51 replies to this topic

[rue2you]

I voted No. I am vertically challenged now but so is my friend who has always been short and she is not disabled. Seriously, I know that old things have had to be learned a new way, and at times I get very frustrated over the things that were once so easy and it takes a long time now (like sweeping my dining room floor), and sometimes I feel self-pity at the things I can't do (like paint my bedroom ceiling or put a border up in my kids' rooms) but...."dis" means "not" and I am NOT "not-abled". There is so much that I am able to do, so much that I will learn to do in a new way and so much more to learn period due to my new circumstances. So, no, I am not DISabled.

[alwyen]

im not disabled i just cant feel below the knee and my legs don't often do what i want them to

[Faith_Bynum]

When I think about my paralysis, I freak out because I never really notice it. This is just part of my life; it's not my life. Someone asked me once if I ever hang out with other disabled persons, but I reply by saying: "I don't hang out with freaks like that!" ^_^

[Snakeye]

I could let my ego do my talking or take offense and give you the politically correct answer but in reality I suspect I am disabled when it comes to physical function...so what?..or did you want a deep philisophical answer?

[quadinva]

Ive been disabled...just like a car with lost keys, I cant do things the way I was designed to. BUT, Ive also been ENabled as Ive learned to do things I would have otherwise forgone.

[Edinburgh Colin]

I do not consider my self disabled but rather not as able as before, but with effort and a bit of thought, many of the things that make me not as able as before can be overcome! to really simplify it -

I can't walk, I use a wheelchair. Problem solved. (I admit difficulties still eqist but a lot of them are learning the skills much like anything else)

I cannot drive a manual car, I have a sequential gearbox car with simple mechanical push pull hand control. Problem solved.

etc, etc, That is why I do not consider myself disabled. (The pain can be a shit, but AB's hurt too/1)

[roo]

Can do everything i could before my injury except walk unaided and the other thing i car't do is reach groceries from the top shelf in tesco's but that can be overcome by the use of a long stick

So i class myself as a non walker NOT DISABLED

Another way of looking at things is the fact that in many ways i am more ENabled than my walker friends because i always beat them home from the pub am always 1st on rides at theme parks and am the most popular uncle because they get free rides on mi lap

Roo

Edited by roo, 18 April 2011 - 06:24 AM.

[Smileyblue]

I think it varies..

When my spasms are so bad that I can't bend my body to sit up (even with assistance from Mummy) I feel completely disabled.. When I'm in the shower and drop the soap, and its just out of my reach, no matter how I manoeuvre, I feel slightly disabled.. And when I'm out in the morning sunshine playing with my puppies, or sitting in my adapted kitchen cooking dinner, or even something simple like doing crosswords with Mummy or chatting to you guys, I forget about all my problems and disabilities, and focus on my abilities..

Lol.. Ask Woofy.. It all depends on your PERSPECTIVE..

[Tinbasher]

Depends whether this is a "Social Model" question or an "Individual / Medical Model" one

In the Social Model I have a physical imp[airment 100%^ of the time and am "Disabled" to a greater or lesser degree depending on context and environment.

For example I not very much Disabled at all at home, in my workshop, office or amogst friends. I am however Disabled quite a bit trying to get into the Stan Laurel Pub or my local hardware store or when dealing with organisations who make no accomodation for my impairment.

In other words Disability is a political state not a physical or mental one.

Impairment is entierly physical or mental.

Tin

[pinkcloud]

Yeap I do, I dont see no problem with being classed as disabled as I am not the type to turn and reject a label and turn me nose up at 'me own kind'.

I class the meaning of disabled as being 'a human whom has body parts the dont work to full capacity'. And thats it, which to me is no big deal really.

[mellowgator]

i'm a gimp.

[chris_wheelz]

yes, no problem for me to use the term and apply to myself. the word in itself is not negative in itself and just describes a circumstance.

[Edinburgh Colin]

mellowgator, on 18 April 2011 - 04:09 PM, said:

i'm a gimp.

Mellow, you crack me up.


Just straight as an arrow right to the point. Beautiful.

[MTB John]

I think a better way to ask the question is what percentage disabled do you think you are.

Yes or no is to narrow.

This being the case I class myself as 65% disabled. This may seem low to some who know me but the reason for this is that I am still recovering and keep raising the bar..

Of course, that said I am currently sitting on the couch, enjoying a cup of coffee, listening to music (I was going to say Jimi Hendrix but Jeff Buckley just started - I love shuffle) and talking to you lot. Therefore I am currently 0% disabled - I was not that fast a typer to begin with..

It's all relative..

[123]

Seems rather an odd question to me. I don't 'consider' myself disabled, I am disabled, like I am female and I am English. It's not a matter of opinion but a fact. However if the question is actually whether or not one 'accepts' being disabled, then my answer is most definitely 'no'. I don't like it but it's the way it is. End of.

[maisy1996]

personally i feel i am not "disabled" as such just that i am unable to do certain things i used to do. i think the word disabled is widely used and some refere to it differently than others. being disabled is not being able to do something, but having a disability is just something that stops you doing things in a certain way. therefore, i do not feel disabled yet i know i have a disability. make sense? :') haha

[maisy1996]

mellowgator, on 18 April 2011 - 04:09 PM, said:

i'm a gimp.

you sure sumed that up well lol

[MTB John]

On a side not I have a good friend who does not like the term disability - he prefers 'diffability'. As in, we can still do things but we must now do them 'differently'..

[pinkcloud]

MTB John, on 18 April 2011 - 09:59 PM, said:

On a side not I have a good friend who does not like the term disability - he prefers 'diffability'. As in, we can still do things but we must now do them 'differently'..

I like that word alot MTB John I reckon he could write to the dictionary people and get the word disability changed officially. I dont know if they can do that? Teenagers invent words all the time afterall, why should they get the rights to do it and we dont

[Ratticis]

I'm the same asshole I always was, just now I'm gimped. So . . . maybe?

People who say "differently abled" should be shot.

Edited by Ratticis, 08 May 2011 - 05:35 AM.

[goose]

depends on what day you ask me and who is doing the asking.

[Chel]

I sometimes don't think about being disabled until I find myself going through something I was able to do like drive, doing other stuff for myself ect. then it hits me.