | Employment + Post-Secondary Education
https://linktr.ee/myneads
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myneads.bsky.social
(1/3) It's #FundraisingFriday again!

We at NEADS know that disabled and neurodivergent students are stretched thin financially. The NEADS Financial Assistance Program exists because of those barriers — so we don’t expect you to donate. What matters most is your voice and your advocacy.
White text on dark blue background reads "The NEADS Financial Assistance Program Needs Your Help; Help us reach our goal: Together, we can make a difference". 'Your' and 'can' are emphasized in yellow. Red banner at the top reads #FundraisingFriday. At the bottom, a computer mouse points to red "DONATE NOW" button. Dark blue text on a light blue background reads "You might not be able to give - but you can help make this program possible" above a network of people with the different nodes labeled 'Friends', 'Student Union', 'Local Leaders', 'Employers', 'Community Groups', 'Disability Club', and 'Family'.
November 28, 2025 at 4:23 PM
myneads.bsky.social
NEW RELEASE!

NEADS' 2nd ever #Substack article is here! In it, we go over a short and sweet summary of items in the recently-released 2025 Federal Budget that will be extra important for people with disabilities.

Click the link to read & subscribe for all future publications: buff.ly/z9vZdW1
Promotional poster in yellow and blue with white accents. Text reads: "DISABILITY DIGEST; Budget 2025: What is(n't) in it for the disabled community? A short & sweet summary". NEADS logo and NOV 2025 in header. Bottom half features a pile of budget paperwork, a pen, and a calculator.
November 25, 2025 at 6:30 PM
myneads.bsky.social
(1/4) It's #FundraisingFriday again!

For nearly 2 decades, the NEADS Financial Assistance Program has helped disabled and neurodivergent students stay in school by covering essential, non-optional expenses such as assistive technology, ergonomic equipment, rent, food, tuition, and more.
White text on dark blue background reads "The NEADS Financial Assistance Program Needs Your Help; Help us reach our goal: Together we can make a difference". 'Your' and 'can' are emphasized in yellow. A computer mouse points to red "DONATE NOW" button. A yellow graph shows 'Students in need of financial assistance' increasing over time with a green arrow and 'Funding available' decreasing over time with a red arrow. Red banner at the top reads #FundraisingFriday.
November 21, 2025 at 4:02 PM
myneads.bsky.social
Canadian youth (15–30) with disabilities:

Share your experience using career tools (quizzes, resume builders, etc.) in a paid virtual interview:

- Oct 2025–Apr 2026
- $100 gift card
- Online
- Accessibility supports provided

👉 Learn more: buff.ly/bxPndnU

#YouthVoices #PaidOpportunity
Promotional Poster. Text reads: "Business + Higher Education Roundtable; From resume builders to career quizzes... Let's talk about your experience! We need your insights to help us create better tools for youth with disabilities seeking employment. Participate in a 30-60 minute virtual interview and receive a $100 gift card of your choice. We are looking for folks who: Identify as living with a disability; Are between 15 - 30 years old; Are students or recent graduates; Have used tools & resources such as career advising, resume builders, skills assessment quizzes, or others. Sign up using bit.ly/skills-4-success or contact us at research@bher.ca".
November 20, 2025 at 1:38 PM
myneads.bsky.social
(1/4) Help remove financial barriers for disabled students across Canada!

Post-secondary education is costly, and for disabled and neurodivergent students, these baseline costs are multiplied by essential, non-optional expenses.
White text on blue background reads "Disabled post-secondary students face significant financial barriers to education; Help NEADS offset these disability-related expenses for the Winter 2026 semester by donating to our #FundraisingFriday campaign or sharing this post with your network. Together, we can make a difference." 'Can' is emphasized in green. Symbols of a doctor's chart, bus, mobility scooter, grocery cart, Wi-Fi symbol, medication bottle, microphone, laptop, and office chair line either side with an icon of two hands holding a money bag and graduation cap in the center.
November 14, 2025 at 4:00 PM
myneads.bsky.social
REMINDER! HAPPENING TODAY!

Don't forget to register for the workshop Using AI for Accommodations & Navigating Disclosure at Work, happening today at 5PM ET!

