Derek’s Blog

Remarks as Outlined for Delivery at Alabama Disability:IN Conference, October 19, 2022

Derek I. Schmitz

Introduction (near verbatim): Hi! My name is Derek Schmitz. I’m an 18-year-old queer, nonbinary person using they/them pronouns. I’m currently wearing a pink polo shirt, blue glasses, and a little makeup. I’m an author, accessibility consultant, disability advocate, and student, and I’m excited to be here today to discuss cross-generational disability inclusion! Q1: Tell us… Continue reading Remarks as Outlined for Delivery at Alabama Disability:IN Conference, October 19, 2022

Did I Really Have a Choice to Become Immunocompromised?

Derek I. Schmitz

This piece will be short with a more venting tone. I'm not editing this much or letting anyone proof it, so it might be a mess. But, stick with me, because I am angry and I need someplace to put this. As I've covered quite extensively in a few previous pieces (like How I Knew… Continue reading Did I Really Have a Choice to Become Immunocompromised?

A Disabled Teen’s Short, Early Review of the iOS 16 Medication App

Derek I. Schmitz

Native medication tracking is a feature I've been looking at and hoping for since I switched to iOS a few years ago. Yeah, third-party apps are great, but I've always wanted it natively, and now I have it in iOS 16 and I LOVE it. It had a DIFFERENT notification noise and it's so simple… Continue reading A Disabled Teen’s Short, Early Review of the iOS 16 Medication App

How I Knew I Had Arthritis, Not “Just Cerebral Palsy”

Derek I. Schmitz1 Comment

So, I just threw together a pretty detailed thread answering a few questions posed by someone early on the autoimmunity journey and I wanted to share those here, as well as my response to them! Questions: What do you have? How did you know it wasn't "just" CP? How did you get a doctor to… Continue reading How I Knew I Had Arthritis, Not “Just Cerebral Palsy”