14 replies to this topic

[cdlp]

There are many disabilities out there and from a lifestyle and cultural perspective it seems they have little in common.However the disability movement is a profoundly powerfull thing and this brings us together.This post is to find out what physicaly disabled people think and feel about developmentaly disabled people.And what you guys think our role in the disability movement is.Please be honest even if your comments are negative because I am serious about gathering facts and this research.I am looking for information what ever that might be.By developmentaly disabled I mean autism,mental retardation and learning disabilties.Mostly just be honest

[style71]

if anything i honestly think they have it worse than the physically disabled. To the "normies" we are all considered the same basically open the door for us and mutter "i'm glad i'm not like that"

[cdlp]

thank you for your imput and i respect your feelings.do you think we should work together in the disabilty movement or is our agenda's best served advocating our own disabilities

[A trophy guy]

I think that mental disability, just like physical disability, covers an immense spectrum of humanity. I believe, while the cultural and individual experiences will vary on a incalculable scale; one thing that connects all of us living with disability is ability. The autistic-savant who is a genius, despite all the other developmental and social problems he/she faces. The mentally retarded woman, who, despite having the mental capacity of a 10 year old, can brighten the moods of anyone she is around, who loves her family with unbridled joy. Or the paraplegic who is trying desperately to fully understand the world around him, and himself in the process, in the hopes that he can make it a better place for those who may follow him.

We are not a burden, we are not a liability. We are a part of the human race, with our own unique abilities. Those should be recognized, embraced and encouraged to flourish.

[wheeliebear75]

I'm not sure why exactly this topic was started....."Oh just curiosity about what the gimps think", or someone who is thinking of writing a thesis on disabilities....or what?

Honestly.....I think it's kinda hard to give you a black & white answer; #1 some people have both disabilities, #2 the needs of those with physical limitations are different than those who have mental deficits of some sort, &/but #3 as we who are of one disability or another we have to stand/sit united.....if one group of disabled people can be marginalized than any of us can.

Actually there are quite a few people who DO have multiple disabilities. Physical disabled & mentally disabled need very different things to be "included" in our communities. Those who are mentally disabled but not physically disabled do NOT need things like automatic doors, wheelchair stalls in public restrooms, curb cuts, disabled parking, etc.! Those of us who are not mentally disabled would find many of the assembly work mind-numbingly BORING!

As someone who has a both a Spinal Cord Injury & a Traumatic Brain Injury: My brain injury causes me to get easily lost; so when I wanted to go anywhere it meant needing to make sure that I had someone go with me, OR have done it with me a bunch of times then go with me but as an invisible shadow so they'd allow me to do the steps but not allow me to get too LOST, then if I'd managed to do it 3x without needing any intervention of "Nope wrong stop." "No you were supposed to take a LEFT turn at the light not a right turn" THEN I'd be able to do it on MY OWN....on the condition that there were people just a phone call away who could come rescue me.....and once even with all those "precautions" I still made a wrong turn getting myself VERY lost to where I had to use the 911 & have them track me down by my cell's GPS! I have to have people help me keep my finances strait.

I don't think we're "the same" but I don't know that we're "different" either. I think we're 2 different clubs of a gigantic group....and although some people may be a member of both clubs.....mostly I think we just need to make sure neither club gets trampled on.

[cdlp]

the post wasnt realy a black and white are we the same or are we diferent.but is there some common ground and also should we work together or not on the politics of the disability movement.but yes your right the lifestyle diferences are profound.i myself have a mind for politics so im still interested in this dialogue

[nomis]

It's a tough ask to unite all disabilities under the one heading. Just because I've got a disability does not mean that I identify with all others. I'm just as much a stranger as most of the population to disabilities like autism, mental retardation, etc because currently I have minimal contact with such people. I don't identify with them other than us all being human beings struggling to make our way through life the best we can.

I presume this is an early foray into this subject to test your interest. I'm ok with that but I'd want something more specific and planned to take any suggestion of research seriously.

