What counts as disability?

OwnedByFerrets

I get the same kind of remarks nan jones. The very reason I don't claim DLA or declare myself disabled a lot, if people ask about my walking stick I tend to just say "oh I just hurt my ankle" unless I know them, or have to see them a lot. It does my head in when people stick their noses in like that. (about being approached for parking and confronted as to if you're really disabled or not) I mostly get abuse when using radar or disabled toilets (because I usually use these when I'm with my brother who can't toilet himself - and he looks as normal as chips)

Thank you all for sharing your stories, I think it's just comforting. Annoying though when there's so many bad experiences there. (about the people making the experiences bad - not because they're posted)

Sometimes I do get quite annoyed when I see someone pull into a disabled bay - just to use the cash point that's right next to it, I tell myself that I don't know anything about them, they could be drawing out cash for someone else - or they could have one of those "invisible" disabilities (so I should know better) Most disabled bays are for everyone to park in anyway - just a courtesy, so people shouldn't get angry about anyone parking in them, although if they're not disabled it is quite rude/selfish. Still being a vigilante and confronting someone about it is practically saying "You had better tell me what your disability is and prove it or i'm going to stand here and shout at you"

terry_steer

I am also disabled,but look very well most of the time.I frequently help my local hospital doing student training,no I am not that clever,iI am examined by student doctors and they have to give a consultant a diagnosis.My consultant frequently says "take no notice of how he looks,he really is ill "! I have 2 leaking valves and atrial fibrollation as wells as cervical spondulisis and osteoarthritis.10 years ago I had open heart surgery and 2 days later loked,so I am told by nurses and doctors,that I looked ready to run a marathon !So all you fit and well out there dont judge and stick your nose in when someone pulls into a disabled parking bay .

GlamourPuss

lynsey78 wrote: »

Some people fail to recognise epilepsy, people who have epilepsy that is not totally controlled and have fits still are not able to drive, a big disability in itself. Obviously the council now supply bus passes and you can purchase a rail card, but no benefits are there. Some people including myself have problems working full time as it is tiredness and stress that affects people/

Thanks Lynsey for rasing this I too am a chronic epileptic suffering both grand and petit mal attacks, and it still amazes me the amount of prejudice against people with epilepsy, and with other general disabilities especially with employers.... I've come across some people whose attitudes have been, we should still be locked up in the asylums

Richie-from-the-Boro

GlamourPuss wrote: »

Thanks Lynsey for raising this I too am a chronic epileptic suffering both grand and Petit Mal attacks, and it still amazes me the amount of prejudice against people with epilepsy, and with other general disabilities especially with employers.... I've come across some people whose attitudes have been, we should still be locked up in the asylums

Welcome to MSE GlamorPuss, the Lynsey you are replying to posted the comment over four years ago .. .. [28-10-2008, 4:31 PM] nevertheless your input is welcome -

Isis_Black

god to many i seem a bit of a faker supposedly having a disability.
i was diagnsed in 2008 with moderate depression and was on meds till last summer.
i was also diagnosed at the delightful age of 33 that i was dyspraxic that was only found out from a test at uni. im a mature student with 3 kids on a psychology degree, but not getting on with it atm! im in yr 2 and seriously its starting to affect my health.
i do honestly think i have more wrong with me than depression i do suspect CFS but my current dr wont listen, i know i need to change drs but i sick of being fobbed off all the time hell my current dr dismissed my dyspraxia diagnosis as i had coped with it this long! i have days where i just cannot move, i get so tired easily yet spend nights wide awake.

i will say i am not eligible to claim any sort of disability benefit
wont even be able to claim if i have to give up uni

voynich

ggugvrunt wrote: »

I must say I am extremely surprised at how difficult many people find it to get DLA.
I had Guillain-Barre Syndrome about 5 years ago which put me in intensive care for 2 months followed by 3 months in a rehab ward.
When I was discharged I was in a wheelchair and someone from Social Services helped me fill in the application, there was no problem getting the higher rate mobility allowance.
I was re-assessed after a year by which time I could just about get around using one crutch and my allowance is now indefinite.
Reading some of these posts makes me feel a bit guilty since I can just about get around on my own. Bad days do have me crawling round the flat though.
I have never lied or exaggerated on an application and now have a motability car which helps a lot.
Maybe people just need to ensure they get the correct advice when filling in the forms.

I am sorry but theire is no such thing as indefinite. Many people who thought they had an indefinite award are now being asked to reapply for their DLA. Also with DLA changing to PIP a number of people will be loosing their awards.

Brassedoff

KxMx wrote: »

Being in a wheelchair/ sticks doesn't mean you exclusively belong to the disabled group.

Yes, but it helps

ktcov

I never know whether to declare my disability or not. I have known the meaning of it for the last few years.

