Vanessa Smith
@normalness.bsky.social
We're all normal to ourselves. I write. I hate hustle. I love shiny objects. Can't even influence an ant. Anthropology & sociology graduate. Author of books. Spoonie. And much more.
www.normalness.com
www.normalness.com
Pinned
Vanessa Smith
@normalness.bsky.social
· Feb 11
This was one of my favourite tweets so it needs sharing here too:
I’ve experienced {symptom}
And
I’ve been disabled by {symptom}
Are two very different things.
I’ve experienced {symptom}
And
I’ve been disabled by {symptom}
Are two very different things.
Still paying for going to the specialist appointment yesterday. Couldn’t really use my arms much for a while (my husband said I was gesticulating during the appointment which was accidental exertion), and my vitals are all wonky today. It costs a lot to leave the house when mostly housebound.
November 11, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Still paying for going to the specialist appointment yesterday. Couldn’t really use my arms much for a while (my husband said I was gesticulating during the appointment which was accidental exertion), and my vitals are all wonky today. It costs a lot to leave the house when mostly housebound.
Time lapses I take are mostly of clouds and sky, which means they may have flashing effects in them and be unsuitable for some people.
youtu.be/VqggZmdKDfE
youtu.be/VqggZmdKDfE
10 Dec 2024
YouTube video by NormalNess
youtu.be
November 11, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Time lapses I take are mostly of clouds and sky, which means they may have flashing effects in them and be unsuitable for some people.
youtu.be/VqggZmdKDfE
youtu.be/VqggZmdKDfE
Work isn’t everything
normalness.com/2025/11/10/w...
normalness.com/2025/11/10/w...
Work isn't everything - Normal Ness
People are so into “work is the only valid way of humaning” that they overlook how much jobs can disable you / make things worse / put you into constant flares and so on. It can be healthier for som...
normalness.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Work isn’t everything
normalness.com/2025/11/10/w...
normalness.com/2025/11/10/w...
Reposted by Vanessa Smith
Is it "luck" or is it just disaster capitalism, nepotism and old money wealth?
November 10, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Is it "luck" or is it just disaster capitalism, nepotism and old money wealth?
New Year must mean a new you, right? Well, I'm here in my "can't take this shit seriously" mode to offer you a sweary way to review your year and plan for the next one.
payhip.com/b/P7e9b
payhip.com/b/P7e9b
New-Ness
New Year must mean a new you, right? Well, I'm here in my "can't take this shit seriously" mode to offer you a sweary way to review your year and plan for the next one. New-Ness, a journal for those who hate journals. The details:
It costs
payhip.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:25 AM
New Year must mean a new you, right? Well, I'm here in my "can't take this shit seriously" mode to offer you a sweary way to review your year and plan for the next one.
payhip.com/b/P7e9b
payhip.com/b/P7e9b
Pooped. Appointment went well (ish). The registrar knew her stuff really really well. The consultant was a condescending jerk 😂 The registrar was like talking to another patient, which is high praise from me.
Wish me luck. I overdid it today (sat up for too long then had an unplanned visitor) and tomorrow I have an in person thing I’m not looking forward to. I need all the spoons you can wish me.
November 10, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Pooped. Appointment went well (ish). The registrar knew her stuff really really well. The consultant was a condescending jerk 😂 The registrar was like talking to another patient, which is high praise from me.
Wish me luck. I overdid it today (sat up for too long then had an unplanned visitor) and tomorrow I have an in person thing I’m not looking forward to. I need all the spoons you can wish me.
November 9, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Wish me luck. I overdid it today (sat up for too long then had an unplanned visitor) and tomorrow I have an in person thing I’m not looking forward to. I need all the spoons you can wish me.
Feels like this keeps coming up again recently…
Respect does not require understanding
normalness.com/2024/01/04/r...
Respect does not require understanding
normalness.com/2024/01/04/r...
Respect does not require understanding - Normal Ness
Respect does not require understanding.
normalness.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Feels like this keeps coming up again recently…
Respect does not require understanding
normalness.com/2024/01/04/r...
Respect does not require understanding
normalness.com/2024/01/04/r...
Why Is There No Life In Our Lifestyle Blogs?
normalness.com/2015/09/15/a...
normalness.com/2015/09/15/a...
Why Is There No Life In Our Lifestyle Blogs?
Why Is There No Life In Our Lifestyle Blogs?
normalness.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:36 AM
Why Is There No Life In Our Lifestyle Blogs?
normalness.com/2015/09/15/a...
normalness.com/2015/09/15/a...
Goat Simulator MMO Microwave Goatwind youtu.be/2YX5oA2-0qo
Goat Simulator MMO Microwave Goatwind
YouTube video by NormalNess
youtu.be
November 8, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Goat Simulator MMO Microwave Goatwind youtu.be/2YX5oA2-0qo
Tips on codesign for organisations
normalness.com/2025/11/07/t...
normalness.com/2025/11/07/t...
Tips on codesign for organisations - Normal Ness
As you know, I have thoughts and feelings on codesign. But I came across this research by DANA and thought I’d share the points that felt most important. Important to me basically means the points tha...
normalness.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Tips on codesign for organisations
normalness.com/2025/11/07/t...
normalness.com/2025/11/07/t...
Publishing + disability
thechronicallycreative.substack.com/p/publishing...
thechronicallycreative.substack.com/p/publishing...
Publishing + disability
A few weeks ago everyone was talking about that “publishing has a gambling problem” article.
thechronicallycreative.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Publishing + disability
thechronicallycreative.substack.com/p/publishing...
thechronicallycreative.substack.com/p/publishing...