[cdlp]

im not sugesting that all disability be put in one catagory.matter of fact thats sort of the point of this post.as far as is this a formal research project for some doctoral thesis.yes and no.no im not doing any formal research.with my autism every conversation i have is like a doctoral thesis and i cant do any small talk all.i guess my way of conecting with people is highly intelectualized poltical discusions.im mostly involved in autism stuff but i also have a passion for trying to learn about other experiences to.one reason for that is ive been critical of the mainstream disability movement for trivalizing developmental disabilities so likewise i thought i should be more informed about others experiences too

[edlee]

It's been said above,, but I think it bears repeating.,, developmental disabilities and physical disabilities are so fundementally different in nature, that there can be no "united front",, other than one that should unite ALL people. The best hope we ALL have,, is to be seen. To ALL make an effort to just BE OUT in public. The nore we are SEEN,, the more NORMAL we appear.

It's a matter of ABs getting "used" to us. If something isn't seen,, it is usually ignored,, and that is really the problem.
ed

[wheeliebear75]

cdlp, on 07 November 2011 - 01:08 PM, said:

im not sugesting that all disability be put in one catagory.matter of fact thats sort of the point of this post.as far as is this a formal research project for some doctoral thesis.yes and no.no im not doing any formal research.with my autism every conversation i have is like a doctoral thesis and i cant do any small talk all.i guess my way of conecting with people is highly intelectualized poltical discusions.im mostly involved in autism stuff but i also have a passion for trying to learn about other experiences to.one reason for that is ive been critical of the mainstream disability movement for trivalizing developmental disabilities so likewise i thought i should be more informed about others experiences too

Sooo you've got a mild form of autism? Do you or someone you KNOW have a Spinal Cord Injury? I don't know about anyone else....but I myself am curious as all get out: Why pick a forum for those with SCI instead of a generalized "for ALL disabilities" forum to ask/pose this question?

[cdlp]

very good question.there are a couple general disability that i am a member of that im mostly ignored and i have gotten the feeling that the mainstream disabled community would just asume not have people like me around.i was banned from disabledonline forums because i gave an invite too join a friend of mines new autism forum.so they called me a spammer.which is not true i was trying to help people by inviting to join,i wasnt advertising to make money.after gooling a bit,this site had a lot of activity and fast responses

[Tetracyclone]

cdpl,

So, you found some folks with this forum who will talk to you. i suggest you give us your best thinking rather than ask questions. We will only ban you if you become an argumentative SOB.

[nomis]

Here is an interesting and sensative aspect of the relationships. Many of those with physical disabilities are quick to let people know that they do not have developmental or mental issues. I assume there is a tendency for those with developmental and mental health issues to showcase their physical abilities, too.

And that makes it extra tough for those with both physical and developmental issues. But such cases also illustrate that we are all in this together. It doesn't surprise me if people with developmental issues are having difficulty being accepted by the mainstream disability community because I think there'd be quite a bit of resistance from those not wanting to be associated for fear that it would compromise their already frail self image.

The solution, I think, is to keep plugging to be included because you'll succeed in the end. A lot more education is needed of disability people as well as the general population. At the same time we need to accept our unique differences because autistics will always understand other autistics better than SCI-types and the same goes for us.

Politically we should unite cos we will be stronger to achieve more recognition for people with disabilities. But socially we may struggle, not just because of the different disabilities but the different personalities and interests.

Edited by nomis, 09 November 2011 - 01:26 AM.

[cdlp]

very good responses im not sure how to comment but the last two posters had good questions.autism pride usualy manifests it self in people who are very proud of there savant abilities and resent comparisons to lower functioning autistics.i have never heard anyone resent physical disaility or look down of those with mobility impairments.there is horrible in fighting in autistic culture.part of why i like doing this type of chat,to avoid the wonton hate on some of the autistic forum

[cdlp]

im glad you guys want to know what i think.and i will try to give you that oportunity.i never meant to imply that all the mainstream disability sites are anti developmetal d's.many are not at all. as i said in the last post,to most autistics, people with sci's and other physical disabilities are a non issue one way or another.so there is ignorance on both sides.im a rare cross over.im into politics and even though we have littl
in common lifestyle wise we both are sucked into the disability movement and we both play the disablity card.which is ok to me if you apreciate other people's experinces too.i hope i answered some questions.if you have any Q's for me,"shoot"