Am I disabled?

Tfios

My understanding of disability growing up was people in wheelchairs or physically impaired. 
I'm stopped from doing things by my brain that seems to work a bit backwards. I have autism, ADHD and all the fun mental health challenges that come with them.

I understand the social model of disability now and recognise the wide spectrum of disability and what it means to be disabled. 

But I still don't feel allowed to refer to myself as disabled. I'm able bodied and the world is set up mostly for able-bodied people. So is it offensive for me to do so? 

Do you call yourself disabled?

66Mustang

I have had similar thoughts myself

I don't call myself disabled but from the official definition I probably would be classed as disabled

I am on maximum PIP and ESA so clearly someone has decided there is something wrong with me

I just say I have "issues" and these issues stop me from doing certain things that I want or need to do

Despite the progress made and broadening of the word I still do feel awkward saying I am disabled, because there is nothing visibly wrong with me

Jimm_Scope

Hey @Tfios, welcome to our community.

I have ADHD, among other conditions. I understand the struggle to label oneself disabled, I think you're applying a purely physical description on the word however. Able-bodied isn't much a term we use anymore, as many disabled people are very able to get around. Even if they have a wheel-chair, they are very able to get around. It's how the world is constructed that disabled them, not their body.


I do not think it is offensive to distance yourself from the word, or label, of "disabled". It's a word that comes with a lot of societal baggage. It took me a long time to accept the word. I am not surprised about people like Mustang who probably fall under the legal definition but do not use the word for themselves. Again, it comes with a lot of societal baggage. The way society treats you changes, the way they judge you changes, they may judge you poorly for using the label if you do not meet their very specific image of a disabled person. There can be a lot of issues with using it, when there shouldn't be.

But, I would not worry about not using it being offensive. 

chiarieds

Hi @Tfios - & welcome to the community. To me a 'disability' is literally something that dis-ables you, meaning it's harder for such a person to do something that others find so much easier.

I have purely physical limitations due to a genetic disorder, however I don't consider myself disabled either (tho I probably am). To me I'm just a person that happens to have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), but that doesn't define me. I have often thought perhaps in some ways it's easier for me, as I've always had EDS, so I've just sort of grown up with it, that being my 'normal,' so have never considered myself different to others.

Albus_Scope

Heya @Tfios and a big welcome!

I always referred to myself as 'Unabled' as I never saw myself as disabled, just someone who was unable to be in crowds, or work in call centres, or go running etc.   But by definition, I am a disabled person.  It's taken a while to get my head around this fact though, but the world isn't designed for my way of thinking or moving, so yes, I am disabled.  And I'm now ok with it. 

Rosie_Scope

Welcome to the community @Tfios!

Up until a few years ago, I don't think I would have called myself disabled. As my conditions are mostly long-term conditions, I think previously I would have called myself chronically ill or something similar.

But as I got older I realised how much work I was doing to function day to day that people around me weren't doing, and how difficult it was for me to fit in to certain societal norms like working or having a social life. Then I started to identify much more as disabled. Once I read about 'barriers' and the social model, I did feel like it applied to me much more than I'd previously thought. It also became a much easier way to describe to people why I couldn't do a certain thing, or why I wasn't working full time. 

It will always be up to you whether you want to describe yourself as disabled or not, but please don't feel like you 'shouldn't' be disabled because other people's disabilities are different to yours. Everyone's experiences are unique and we all face different difficulties in different parts of our lives  

astressedlady

I absolutely use the word disabled to refer to myself.

Because I look "normal" I feel it important to show that disabilities are not all visible. 

My life day to day is extremely difficult and highly limited compared to non disabled people and I'm not able to just do what I want when I want as they can.

My neurodivergent mind together with my genetically wonky body don't allow me to get up some days let alone have a career or even care for myself or others fully.

I am absolutely disabled by the social definition and that's OK. 

Bettahm

Disabled by society though society looks at me and says 'you're not disabled'.


autistic, depression, bad anxiety, agoraphobia, OCD, more.

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @Tfios

I always feel strange with this question. I have Inflammatory Bowel Disease and a stoma. When I was really unwell I would have said I am disabled. Because my illness would not let me do anything. Now I have a stoma I sometimes feel hesitant to use the term disabled as I am able to do more than I did. 

It only dawned on me recently that I actually just swapped one thing for another. Just because I am now not in the same pain and more able bodied than I was, doesn't mean I still don't have difficulties and social barriers. Like many here have commented  

I agree with Rosie, that everyone's experiences are different and we face different difficulties that can change over time 

Anni

I absolutely call myself disabled. I have cerebral palsy causing chronic pain and fatigue. Even if the barriers society puts in my way were removed, my own body stops me doing most things. It actually disables me more than society does. I dislike the word 'disabled' though. I wish the word 'handicapped' didn't have such an awful history and reputation. It accurately describes what I have - an extra burden which I have to carry.

Museumvolunteer

I sometimes wonder about a 'less-abled' category? With fibromyalgia and arthritis, and asthma becoming more of a problem, much of my last 40 years has been lived as a ‘half-life’; however, on 'good' days, like many in our situation, I look fine on the outside and try to appreciate those days.

I've never qualified for any benefits but wonder how I'm going to manage physically as older age creeps on (I'm 71).

 

geek84

My thoughts are the same as Biblioklept:

I fall under the legal definition but don't really use the word for myself either. I don't know why, but possibly because I spent my whole life trying to fit in.

JessieJ

I am handicapped. Now, apparently, an offensive word.

Jimm_Scope

JessieJ said:

I am handicapped. Now, apparently, an offensive word.

I believe it puts the "problem" in the lap of the person. Whereas many people live just as well as others, when society is built with them in mind.

I can understand still using it and I wouldn't find it offensive to have someone else use it for themselves, I've no right to tell you not to call yourself that. I would prefer people didn't use it for me is all.