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