| I found a remark on a blog recently and the remark | | | | use a personal example, I have an in-law with bipolar |
| basically said this (I'm paraphrasing): "I'm tired of people | | | | disorder. My brother-in-law has had electroconvulsive |
| who aren't disabled but try to get benefits from the | | | | therapy on an outpatient basis for nearly two years, |
| government".I guess it goes without saying that, today, | | | | which is fairly significant as far as treatment goes (this |
| we live in a fairly judgmental climate. And regarding | | | | was enough to qualify him for social security disability |
| individuals with disabilities, perhaps it has always been | | | | benefits). By any thoughtful consideration of his |
| that way. However, for those who think like the person | | | | impairment he is certainly disabled. But you can't "see" |
| who made the statement above, consider the fact | | | | his various deficits when you see him putting gas in his |
| that many individuals with disabilities have conditions | | | | car, or when he is picking up milk at the grocery store. |
| that allow them to work, but only on a limited basis, or | | | | In the same manner, you can't "see" the disability of a |
| for short durations. In other words, just because you | | | | person who has depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia, or |
| see someone at the grocery store pushing a cart, | | | | migraines.The mere concept that a person with |
| don't assume that they're not being truthful about being | | | | disabilities should have to pass a visibility test belies a |
| disabled. For all you really know, after making a short | | | | depressing degree of ignorance on the part of those |
| trip to the store, they may be flat on their back when | | | | who are not disabled. That a person with a physical |
| they get home, and in a considerable amount of | | | | disability should have to possess a limp, or a person |
| discomfort.This example, of course, raises the question: | | | | with a mental disability should have to carry on a |
| Can you necessarily "see" a disability? And the | | | | conversation with himself in public before a |
| answer is no, of course not. And, in fact, when it | | | | non-disabled person can accept that a disability, in fact, |
| comes to most mental and physical impairments, even | | | | exists shows just how far the disability rights |
| when the condition is truly disabling, the average | | | | movement still needs to go.The author of this article is |
| watcher won't be able to determine that's the case. | | | | Tim Moore, who also publishes answers to questions |
| Contrary to myth, most disabilities are not apparent to | | | | about social security disability. |
| the untrained eye, making them effectively invisible.To | | | | |