Register here: buff.ly/7UmeNrM
White text on a blue background reads: "PATHWAYS WORKSHOP; USING AI FOR ACCOMMODATIONS & NAVIGATING DISCLOSURE AT WORK; With Pathways Coaches HANNAH BROWN & RACHEL MAISLIN; OCTOBER 28, 5PM ET; LINK IN BIO" with the handle @MyNEADS at the bottom. Above Hannah's name is their headshot: Hannah has light purple glasses and medium-length purple hair, and is wearing a rainbow necklace with a dark blue collared shirt. Rachel's headshot is above her name in black and white; she has dark hair with bangs and is wearing a thin necklace. Both Hannah and Rachel are smiling.
October 28, 2025 at 1:00 PM
myneads.bsky.social
(7/7) This #invisibledisabilitiesweek, we encourage anyone who is comfortable doing so to speak up about your own experiences with invisible disability so we can #seetheinvisible. People living with invisible disabilities should not be excluded from discussions surrounding disability.
October 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
myneads.bsky.social
(6/7) Some of the challenges faced by invisibly disabled people may include difficult decisions over disclosure, being dismissed or disbelieved when speaking about their experiences, having a feeling of not being 'disabled enough', and being accused of 'faking it'
Dark blue background with a white title that reads "Unique challenges that people with invisible disabilities may face can include..." A bullet point list reads: "Having to decide when & how to disclose a disability; Having to remind people that they are disabled (making disclosure an on-going process); Not being believed when they say they are disabled; Not having their concerns taken seriously by medical professionals because their symptoms aren’t visible; Struggling with their identity because they feel as if they are not ‘disabled enough’ to identify as disabled; Strangers accusing them of faking or taking advantage of accommodations/supports; Ableist microaggressions like “you speak so well for a deaf person” or “I wish I could bring my dog everywhere I go”". The points alternate between white text and light blue. @MyNEADS is at the bottom.
October 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
myneads.bsky.social
(5/7) There is a myth that people with invisible disabilities face less stigma and ableism than their visibly disabled peers, but this is false. They can, however, experience them in different forms
Dark blue background with white text that reads: "Myth: People with non-visible disabilities experience less stigma & ableism than visibly disabled people; Fact: People with non-visible disabilities do not experience less stigma & ableism than visibly disabled people, but they can experience it in different ways". @MyNEADS is at the bottom.
October 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
myneads.bsky.social
(4/7) While they are often used interchangeably, choosing to say 'invisible' instead of 'non-visible' or 'non-apparent' may be be a purposeful choice to account for the fact that this is an oft-overlooked or 'invisible' identity group, taking the meaning beyond the literal lack of visual signs
Dark blue background with white text that reads: "A NOTE ON TERMINOLOGY: Non-Visible vs Invisible; While ‘invisible’ and ‘non-visible’ are often used interchangeably, ‘invisible’ is purposefully used by some scholars and activists because it includes the invisibility of a marginalized identity, not just the literal lack of visible signifiers of disability. To put it simply: Non-visible: no visible signs of disability; Invisible: the lack of visible signs of disability leads to a group that is overlooked, forgotten, dismissed".  @MyNEADS is at the bottom.
October 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
myneads.bsky.social
(3/7) To put it simply, invisible disabilities are disabilities that are not visibly apparent to a casual observer. This encompasses a wide range of physical, mental, and neurological conditions.

The image below lists only a few examples of the thousands of invisible conditions that exist.
Dark blue background with white text that reads "What are invisible disabilities? Invisible disabilities are any disability that is not easily or always apparent to a casual observer. This can encompass a broad range of physical, mental, and neurological disabilities". Below is a heading that reads "EXAMPLES INCLUDE:" with four columns that list the following: "ADHD; Arthritis; Brain Injuries; Chron’s Disease; Chronic Fatigue; Chronic Pain; Depression; Diabetes; Endometriosis; Epilepsy; Fibromyalgia; HIV/AIDS; Lung Disease; Lyme Disease; Multiple Sclerosis; Narcolepsy; Parkinson’s Disease; PTSD; Schizophrenia; Spinal Cord Injuries; Ulcerative Colitis". @MyNEADS is at the bottom.
October 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
myneads.bsky.social
(2/7) According to the 2022 CSD from @statcan_eng, the most common types of disability among the 15-24 age group were related to mental health, learning, and pain.

Something all three of these categories have in common is that many of the disabilities that fall within them can be invisible.
Dark blue background with white text that reads: "Relevance; In 2022, the Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD) found that 20% of Canadian youth age 15 to 24 years old identified as having one or more disability; The most common types of disability among this demographic were related to mental health (14%), learning (9%), and pain (7%); What do these 3 types of disability have in common? Many disabilities that fall within these categories can be invisible". @MyNEADS is at the bottom.
October 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
myneads.bsky.social
(1/7) It's Invisible Disabilities Awareness Week! This year, Invisible Disabilities Awareness Week started October 19 and will go until October 25.

