Love it or hate it but TikTok is taking over. It is the leading destination for short-form mobile videos with over 1 billion users and 800 million monthly active users. Unlike Instagram’s curated highlight reel, TikTok is “more real and raw and comedic.” The app’s viral nature and easy-to-use editing tools are a huge appeal to aspiring influencers especially with Gen Zers.
Although TikTok is known for its entertaining trends and challenges, there’s also a lot of valuable and informative content. In fact, we’ve noticed a rise in activism particularly from the disability community. Advocates are using social media to educate people about their lived experiences, from answering questions and debunking assumptions, sharing a candid look into their everyday life, and adding representation to the platform by jumping into TikTok trends themselves.
Here are 12 TikTok accounts that are breaking barriers in the disability community:
Paige Hennekam (@paigelayle)
Chrissy Marshall (@chrissycanthearyou)
@chrissycanthearyou So today has been special 💜 ##deaf ##asl ##simcom ##fyp
♬ original sound - lifelaughterasl
Caitlyn Cohen (@caitlyn.cohen)
@caitlyn.cohen What’s your favorite song? ##fyp ##disability ##stutter ##awareness ##disabilityawareness ##stutterawareness ##foryou ##foryoupage
♬ original sound - caitlyn.cohen
Ruth Codd (@ruthcodd)
@ruthcodd Never insult a girl with a detachable deadly weapon and impulse control issues ##fyp ##foryoupage ##foryou ##amputeeawareness
♬ Still the song go HEEHEEHOOHOO - erinsamjo
Danny White (@dannywh814)
@dannywh814 Know someone with Tourette? Tag them in this. Just want to let you guys know you’re not alone. ##tourette ##disability ##rap ##fyp ##hiphop ##foryou ##music
♬ original sound - dannywh814
Emily Rose (@emilyrose_paints)
@emilyrose_paints Reply to @f..ice I Call my a artist bc that’s I am. My creations are parts of my soul that have become real. It might be hard for you to understand
♬ original sound - emilyrose_paints
Mitch Garrett (@mitchywheelie)
@mitchywheelie This happens every time I park my car ##car ##parking ##wheelchair ##handicap ##funny
♬ original sound - official_kingdcg
Bekah Cloud (@bekahcloud)
@bekahcloud Shout out to everyone fighting their demons today 🙏🏻 ##mentalhealthmatters ##4thOfJuly ##behappy ##fyp ##fypシ ##scoliosis ##selflove ##bodypositive ##viral
♬ Be Happy - Dixie D’Amelio
Jo Beckwith (@footlessjo)
@footlessjo Cleaning my feet looks a little different than it might look for you 😉 ##amputee ##fyp
♬ Mr. Blue Sky - Electric Light Orchestra
Shaheem Sanchez (@shaheemrs)
@shaheemrs Reply to @whocares_precious there’s many way to dance or hear music. I tend to try different things that work for me. Still looking for the best tho
♬ original sound - shaheemrs
Lou (@louthecpkid)
@louthecpkid Unscripted conversation with my sister. Educating kids on disability doesn’t have to be complicated... ##fyp ##disabilityawareness ##cerebralpalsy
♬ original sound - louthecpkid
Sarah Todd Hammer (@sarahtoddhammer)
@sarahtoddhammer Accomplishing what might seem like little tasks can be a big deal when you have a disability! ##disability ##fyp ##foryou
♬ original sound - sarahtoddhammer
Do you know of any other accounts that should be on this list? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
Check out @Re_cooper_ator. 3 year old paralyzed by rare disease (1:1,000,000 odds) at 8 month old. Tiktok account shows experimental spinal cord injury treatments and playfully pushes anti bullying and disability awareness. Not overly serious, but still real, informative, and entertaining.