@derekischmitz.link
Derek, 21, disabled, chronically ill, non-binary (they), and queer person. Lead Advocate @ Derek Schmitz: Advocacy, accessibility consultant, author, and paralegal. Views mine, not a lawyer. go.derekschmitz.com Alabama, USA
My friend T is a trans disabled person unable to find consistent employment and in need of support to seek safety and cover bills. Anything sent to me labeled "T" will get to them:
C/A: SchmitzDerekI
V/M: DerekIvan1
February 2026 28-Mile Challenge for Trans Lifeline: Week 2 Statistics
Week 2 is done! I'll add $1.02 to the total at the end of the month. As a reminder, I'm pledging $0.01 for every 0.01 mi over 1 mile each day this month. Mon, Feb 9: 2,394 steps for 1.08 mi ($0.08)Tue, Feb 10: 1,807 steps for…
Going strong on my 28-mile challenge for Trans Lifeline! 7.58 miles since 2/1.
As a reminder, I'm pledging $0.01 for every 0.01 mi over 1 mile each day this month.
I'm taking on the 28-Mile Challenge for Trans Lifeline! Read for more on the challenge and how to support:
Anarchism: Doesn't Sound So Silly Now, Does It? An introduction
So true, baby.
"why is your ass so fat" For the winter
Alternative text: A photo collage features eight photos taken by Derek, a white nonbinary person with long brown hair and blue glasses. The background of the collage is dark green, and the title of the collection “October 2025 Squares @ UAB” is centered in gold. From left to right, top to bottom: 1. Derek sits in an infusion chair wearing a red shirt and black KN95 mask with their hair down. 2. Derek sits against a wall wearing a green shirt and N95 mask with their hair up. 3. Derek sits against a wall wearing a blue polo shirt and N95 mask with their hair up. 4. Derek stands in an elevator wearing a pink shirt and N95 mask with their hair down. 5. Blazers Win graphic outside Protective Stadium after homecoming. 6. Derek stands outside near a bush wearing a blue shirt and N95 mask with their hair down. Their blue headphones are around their neck, and they're holding their computer. 7. Derek sits against the wall wearing a red polo and N95 mask with their hair up. They have blue headphones on. 8. Derek sits against a whiteboard wearing a gray jacket and N95 mask with their hair up.
Some squares from my life as a UAB transfer in October 2025!
Jeopardy clue today: John Green, Looking for [BLANK]
Me, confidently: WHAT IS TUBERCULOSIS?
Reader, the answer was Alaska.
Alternative text: A photo collage features eight photos taken by Derek, a white nonbinary person with long brown hair and blue glasses. The background of the collage is dark green, and the title of the collection “Strips from September 2025 @ UAB” is centered in gold. From left to right, top to bottom: 1. A laptop open with Pink Pony Club playing next to a Panera cinnamon roll. 2. Derek sits in a blue polo shirt with an N95 mask on. They've clearly been sweating, and their hair is frizzy. 3. Derek sits in an infusion chair under a blanket. They are wearing a red shirt with their hair down and an N95 mask. 4. Derek smiles at the camera wearing a yellow shirt. Their hair is frizzy. 5. Across the street from the UAB Hill Student Center, the image depicts the tall, slanted building corner with the UAB monogram shrouded by trees. 6. Derek stands against a wall in a blue polo and N95 mask. 7. Derek stands against a door in a thin green shirt and N95 mask. 8. Derek wears a dark green shirt and black KN95 mask.
September's in the books (literally). Here are some snaps from my days on the UAB campus.
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![A photo collage showcases 5 photos of Derek, a white nonbinary person with long brown hair and blue glasses, in various places on the UAB campus. The top is labeled "August 2025 [at symbol] UAB."
Top left corner: Derek wears a yellow shirt, a brace, and knee-high socks and smiles at the camera. A bed of flowers and a UAB granite feature are present in the background.
Top right corner: Derek wears a mask and a grey shirt with a Children’s of Alabama emblem and stands next to Blaze, UAB’s mascot.
Center: Derek wears a green shirt and eats a fudge pop outside with a smile. Their mask is down around their neck.
Bottom left corner: A messy desk captures the contents of Derek’s screen: the Canvas dashboard with the caption “Good morning, UAB” on the bottom.