I've got epilepsy and its severity varies. During my teenage years, it was well-controlled and I only had seizures when they tried to take me off the medication (every 2/3 years). They were so rare that I didn't even know what triggered them. I never once considered myself disabled.

Then my medication was changed - those tablets weren't appropriate for a young woman. In my 3rd year at university I was having a seizure every week without fail. I even had one on the way to hand in my dissertation and a 2,500 word essay. Someone called an ambulance (despite my sleepy protestations) and I ended up staying in hospital until after the hand-in by time had passed. I had to go in the next day and explain my circumstances, saying, "If you don't believe me, please go and ask the people outside giving out leaflets who all saw it". I felt guilt-ridden - though when I look back now, I shouldn't have. I had no help whatsoever during my school years or my degree yet managed to get a 2:2 from a good university. I see jobs I want to apply for now that require a 2:1 degree and I always think, "If only the university had been more supportive...", or "If only I'd asked for help/my circumstances to be considered and grade adjusted accordingly" (I was on for a 2:1 for the first two years).

I then spent five years in an administrative role whilst my epilepsy settled down. They were very supportive. I was referred to a different hospital and this was when I began to see it as a 'disability' for the first time in my life.

Last year I went back to university and did a PGCE to become a primary school teacher. I haven't finished this yet, but Warwick were very supportive - they gave me extra time for essays and paid for taxis to get me to placements and university (as tiredness triggers my seizures). This helped a lot, but the Student Loans Company take ages to sort out the taxis and for my last placement I ended up getting the bus. (I can't drive because I haven't been seizure-free for a year since I was 17!) I will complete it, but I feel epilepsy has prevented me from reaching my full potential.

I did apply for teaching jobs at one time. I knew that if I declared my disability I was technically supposed to get an interview. However, I found the success rate higher when I DIDN'T declare it! I always ensured I met the person specification so don't feel that the 'two-ticks' policy was applied.

Whilst I'm posting on the subject of my disability, mine is unseen (most of the time!). I do think that the bus drivers must wonder how I get a free pass when I 'look' fine, but I've never been questioned or had funny looks. I do find that the public know very little about epilepsy. I always get asked, "Is that the one with the flashing lights?" and "Are you okay with computers?" when every case of epilepsy is very different, and most cases of epilepsy are not photosensitive! I have also been to employers before, declared my disability, explained the triggers, and been told that they are not willing to adjust the hours of work by 1 or 2 hours (so that I wouldn't finish late at night) and so I could not have the job. If you ask me, THAT is a reasonable adjustment and by not making these reasonable adjustments they were not complying with the DDA.

It is difficult being disabled, and sometimes I am made to feel like a liar. I sometimes feel like I know the DDA better than employers themselves - especially recruitment agencies. I tried for years not to look at it as a disability, but it does affect my life now and it always will. Things are moving in the right direction but there is still a long way to go.

eighties_girl

My husband has arthritis of the lumber spine and in the words our gp who is fantastic, its knackered. he also has neuropothy which affects his feet and hands. His hands shake and his hands are semi numb. His feet are extremely painful and needs lots of help. his dla is up for renewal any ideas on how to deal with it. He gets high rate mobility and low rate care.

Olokia

I was wondering whether anyone could help me understand something.

I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and have recently found out I may have some sort of Dysautonomia. I have already lost one job because of this (before I was diagnosed) and because I keep having time off from my current job and there are some redundancies at the moment, I want to find out if I could claim disability discrimination if the chose me because of my attendance record? (or can I only claim discrimination if I receive DLA?)

A bit of background on me:
- I can't do most exercise any more. If I try then I feel really ill the next day as it causes neck pain and headaches and tiredness. Most sports hurt my joints anyway but I can just about do swimming but I feel ill after. The only two that don't seem to affect me as much for some reason is horse riding and cycling.
- I feel tired all the time. I have about 8-10 hours and still feel really tired. On my days off I can sleep more and usually don't feel that tired if I have about 14 but it is really impractical to sleep 14 hours every day.
- My fingers get stiff if they are hot. Hot weather, washing up and showers usually cause them to be stiff. More annoying than painful though (but it does usually mean I am covered in water after washing up though :rotfl:)
- I can't pick up heavy things especially if they are from a height. That really hurts my shoulder.
- I find it difficult to get off the sofa as my joints really hurt.

When I feel extra ill (a few times a month), I am too tired to move from the sofa and I can't concentrate and my neck and head really hurt. If I try to go to work then it will just get worse until I rest for a day so I need time off work which is costing me a lot in lost wages

Though I can walk (but painful when my back is hurting) and cook meals and stuff so I am pretty sure I can't claim DLA or anything and I don't want to.

So could I claim discrimination?

Sorry its long