Hidden Disabilities - , was Re: Re: massage therapist/Jen; Mike; list

[Guest guest]

> Person 1 has a much more severe injury and is physically impaired.

> Person 2 is much more disabled.

Interesting. This example demonstrates a lot that isn't written. 1)

Chronic pain is more disabling than physical limitations. 2) Invisible

disabilities can be more devastating than visible disabilities. 3)

Perception of disability has more to do with independence than actual

physical capability.

> Hearing your story on the guy whose car was broken into makes me fuming

mad!

It did all of us in the support group at the time. It's been many years

since this happened, but little has changed in public perception. People

gave him trouble at school because he drove a sports car because they

expected people with disabilities to drive beat-up junker cars. It isn't

expected that a " poor disabled person " should have nice things.

> I don't know why there can't be SOMEONE out there who would concentrate

on trying

> to inform the public on something like explaining the nature of disabled

people.

There is an organization here in Washington that is working on these issues

and others related to disability rights. DAHRT - Disabled Americans Have

Rights Too. http://www.dahrt.org. . I was actively involved

with DAHRT along with a couple of other people with EDS. I resigned as

Secretary a couple of months ago so I would have more time for school.

-Barb

[Guest guest]

> Person 1 has a much more severe injury and is physically impaired.

> Person 2 is much more disabled.

Interesting. This example demonstrates a lot that isn't written. 1)

Chronic pain is more disabling than physical limitations. 2) Invisible

disabilities can be more devastating than visible disabilities. 3)

Perception of disability has more to do with independence than actual

physical capability.

> Hearing your story on the guy whose car was broken into makes me fuming

mad!

It did all of us in the support group at the time. It's been many years

since this happened, but little has changed in public perception. People

gave him trouble at school because he drove a sports car because they

expected people with disabilities to drive beat-up junker cars. It isn't

expected that a " poor disabled person " should have nice things.

> I don't know why there can't be SOMEONE out there who would concentrate

on trying

> to inform the public on something like explaining the nature of disabled

people.

There is an organization here in Washington that is working on these issues

and others related to disability rights. DAHRT - Disabled Americans Have

Rights Too. http://www.dahrt.org. . I was actively involved

with DAHRT along with a couple of other people with EDS. I resigned as

Secretary a couple of months ago so I would have more time for school.

-Barb

[Guest guest]

> Person 1 has a much more severe injury and is physically impaired.

> Person 2 is much more disabled.

Interesting. This example demonstrates a lot that isn't written. 1)

Chronic pain is more disabling than physical limitations. 2) Invisible

disabilities can be more devastating than visible disabilities. 3)

Perception of disability has more to do with independence than actual

physical capability.

> Hearing your story on the guy whose car was broken into makes me fuming

mad!

It did all of us in the support group at the time. It's been many years

since this happened, but little has changed in public perception. People

gave him trouble at school because he drove a sports car because they

expected people with disabilities to drive beat-up junker cars. It isn't

expected that a " poor disabled person " should have nice things.

> I don't know why there can't be SOMEONE out there who would concentrate

on trying

> to inform the public on something like explaining the nature of disabled

people.

There is an organization here in Washington that is working on these issues

and others related to disability rights. DAHRT - Disabled Americans Have

Rights Too. http://www.dahrt.org. . I was actively involved

with DAHRT along with a couple of other people with EDS. I resigned as

Secretary a couple of months ago so I would have more time for school.

-Barb

[Guest guest]

i carry a flyer in my car that i got online at one of the invisable

dissability webites that is called " no cast, no cane, no pain " and i

give this to anyone who does accost me for using the disabled parks,

it explains hidden disabilities and our need to use these parks to

simply get on with life as without them we would be housebound.

it is well writen.

on the flipside i also caryy some other pages for those who abuse

these spaces and i put these on those cars parked without placards as

if they need them there placards should be shown. and i have even

told people to shift there cars who when i ask why they are parked

there they say they are waitingfor someone or just going to be a

minute i explain that there taking this park means that me and

others like me. may have tosimply turn around and drive back home

without our food, esential medications, drs appointment or whatever

simply becasue they were too lasy to park elsewhere legally, (they

nearly always shift then or i will call the parking inspectors on my

cell phone.

Sharon

> My pain dr gives me a handout at each appt. The one he gave me on

Thursday was " The nature of Chronic Pain "

> It is very well written, and full of great info. One thing he

talks about is disability.

> He says (not verbatim)

>

>

> Ask yourself this: Who is more disabled? Person 1 is a

quadriplegic who needs an aide to help him with his most basic bodily

care. Nevertheless this person maintains a job and has a happy

family life. Person 2 is healthy except for chronic back pain, has

not worked for 10 years, has trouble performing everyday tasks

because of his pain, and is angry at the world for his lot in life.

Person 1 has a much more severe injury and is physically impaired.

Person 2 is much more disabled.

>

> Hearing your story on the guy whose car was broken into makes me

fuming mad!

>

> The general public is ignorant. To all kinds of things. And

unfortunately, the dishonest people of the world are mostly to

blame. But, our media is as well. They focus on the bad in

everything, and never tell many stories unless there is something

about it that makes it gruesome or against the law.

> I saw a show on tv about that very thing. When asked, a news

photographer had 2 choices of stories to photograph. A baby in a car

wreck who was seriously injured, or something more benign - can't

remember what the other was, but it was a bigger news story that

would have more follow up stories about it.

> Of course, he chose the baby, and tried to get a picture of the

poor soul.

>

> It's just disgusting.

>

> Unfortunately, most people get their news and information from tv.

I don't know why there can't be SOMEONE out there who would

concentrate on trying to inform the public on something like

explaining the nature of disabled people.

>

> Oh, I don't know, I'm just so mad right now I can't even think

straight! Can't get my words out right.

> Maybe it's cause I have a sinus infection, and my head feels like

it's in a fish bowl. Haven't been able to think straight for a

couple days!

>

> But, I think you know what I am trying to say!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks to everyone for the great information on invisible disabilities. I

may use some of it at our presentation on physical disabilities for the

school board next month.

I am also on the Ontarians with Disabilities working group for the school

board and think that it may open some eyes on this committee as well. Last

month some committee members were surprised to learn that elevators with

keys are not accessible for everyone with a physical disability (some with

muscular distrophy or cerberal palsy). Education and awareness seem to be

the greatest barriers to accessibility so this is where we hope to start.

Thanks again,

[Guest guest]

Thanks to everyone for the great information on invisible disabilities. I

may use some of it at our presentation on physical disabilities for the

school board next month.

I am also on the Ontarians with Disabilities working group for the school

board and think that it may open some eyes on this committee as well. Last

month some committee members were surprised to learn that elevators with

keys are not accessible for everyone with a physical disability (some with

muscular distrophy or cerberal palsy). Education and awareness seem to be

the greatest barriers to accessibility so this is where we hope to start.

Thanks again,