Let's use #invisibledisabilitiesweek to shine some light on this topic! Have a look through this thread to learn more about #invisibledisabilities
Dark blue background with light blue text that reads "Let's shine some light on...INVISIBLE DISABILITIES AWARENESS WEEK; OCTOBER 19-25". There is an image of 5 stage lights at the top shining spotlights down on the title. @MyNEADS is at the bottom.
October 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
myneads.bsky.social
(1/4) 📣 NEW EVENT ALERT! 📣 NEADS is hosting an online workshop on October 28th from 5:00-6:00pm ET about the use of AI for accommodations and navigating disclosure in the workplace.

Registration is required, please register at buff.ly/Y2URBpG
October 17, 2025 at 3:45 PM
myneads.bsky.social
📣 LAST CALL FOR ENROLLMENT! 📣

Enrollment in the Building Employment Pathways Project closes on October 31st, 2025, so be sure to enroll before the end of the month!

To apply or learn more about the program, head over to buff.ly/XePUVq6
October 16, 2025 at 9:00 PM
myneads.bsky.social
(1/4) October 10th is World Mental Health Day!

Each year, this day serves as an important reminder that mental health is a vital aspect of our daily lives that cannot be ignored.

What are you doing to spread awareness about mental health in your #community?
Dark blue text on a light blue background reads “World Mental Health Day; October 10”. There is a side-profile silhouette of a head in dark blue. Black branches with turquoise and green leaves sprout where the brain would be. Behind the branches is a night sky. There are two small gray birds flying around the head along with two light blue clouds.
October 10, 2025 at 2:45 PM
myneads.bsky.social
(1/5) One week left to apply!

Applications for the AMI Robert Pearson Memorial Scholarship are due at 8pm ET on Friday, October 10th.
Search bar with the text "DISABILITYAWARDS.CA". Main text reads "AMI Robert Pearson Memorial Scholarship; Due October 10th". In the bottom left corner, there is an image of a person wearing a blue school uniform with a skirt, sitting at a school desk, reading a book with a bookbag at their feet. The slide has a dark blue background. Search bar with the text "The Basics:" Light blue text on a dark blue background reads "Established in memory of Robert Pearson, a pioneer in advocating for accessible media, these scholarships reflect AMI’s ongoing commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and amplifying the voices of people with disabilities; Two scholarships will be awarded this fall: One award for a student from the English-speaking community and one award for a student from the Francophone community. Each award is valued at $5,000. The application window closes at 8 pm ET on Friday, October 10, 2025." The footer says "LEARN MORE AT DISABILITYAWARDS.CA" in white text.
October 3, 2025 at 12:30 PM
myneads.bsky.social
(1/1) Did you know that September is International Pain Awareness Month?

Use #PainAwarenessMonth to help spread awareness about pain and pain-related disabilities.

