Every day, disabled people navigate a world that wasn’t built for them. Jenni, known online as Chronically Jenni, says that’s why disabled people have some of the most creative minds she knows. She tells us more about the tips and tricks she uses to beat the system
For Jenni, disability is not one single obstacle. It’s hundreds of small ones layered into everyday life. “It’s the little things – like tiny lips on doors, different slopes in pavements. I notice and feel everything,” she explains, “especially when I’m using my manual wheelchair.”
These details might not register for non-disabled people but, for disabled people, they shape where you can go, how long you can stay, and how much energy it takes to get there.
ENERGY BUDGETING
Jenni lives with an energy-limiting condition, which means even basic tasks require careful planning: “Simple things like having a shower can take my energy for the whole day,” she says.
The sad reality is, the world hasn’t been built around the needs of disabled bodies and minds. As a result, disabled people are forced to adapt and create ‘hacks’ to make life easier. Jenni says it’s important not to confuse these with ‘lifestyle upgrades’: her hacks are simply tools for getting through the day.
“My house is full of little gadgets. Everyone loves my electric tin opener,” Jenni laughs, adding that heated blankets help manage pain, mobility aids reduce strain, and accessible clothing removes unnecessary barriers. “But honestly, it all makes such a difference.”
One of the most important ‘hacks’ in Jenni’s life is not a product at all: it’s her support team. She relies on support workers who help with personal care, daily tasks and running her business. “They kind of run my life,” she says honestly. “They see the whole spectrum of how my disability affects me, physically and mentally.”
But that level of reliance can be hard to accept in a society which values independence above all else. Learning to ask for help, she thinks, is essential, but that doesn’t make it easy. “You’re kind of beholden to other people sometimes,” reveals Jenni. “You have to work on their schedule instead of your own.”
ACCESS HACKS
What makes it even harder is the lack of clear guidance. “No one gives you a handbook and says, ‘You’re disabled now, here’s everything you need to know’,” she continues.
Accessing care, equipment, and financial support can often be complicated and slow… By discussing her experiences online, that’s the gap Jenni’s trying to close.
The best part about sharing her tips and tricks? They’ll probably benefit your non-disabled friends too. “The electric toothbrush is a brilliant example,” explains Jenni. “But if that had been called an adaptive toothbrush, people wouldn’t have used it.”
The problem, Jenni says, is that disability is still treated as a niche, which means it’s priced that way too. “I think I paid around £16 for an adaptive white T-shirt in Primark, which you can pick up for a fiver anywhere else in the store,” reveals Jenni. “Disabled people already face higher living costs, so those extra price tags make a real difference. We need to change that.”
With her thousands of online followers and a growing voice in the advocacy space, Jenni is certainly doing her bit to create change