do the terms “chronically disabled” or “acquired disability” or even the term you’ve danced around “temporarily disabled” work for you? i don’t see a issue with self identifying as disabled because people probably shouldn’t gate keep disability but i work in health care and i also see the point the people around you are making. my mild tbi +pcs will never compare to someone who has lost a few limbs or lost their mobility after an accident. it will also never compare to people who grow up with a disability.

if it’s a stranger i’ll never see again who i just want to accommodate me i might say im disabled and not care what they think, but for the most part i lean into the terms chronically ill or chronically disabled. it lets me commiserate and spend time in community with other people experiencing disabilities without feeling like im faking anything or even trying to compare myself to others with non - temporary disabilities.