#InternationalPainAwarenessMonth
Text reads "September is International Pain Awareness Month!" Image of an individual in a yellow shirt hunched over with a hand on their back. They have dark brown hair and a pained expression. The background is dark blue with a light blue frame, and there is a looping arrow in the bottom right corner pointing to the right. Header reads "International Pain Awareness Month". Text reads "Did You Know? Nearly 8 million Canadians live with chronic pain; Indigenous peoples and 2SLGBTQIA+ peoples are disproportionately impacted by chronic pain and face greater barriers to accessing effective care; More than 64% of Canadians with pain believe their quality of life would improve if they could afford more non-pharmacological treatments; Women and girls are more likely to have their pain overlooked and left untreated due to gender biases in our healthcare system; People with chronic pain are twice as likely to experience anxiety & depression". Image of an individual with a blue tank top, long reddish-brown hair, and a sad expression as they have a hand on their chest in pain. The background is dark blue with a light blue frame, and there is a looping arrow in the bottom right corner pointing to the right. Footer reads "September 2025" with a source link "paincanada.ca/resources." The background is dark blue with a light blue frame. There is a looping arrow in the bottom right corner pointing to the right. Header reads "International Pain Awareness Month". Text reads "According to the 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD)... 1: Pain-related disabilities were the most common disability type for Canadians age 15 years and over (17%); 2: Pain-related disabilities had the second largest increase between the 2017 and 2022 CSDs; 3: Pain-related disabilities were the third most common disability type for youth age 15 -24 years old". Image of a person with short brown hair and a yellow shirt holding both hands to their chest in pain. Footer reads "September 2025" with a source link "www.150statcan.gc.ca". he background is dark blue with a light blue frame.
September 29, 2025 at 9:46 PM
myneads.bsky.social
@lifeofaphd gave us all the info on her back-to-school preparations, from what she packs in her bag to the supplies inside her emergency kit! #LetNEADSKnow about all the things you include in your kit!
Text reads “What’s in my bag as a disabled PhD student?” Brown backpack with a gold zipper on the front in middle of graphic. Text around it with arrows reads “Study supplies; emergency kit; mobility aids” Text reads “The backpack.” Brown backpack with a gold zipper on the front in the middle of graphic. Text around it with arrows reads “She packs her wallet with her health card and ID inside! This bag has tons of pockets and can be converted to a shoulder bag! Backpacks are great to carry lots of things comfortably – prioritizing accessibility over looks is key!” Text reads “Study supplies.” Photos of a teal planner, silver headphones, black and white charging bricks, rainbow pencil case, and black notebook. Text beside each item reads “Planners are perfect for tracking appointments, meetings, important dates and (many) to-do lists! Noise-cancelling headphones! Don’t forget your chargers! A fully-stocked pencil case! Notebooks keep track of thoughts and ideas while you work!” Text reads “Study supplies.” Photos of a teal planner, silver headphones, black and white charging bricks, rainbow pencil case, and black notebook. Text beside each item reads “Planners are perfect for tracking appointments, meetings, important dates and (many) to-do lists! Noise-cancelling headphones! Don’t forget your chargers! A fully-stocked pencil case! Notebooks keep track of thoughts and ideas while you work!”
September 19, 2025 at 4:06 PM
myneads.bsky.social
(1/2 we NEAD(s) to add members to our board of directors (BOD) this fall! thinking about adding an extra-curricular to your schedule? we have the perfect opportunity - join the NEADS BOD and represent your province/territory! buff.ly/HVGIfi6
Text reads “Calling all post-secondary students & new grads with disabilities! NEADS is seeking directors from Manitoba, Quebec, Prince Edward Island & the Territories! Swipe to learn more!” Icon of person inside magnifying glass in middle of graphic. Text reads “Calling all post-secondary students & new grads with disabilities! Are you a disabled post-secondary student or a new graduate living in or a resident of Manitoba, Quebec, PEI or the Territories? Do you want to build advocacy skills and connect with other students with disabilities across Canada? The NEADS Board of Directors is recruiting! Swipe to learn more!” Icons of blue megaphones in bottom of post. Text reads “Apply today! NEADS Board Members attend monthly board teleconferences & take part in standing committees. You will be able to bring the work of NEADS to your province/territory & raise issues affecting disabled post-secondary students and new graduates at a national level. No experience in disability advocacy? No worries! Send in an application & have the opportunity to learn and grow from a supportive team! Link in bio!” Icons of blue megaphones in bottom of post.
August 22, 2025 at 4:03 PM
myneads.bsky.social
🍎 back to school with the #MyNEADSNetwork 🍎

we asked #MyNEADSNetwork member Sahara how she prepares for the school year & she provided us with some back-to-school essentials for students with rheumatic diseases!