Bottom right corner: Derek wears a pink polo shirt in a car.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:3iy4dsr5mh4co4ogx5zk7n5l/bafkreidvu27xwglkybk2zhn27oxnpeqvvfmsaul5s2hkialawtwr2n4vsy)
A photo collage showcases 5 photos of Derek, a white nonbinary person with long brown hair and blue glasses, in various places on the UAB campus. The top is labeled "August 2025 [at symbol] UAB." Top left corner: Derek wears a yellow shirt, a brace, and knee-high socks and smiles at the camera. A bed of flowers and a UAB granite feature are present in the background. Top right corner: Derek wears a mask and a grey shirt with a Children’s of Alabama emblem and stands next to Blaze, UAB’s mascot. Center: Derek wears a green shirt and eats a fudge pop outside with a smile. Their mask is down around their neck. Bottom left corner: A messy desk captures the contents of Derek’s screen: the Canvas dashboard with the caption “Good morning, UAB” on the bottom. Bottom right corner: Derek wears a pink polo shirt in a car.
Forgive my horrific Canva skills, but here’s my Snapshot for August, capturing my first couple weeks as a UAB transfer! Hoping to do one of these each month I’m enrolled & taking classes, but we shall see if I stick to it.
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I'm ecstatic to announce that, later this month, I will be continuing my post-secondary journey by becoming a UAB Blazer pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Medical Sociology, with a minor in Legal Affairs.
Read more:
In this piece, I reflect on my time in the Paralegal Program at Gadsden State Community College, where I graduated from in May.
Stay tuned for August 1, when I'll announce my next steps.
There's a new Game Changer coming on Monday, July 14th, at 7pm ET / 4pm PT
Make sure you watch it the second it launches - and if you can't watch it right away, avoid social media until you do...
🚨TONIGHT!
🫨A very special episode of Game Changer launches on @dropout.tv at 7pm ET / 4pm PT (and we recommend you tune in immediately)
✨Starring host Sam Reich, and guests Mike Trapp, Rekha Shankar, and Jordan Myrick...and a few others 😉
#GameChanger
i cannot emphasize enough that there is no better time to mask up.
preventing illness before it happens is your best bet as the nets meant to catch you disintegrate before your eyes.
Y'all pick a lane. Then make a little progress in your lane each day.
Every serious, experienced organizer I know is Doing Their Thing. Instead of freaking out about each bit of bad news, we're in our lanes rapidly building dual power infrastructure and networks that don't rely on the goverment.
They believe that people who will die because of decisions they make are weak and deserve to
"but the US wouldn't-"
I am, at this point, literally begging you to learn any history not taught to you by the state.
With passage of the Big Bill, it is worth noting that this is the largest rollback in health coverage in history.
To date since WWII, and since the passsge of Medicare, Medicaid and ACA generally all legislation EXPANDED coverage, but this is the largest RETRACTION in health insurance coverage ever
The Big Death Bill has passed. The GOP willingly chose to kick millions off health insurance, close hundreds of hospitals, nursing homes, & reproductive health clinics, leave millions of families without enough food & kill thousands of people. This is the biggest assault on health in recent history.
I think the chief motivator of humanity is probably spite. Like someone goes "If you're so great then you do it", then they invent the telegraph or something. Sometimes you get so bored you just want to make the world a better place, & I respect that.
8. Transgender people who wish to update their passports without urgent travel are advised to hold off until word is announced either by the government or organizations involved in the legal process, according to a source at the ACLU. You can find their FAQ here:
www.aclu.org/trumps-assau...
My private medical history is between me, my doctors, and all of Bluesky.
Breaking: The Trevor Project received a stop-work order last night on its contract with the national 988 suicide prevention hotline. The Trump administration is eliminating the option for LGBTQ callers to the hotline to press 3 and connect with someone who specializes in LGBTQ mental health.
BREAKING: In a 6-3 Roberts decision, the Supreme Court has ruled that Tennessee's ban on gender affirming care is not subject to heightened scrutiny. This decision will strip millions of trans people off their constitutional rights.
www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
Bumping this again, as tomorrow at midnight ET is the deadline.
#Autistic #ActuallyAutistic folks!
I'm writing an article about apps and organization tools that help us.
I'm looking for success stories. Have an app you use and love for organization? Want to talk about it and share it with other autistic folks?
Hit me up! I need info by 6/18 end of day.
Imo a significant proportion of “invisible” disabilities are actually very visible.
People just choose to ignore them because it suits them to, and so they can deny adjustments & accommodations.
