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Are there stereotypes about having a disability?

This week (10th- 16th June) is Diabetes Week 2019 and like most awareness days, a theme has been chosen. This year, #SeeDiabetesDifferently aims to tackle common stereotypes and challenge attitudes around the condition.

As part of this campaign, Diabetes UK release some facts as part of the campaign, with the first one being:

As part of this campaign, Diabetes UK release some facts as part of the campaign, with the first one being:
One in 15 of us live with diabetes. That’s 4.7 million people in the UK – more than cancer and dementia combined. That includes one million people who don’t even know they have diabetes.
Chances are, lots of people you know are living with diabetes.
Chances are, lots of people you know are living with diabetes.
Furthermore, there was an emphasis on this campaign around sharing people's stories and allowing these people to be seen more than the condition that they have. They can be found here if you'd like to give them a read.
Do you think there are any stereotypes about your disability? What do you believe can be done to change these? Let us know in the comments below!
Community Partner
Scope
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Scope
Tell us what you think?
Complete our feedback form to help us to improve your community.
Replies
I think it is up to us to try to push against any kind of stereotype of disabilities and educate people by showing them that we are not defined by our disability, but are valued members of the community who have a lot to contribute to society. We will struggle a bit in life with various things, but will get there in the end and can live good lives. I believe that educating others about disability and stereotypes could be done from a young age and it is a really good thing to show children that there are people with disabilities who can do a lot of fulfilling things in life such as play sport, work, drive, get married, have children of their own, etc. Having worked in child-care and been a Brownie Guider in the past, I would often feel positive knowing that I had answered a child's question about my disability before they could form any kind of stereotype in their head.
However, battling against such stereotypes will not be easy, but we can only hope that in time people's views about disabilities will get better.
Scope
Tell us what you think?
Complete our feedback form to help us to improve your community.
Good point made about being in a wheelchair so then you're disabled BUT if you use a mobility scooter you're just a fat lazy bar steward. I manage to get around the house reasonably well but need the scooter to get around the shops. It's so obvious that there is hostility almost to the point of aggression towards scooter users.
Best wishes.
DLTBGYD