#LetNEADSKnow what is in your bag this academic year in the comments 💬
Text at top reads “What’s in my bag?” Photo of green backpack with brown straps in centre of slide. Text underneath reads “Backpack with cushioned straps & back support.” Photos in a circle around the backpack with labels underneath describing the items. Items from left to right: daily medication container, pain relief cream, compression gloves, painkillers, TENS unit, heat patches, knee sleeve.
August 15, 2025 at 7:05 PM
myneads.bsky.social
(1/1) starting to plan your first day of school outfit and having trouble finding accessible outfits? NEADS is here to help – check out some options for adaptive clothing & tools that can help you feel your best! #LetNEADSKnow about your favourite accessible clothing tips 🧵
Text reads “Tops. When you’re shopping for accessible tops, think about how you will be getting dressed each day! If buttons are a challenge, try magnetic snaps instead. Need to access a port or struggle to regulate your temperature? Tops with zippers can support easy access when you need it.” Photo on left of Spoonie Threads Colourblock Adult Zip Access Hoodie: Yellow and black hoodie with zipper and medical tubes on top. Photo on right of Joe and Bella Everyday Magnetic Button-Down: Blue long-sleeve button-down top. Text reads “Bottoms. If you use a seated mobility aid, seamless back pants can be much more comfortable whether they are jeans or sweatpants. Putting on and taking off pants can be very challenging. Search for side-zip and ankle-zip bottoms to make it a bit easier!” Photo on left of IZ Adaptive GC Seamless Back Jeans: Photo of person from back wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans without a back seam sitting on a white block. Photo in centre of No Limbits Adaptive Black Limited Dexterity Legging: Black leggings with pockets. Photo on right of Joe and Bella Everyday Side-Zip Pants: Torso with grey shirt and fair hands closing a pair of black pants with a zipper. Text reads “Tools. Sometimes, adaptive clothing can be expensive and hard to find. You can purchase tools to make wearing the clothes you already have easier! Tools like the Dressing Solution make reaching and twisting less challenging. Zubits and the Perfect Dresser support fine motor skills - use Zubits on your shoes to skip tying laces or the Perfect Dresser to button pants with ease!” Photo on left of Zubits: Two small black rectangles with circles on sides. Photo in centre of Perfect Dresser by Maxi Aids: Swiss army knife with four silver tools with holes in them. Photo on right of Dressing Solution by Performance Health: Grey stick with a hook at one end.
August 8, 2025 at 2:03 PM
myneads.bsky.social
need some new additions to your summer reading list? try one of these incredible books featuring 2SLGBTQIA+ and disabled representation! #LetNEADSKnow in the comments if we've missed your fave book in this genre 📚
Text reads “Poetic memoirs”. Image of Knot Body cover on left side of slide. Text underneath reads "Knot Body by Eli Tareq El Bechelany-Lynch. Confronting capitalism, ableism, transness & racialization in the context of disability.” Image of Bodymap cover on right side of slide. Text underneath reads “Bodymap by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha. Mapping disability from a queer femme of colour lens through poetry.” Bottom left and top right corners have a rainbow graphic. Text reads “Young adult fiction.” Image of Let Love Rule book cover on left side of slide. Text underneath reads “Let Love Rule by Frances M. Thompson. Bi4Bi fake-dating romance with chronic illness representation!” Image of The Year my Life Went Down the Toilet on right of slide. Text underneath reads "The Year My Life Went Down the Toilet by Jake Maia Arlow. Navigating queerness, chronic illness & middle school!” Bottom left and top right corners have a rainbow graphic. Text reads “Non-Fiction.” Image of Exile and Pride cover on left side of slide. Text underneath reads “Exile and Pride by Eli Clare. Disability politics and queer liberation for the past and future.” Image of Crip Kinship cover on right side of slide. Text underneath reads “Crip Kinship by Shayda Kafai. The rich history of Sins Invalid - a queer, disabled performance project.” Bottom left and top right corners have a rainbow graphic. Text reads “Social media-based young adult fiction.” Text underneath reads “Lark & Kasim Start A Revolution by Kacen Callender. Neurodivergent teens explore gender and romance!” Image of Like Real People Do cover on right side of slide. Text underneath reads “Like Real People Do by E. L. Massey. NHL player and vlogger met cute with disability representation!” Bottom left and top right corners have a rainbow graphic.
June 17, 2025 at 2:06 PM
myneads.bsky.social
(2/2) Teague O’Meara et Cyntia Henley d’Élections Canada seront aux côtés de NEADS pour fournir aux personnes participantes une explication détaillée du processus de vote aux élections fédérales 🗳️ l'inscription est obligatoire – utiliser le lien dans notre bio aujourd’hui!
Text reads “Atelier d’Élections Canada. NEADS x Elections Canada: Elections Canada workshop. April 16, 2025 from 1:30-2:30pm ET. le 16 avril 2025, de 13h30 à 14h30 HE.” Photo in centre of hand placing a white ballot into a white box.
April 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM
myneads.bsky.social
(1/2) NEADS will be joined by Teague O’Meara and Cyntia Henley, from Elections Canada, to provide participants with a thorough understanding of the federal election voting process 🗳️ registration is required – use the link in our bio today!
Text reads “Atelier d’Élections Canada. NEADS x Elections Canada: Elections Canada workshop. April 16, 2025 from 1:30-2:30pm ET. le 16 avril 2025, de 13h30 à 14h30 HE.” Photo in centre of hand placing a white ballot into a white box.
April 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM