What are the most common types of prejudices you face as a Disabled Person

PoppyMorgan

Tansi15

As my disability is invisible, the most common type of prejudice I have faced is not being believed. Having my disability repeatedly questioned and repeatedly having to justify my need for reasonable adjustments or additional support etc. being made to feel dehumanised, unsupported, insignificant and often invisible by the very people with a duty of care for my wellbeing in work, ie. My former employer.

Littlefatfriend

In 34 years using a wheelchair all of the time I've never had slurs, negative comments or mimicking.

Sometimes people stare at me but that's true of most people, at least. I choose to assume they just like my hat or hair.

Rose1955

As Tansi15, I also have an invisible illness and and have had this issue in the past.

As I am older with poly arthritis and need to use a scooter not so much now.

I have to say that the ones who really know me well have been supportive

teuchterlass

My brain damage - look "normal", when I have trouble with thought process/memory, communicating/speech I am stared at as if I am a festering very infectious lump who should not be let out on my own.

When I am having a bad day or so I rarely go out rather than feel worse than I'm feeling already trying to deal with their looks which I interpret as of pity and disgust, even stepping away from me.

Crystal66

My disability is invisible too. I have schizophrenia and grand mal epilepsy. People dont seem to dislike epilepsy so much. Schizophrenia is more misunderstood. Most think I'm inferior as they think intellectually I am inferior to them. They can be nice at times. Most underestimate me completely. Approx 16 years ago I had a wonderful career in London was great at my job had loads of friends. I could cope so well under stress. Then i lost my job and developed schizophrenia. I moved back home to a different part of the country and had to make new friends etc. Some people i told a had a form of psychosis and maybe some know its schizophrenia from people talking. I have had people assume that i have either never worked or not in something very good. It makes my heart sink when i am kind and friendly to everyone and then they say things that hurt so much. I usually dont say i have schizophrenia to people because i want them to get ti know me first. If they knew i had it then they'd already have me categorised.

Kevo60

Being disabled people look at me and think ...he ok because you cannot see my disability.... well I use sticks...now .. be i always have to prove that I have disability... to everyone....

michael57

i have to say where we live could not wish for nicer people the town is a credit to disabled people

Doglover2

All of my conditions are invisible except one, I've a bad limp as I need a knee replacement. I use a rollator and apart from my MH struggles and some of my other conditions that keep me indoors I know I'd be looked at for using one, but my physio found it necessary after numerous falls,broken bones ,teeth, blackened face etc. Do I use it? Only inside. I'm 58. But told I look 40 (go me) pity I feel well into my 80s. I certainly don't feel 40 or 58,if it comes to it.

So I'd def be stared at if I was outside.

JennieWren

my disability is generally hidden. The most comments and challenges I’ve had is when waiting for the disabled loo by other disabled loo users. Many times they’ve challenged me as to whether I have a key or not - even when I’ve been fumbling through my bag. I have spinal cord damage which does affect my bladder and when I’ve got to go I’ve got to go and can barely focus on anything but not having an accident so locating my key, even though I know exactly where it is can be troublesome. They’ve even shut the door so it locks again. It’s a shame some people think they’re the loo police.

yves

I have rheumatoid arthritis as my primary illness, I also now have other autoimmune diseases. If I see people I haven't seen in a while, I get the " my God, what's happened to you" or " have you had an accident ". I do try to explain, but people often think Rheumatoid, is arthritis.They are not aware its linked to the immune system and that it's your immune system that attacks your joints. I have had someone say " that's freaky" when I explained what it actually is.

Bluebell21

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/941786#Comment_941786

I have found the same with this. I have Ulcerative Colitis and have a Radar key as like you when I need to go I need to go immediately.

malvinmulch

a evaI have complex-ptsd, ADHD, GAD, MDD, fibromyalgia. People think there is nothing wrong with me and I get stares and I've been verbally assaulted and threatened by a next door neighbour for being a "l**y b*****d" and an "I**e p***k" amongst other things for the "crime" of sitting in the sunshine reading.

Being around folk makes me really on edge and I can feel my hackles rising and my blood running cold.

I don't go out really as What's worse is SSS (ADP) say "go have a holiday, everyone deserves time away, don't worry about it" whereas DWP (UC) are as we know just looking for any excuse to brand us criminals, scroungers and worse.

Even had someone say "oh you could have a holiday, as long as you weren't having the time of your life in turkey or something " - I had to bite my lip there - so just because I'm disabled with a MH condition, then if I even try to do something or I can do something once at the cost of pain, fatigue and distress that somehow means I'm in the wrong.

I swear we are living in a dystopian movie or something where the system has decided we are guilty of something, they just are waiting to prove it / we are inferior slaves who should know our place - in response flames spit forth from my ears

Amaya_Ringo

I'm autistic, and mostly it's people either deciding they know more about autism than I do, telling me how I don't look autistic or whatever. Or determining that I can do things because they can't visualise why I can't, even though my practical, navigational and logistical skills are very, very poor.

And the flipside, people assuming I can't do things when I absolutely can.

Autistic people are invisible in so many ways. We still have our narrative dominated by other people, or when one of us breaks through and gives a point of view, you get the "inspirational" tag or people assuming everyone is like this.

Plus, the antivax movement has done so much harm to perceptions of autism. It can be tough to live with, but a good part of that is because society is apparently so scared of dealing with it. I would like them to stop trying to socially normalise us/shaming us for being different and instead trying to help us find our strengths.

Ivy2023

@Tansi15 Same here. Same here.

TMAU is a rare disease which isolates and there is sympathy from no one. No cure, very low on relief, almost none existing research.

I would change it for cancer any time.

smokey18

My disability is visible insofar as I use a walking stick on a daily basis and a scooter for more longer distances. The most common type of prejudice I experience is not being believed that I am still in need of both personal and practical support on a daily basis post my stroke 6 years ago. I am tired of having to justify how my disability continues to affect me on a daily basis. It has now come to my attention that my level of disability has lead is being investigated, although I have been informed in writing by the social security that this is not the case, the whole experience continues to play a detrimental role on my mental health and physical wellbeing.

malvinmulch

I hear you there fellow neuro divergent sibling. "Oh it's just the latest fad" "you are just using it as an excuse" "it's just bad parenting, in my day we just battered them" "your just trying to justify being a failure " or from a female American ADHD 'influencer' "stop using your ADHD as a crutch"

Even my MH team are clueless and I've tried multiple times to illuminate and either gets blocked by middle management or senior management sorta receptive and clinical director (read random GP on a power trip and aiming for a career in politics or something) pooh poohs it and treats you like you are clueless and they don't need your help nor want it.

It's so infuriating 🤬😡 and worse they are constantly running on bottom of the barrel locums, some of whom I have had serious doubts if they are actually qualified as doctors at all let alone psychiatrists - one couldn't even write out a CD prescription correctly despite MULTIPLE attempts.…i complained and they discreetly moved him and buried it...

Amaya_Ringo

Oh, the GP. During the pandemic was actually the best time to be going to our GP as they allowed you to wait outside and also came and took you into appointments, rather than expecting me to find a room on my own through a maze of tunnels…

And one of the GPs…the moment I mentioned autism she really talked me down like I was a small child. But I have had good experiences with them as well. Not so much the doctor who decided to refer me for an appointment on the day that all the babies were getting vaccinated. Yes, that's the perfect time for a hypersensitive autistic person to be in a waiting room. When you can't hear yourself for screaming babies…

JennieWren

My daughter is autistic, has Ehlers danlos hypermobility, pots, irlens, diagnosed anxiety and I think she’s adhd. So many people are ignorant and unaware. Even her grandmother commented on how much weight she’s put on in recent years! She didn’t get a blue badge as her condition’s apparently aren’t long term! I don’t know what qualifications some of these people are meant to have?

theme79

I’ve been disabled since 5 and tbe early days in the 50s and 60s it was a charity poor child and so your look at as the object of peoples pity or occasional prejudice but mostly kind sympathy- not that I wanted sympathy as much as to be involved which I rarely was - always with others but usually as an observer on the edge.

as the disability rights and access improved over the years it did get better but often only up to a point - access to education but work and integration was never quite there. With a degree and a masters it was possible to get to work but not at the same level as we were able.

I think now there is a shift back - we have rights to equal opportunity but other people resent them - our DLA has been hijacked into PIP and us seen as a benefit that drains society rather than an access and equality payment.

And the charity model had huge disadvantages as it could and often did infantilise us - but people were often helpful and had syoowven if that often grated

today I encounter constant feelings that we are a drain on society as we get lots of benefits (ha ha) and there is an atmosphere of slight aggression to us - the model has shifted and small comments are compón that are micro expressions of this - blue badge is a luxury- PIP is about getting money for nothing - and no doubt soon it will be under the attack to be taxed.

so I feel a constant sense of an undercurrent of negativity. I remember seeing a sports car with a blue badge be t to me at a supermarket and it was evident from the comme es that they though it must be a cheat or maybe if they could afford a sports car they should have a blue badge.

of course as we are in a world of unequal resources and many people are struggling- who do those who are suffering and affected attack first - the elderly - disabled and minority groips

Heath4099

Hi,

After havingboth legs above the knee amputated last year I found it very traumatic and difficult to cope with the stares that some people gave me. I think it bothered me more because I found it difficult to accept anyway. Now I've had time to accept it, it doesn't really bother me anymore and just smile. 😊