Wednesday Wildcard: Why I tell my students about my disabilities

I run a small business teaching English online to people all over the world, and I have disabilities. I teach all the lessons, do all the social media, and all the accounting! I also have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Where is the connection, and why do I always tell my students that I am disabled?

They deserve to know what to expect!

Ehlers Danlos Syndrome gives me many nasty side effects such as: dislocated bones, skin tears, muscle tears, severe pain, mobility (moving) problems, extreme and sudden tiredness, eating problems, migraines, trouble thinking (I call it brain fog), problems with my eyesight, insomnia…. and more! Sometimes I will not be able to teach a lesson because my brain will not work and I will not teach a client a bad lesson, or because I am in too much pain and am unable to sit at a computer!

How do I manage this?

I always tell my students the truth. I either cannot teach you today, or I will not teach you today because I will do a bad job. I also always offer to reschedule to another time that is convenient to my client, or refund them in full for the lost lesson. I also feel very guilty a lot because I always want to teach my lessons, and I hate to let my student’s down!

I also manage by offering all my students the same flexibility that they are kind enough to have for me. They can cancel, reschedule, and change their lessons at any time by simply emailing or calling. There are no cancellation fees. This is the least I can do as I appreciate my kind, supportive students, and their families, very much.

So why do I tell people?

Because it will cause some problems, and they deserve to know the truth. They can also feel free to tell me when their lives get complicated, and we can work together to support each other.