The Spoonie Mummy

I recently wrote this piece for AccessAble, about how my workplace supports my access needs, despite most of my conditions generally being invisible.

It can be really hard when you have invisible illnesses and conditions as for the most part ‘you look well’ is what we get told. I’ve not always been in a position to work and I understand this could also change in the future, so having support to make sure I’m healthy and able to do my job to the best of my ability is really important. Some of these reasonable adjustments can be really small and simple – things you may not think of – but they really help me day to day.

I absolutely adore teaching and so getting to do this every day is super special and I’d like to keep doing it for as long as possible!

Workplace Accessibility Support for Invisible Illnesses

My name is Natalie and I am a primary school teacher living with several chronic illnesses and invisible disabilities.

I have rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, an ileostomy, adrenal insufficiency and a recurring eye condition called iritis. While each condition presents its own challenges, together they affect almost every aspect of my daily life, including the way I work. From managing pain and fatigue to attending hospital appointments and coping with unpredictable flare-ups, there are many things happening behind the scenes that most people never see.

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