I am Baylee

[00:00:00] Hi, I’m Bailey, and like you, I have a hidden disability. I am 14 years old and may look and act like a typical teenage girl, but I actually have a hidden disability. I have a peanut allergy. Not being able to do certain things or go other places, kids my age can makes having my hidden disability very frustrating some days.

Some of my challenges I have to face are, one, only being able to eat out at certain places. Two, having to watch what I am around constantly, especially out in public. Three, not being able to play sports or activities at school due to peanuts. So what can I do about these frustrations? Here are some examples of what I have done before.

One can’t go to that restaurant. I would then look up similar and close places that we could then go to instead. That [00:01:00] would be sick for me. Two, having to watch what I’m around, just reminding others who are around me not to have anything with nuts in it. Keep me safe and is usually really helpful. Three, worried about not being able to play a sport or activity, having the coach or instructor receive my 5 0 4.

And make some adjustments to keep peanut products away from me would be the best way to keep me safe in that situation. Staying calm and communicating solves all those problems for Bailey.

So Bailey has learned, working around her disability and communicating with others has helped her to stay safe and happy. Moving forward, I would like to use my life experiences to help other kids like me to learn how to work around our hidden disabilities so we can stay safe, but also do the things we want and have fun.