the disabled community should not be isolated

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Permalink Reply by Chronic Chick on January 2, 2008 at 10:24pm

I agree with you, but living with an illness that causes so much fatigue can make face to face socialization so hard. So many people still do not know how to react to someone livng with a disabilty, especially if its an illness that can't be seen.

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Permalink Reply by Colin on January 7, 2008 at 3:56pm

Hi Rudy,
Hope that you had a good start to the New Year and I wish you every success.

The problem with many disabilities is that there is nothing obvious to the eye, but that does not mean that people are well. I, like many others, appear 'normal' to most other people except when I flare up, then people don't see me as I lose my mobility.
It's a sad reflection on societies globally that those with disabilities are more helpful to others with disabilities than those who are able-bodied.
This is a situation that needs a complete overhaul so that those with disabilities of any sort, are not frowned upon by others.
Through my blogs I make no secret of being disabled, and the blogosphere is one of the few places where such barriers do not exist....we co-exist with able-bodied people on a level playing field.
As Chronic Chick has said, socialization in everyday life can be a problem as others tend to look the other way.

That's my two cents worth...for now lol.

Take care all,
Colin

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Permalink Reply by Chronic Chick on January 7, 2008 at 11:24pm

I think many times ignorence causes a lot of people to not understand. I don't know how many times I've been asked where I caught Lupus from. I usually refer them to the lupus foundation website.

I have dealt with so much negativity about my lupus, im too the point that I actually get defensive when people say I don't look sick. I have had people tell me how I feel based on what they think I should be feeling.

Ive had people actually get pretty nasty when i use my handicapped parking space. Ive got to the point I tell people walk a mile in my foot steps, then tell me how I feel.

I think the socialization problem is an issue when so much is not understood. One day I can be up and the next day I feel like the local train de-railed and landed on top of me.

Chronic Chick

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Permalink Reply by Di Shaw on March 8, 2008 at 1:59pm

I agree with what you say and I have always believed that education is the way forward until I worked at a local University as disability Co-ordinator which covered every aspect of a disabled student's time at university. The Residences Manager and some senior Professors with interest in disability decided that it would be a great idea to house all the deaf students together,on one floor of one of the Halls of Residence. Until I pointed out the following:
Simply because people share a disability category is not an instant way of liking each other, The example I gave was did they expect everyone with blue eyes to become friends because of the 'shared commonamilty'? What if there was a fire, how could the deaf students alert each other? Thankfully they abandoned their idea.

Good Disability Awareness training is the key [ I wrote all my training] Also disabled people have a responsibility too. If they are asked if help is required they should answer politely either Yes, or No thank you. If we 'scowl' or get angry the person may never ask another disabled person for fear of giving offence.

Ghettoisation is not the answer Integration is.

I apologise for wandering slightly off the point
Di Shaw

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