Help Archie with Eye Treatments & Transitions

I'm Archie, a mostly friendly autistic queer.

I'm looking for funding to recover my eye health after a work injury, and switch my training + experience to an industry away from screens.

In 2022, I worked through autoimmune, severe dry eye and long-COVID complications at a local technical art studio. The company advised an employment offer after my recovery, but dropped off after a discussion on accommodation requests.

I've focused on recovering this year by heavy resting and OTC eye care (effective, but not covered by insurance). It's helped, but it's not a replacement for medical care. It's also led to almost $10K of debt.

I'm currently working for a delivery-by-bike company. It's been revitalizing to set schedule limits to recover health, and not worry about bike repairs - but some of these burrito babes don't tip. It's also physically exhausting and low-wage.

Please help me move past the financial reality of injury and chronic illness, and choose one of the fewer industries that makes off-screen work sustainable.

Extra funds will go toward a lifelong longing for upper-body reduction surgery.

ONGOING AUTOIMMUNE + RECOVERY COSTS:

$20: community (cheapest) acupuncture (1x / week)

$80: physical therapy session (joint / arthritis-focused)

$400: Gastrointestinal map (recurring inflammation)

ONGOING EYECARE COSTS:

(Dry Eye Specialist: Dr. Mila Ioussifova @ South Waterfront Eyecare)

$100: 1 month of specialized plasma tears

$250: 6 months of OTC eye care: drops, cleansers, anti-inflammatory fish oil

$350: Check-up + gland assessment at a dry eye specialist

ONE-TIME EXPENSES:

$180: Dry Eye Moisture + Filter Glasses

$300: Projector + Screen Monitor set-up

$2,500: IPL Eye Treatment (full session) - to reverse gland damage + reduce rosacea

$7,400: Debt from August-December 2022 - while injured & unemployed

~$10-15,000: Tattoo school tuition, enrollment + supplies

~$8-10,000: Upper-body surgery + recovery time

$??? - Unemployment + Disability Assistance Legal Fees (denied Unemployment due to status as contract employee)

I'm preparing zines to share as the campaign continues about the eye condition and employment protections to make that information more accessible.

If you can't donate, please take note: listen to us sickos.

The ability to request reasonable accommodations is a legal need (that is only marginally less profitable for companies). It is not a luxury or easy way out.