What I Did On My Summer Poorcaytion explores the inane thoughts of a person who has actual time off for the first time in a long time.
payhip.com/b/MZHRh
payhip.com/b/MZHRh
November 7, 2025 at 4:09 AM
What I Did On My Summer Poorcaytion explores the inane thoughts of a person who has actual time off for the first time in a long time.
payhip.com/b/MZHRh
payhip.com/b/MZHRh
I bought a $3 friend.
November 6, 2025 at 7:23 AM
I bought a $3 friend.
Assing Upmtions
normalness.com/2025/11/06/a...
normalness.com/2025/11/06/a...
Assing Upmtions - Normal Ness
Assumptions, that’s what this headline is saying. I just really wanted to focus on the ASS bit because this is all about a divide which I think is bullshit. The divide between “disabled” and “disabl...
normalness.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Assing Upmtions
normalness.com/2025/11/06/a...
normalness.com/2025/11/06/a...
Time lapses I take are mostly of clouds and sky, which means they may have flashing effects in them and be unsuitable for some people.
youtu.be/5r5E699LMz4
youtu.be/5r5E699LMz4
30 Dec 2024
YouTube video by NormalNess
youtu.be
November 5, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Time lapses I take are mostly of clouds and sky, which means they may have flashing effects in them and be unsuitable for some people.
youtu.be/5r5E699LMz4
youtu.be/5r5E699LMz4
Outlanders 2: Archipelago Sandbox Day 467 youtu.be/T5U89NfqzH8
Outlanders 2: Archipelago Sandbox Day 467
YouTube video by NormalNess
youtu.be
November 5, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Outlanders 2: Archipelago Sandbox Day 467 youtu.be/T5U89NfqzH8
The past few weeks have felt very limbo but I’m not sure what I’m limbo about. It just has been big limbo vibes.
November 5, 2025 at 6:21 AM
The past few weeks have felt very limbo but I’m not sure what I’m limbo about. It just has been big limbo vibes.
Animal Crossing New Horizons: Miranda Island. Pear Bamboo path.
youtu.be/DyoZZwED2fA
youtu.be/DyoZZwED2fA
Animal Crossing New Horizons: Miranda Island. Pear Bamboo path.
YouTube video by NormalNess
youtu.be
November 5, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Animal Crossing New Horizons: Miranda Island. Pear Bamboo path.
youtu.be/DyoZZwED2fA
youtu.be/DyoZZwED2fA
Assessments in aged care – are they foreshadowing what will happen with disability assessments? So many red flags in this article.
“saying she felt under pressure to do assessments quickly.”
"I think the assessments now are actually becoming dehumanised because of the pressure to get them done."
“saying she felt under pressure to do assessments quickly.”
"I think the assessments now are actually becoming dehumanised because of the pressure to get them done."
The hidden queue to get on the home care waiting list
Families and insiders say the system to assess people for aged care is in crisis, with 116,000 people on the waiting list. Once approved, they join the queue to get a home care package, which stands a...
www.abc.net.au
November 5, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Assessments in aged care – are they foreshadowing what will happen with disability assessments? So many red flags in this article.
“saying she felt under pressure to do assessments quickly.”
"I think the assessments now are actually becoming dehumanised because of the pressure to get them done."
“saying she felt under pressure to do assessments quickly.”
"I think the assessments now are actually becoming dehumanised because of the pressure to get them done."
Hopkins: Bouncy Balloon Bungalow Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Happy Home Paradise DLC. youtu.be/PFQv_1B7zAE
Happy Home Paradise: Hopkins: Bouncy Balloon Bungalow
YouTube video by NormalNess
youtu.be
November 4, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Hopkins: Bouncy Balloon Bungalow Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Happy Home Paradise DLC. youtu.be/PFQv_1B7zAE
The problem I have with self advocacy
normalness.com/2025/11/03/t...
normalness.com/2025/11/03/t...
The problem I have with self advocacy - Normal Ness
Being forced to advocate for yourself is a form of outsourcing. And it’s unpaid, exhausting, and often emotional exertion. Systemic issues could be fixed by those in power, but it’s quicker & easie...
normalness.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:34 PM
The problem I have with self advocacy
normalness.com/2025/11/03/t...
normalness.com/2025/11/03/t...
The Secret Ingredient Of
If you take either Instagram or Celebrity Chefs seriously, you'll hate The Secret Ingredient Of. Go ahead, tell me what I got wrong :)
payhip.com/b/E2cwC
If you take either Instagram or Celebrity Chefs seriously, you'll hate The Secret Ingredient Of. Go ahead, tell me what I got wrong :)
payhip.com/b/E2cwC
November 3, 2025 at 1:25 AM
The Secret Ingredient Of
If you take either Instagram or Celebrity Chefs seriously, you'll hate The Secret Ingredient Of. Go ahead, tell me what I got wrong :)
payhip.com/b/E2cwC
If you take either Instagram or Celebrity Chefs seriously, you'll hate The Secret Ingredient Of. Go ahead, tell me what I got wrong :)
payhip.com/b/E2cwC
I need to cut my fingernails to type more but I hate the sensory aspect of cutting nails as much as I hate typing with long nails. Why can’t nails just take care of themselves? Self caring nails? I dunno. I just hate nails.
(No advice.)
(No advice.)
November 2, 2025 at 7:11 AM
I need to cut my fingernails to type more but I hate the sensory aspect of cutting nails as much as I hate typing with long nails. Why can’t nails just take care of themselves? Self caring nails? I dunno. I just hate nails.
(No advice.)
(No advice.)
Someone is letting off fireworks… during a storm (this is round 3 or 4 of storms today). They’re frequent fireworks too, a formal show.
November 1, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Someone is letting off fireworks… during a storm (this is round 3 or 4 of storms today). They’re frequent fireworks too, a formal show.