Comments on: But I Don’t Feel “Disabled” http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/09/but-i-dont-feel.html A gold mine of straight talk and encouragement for people living with diabetes Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:28:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: sara http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/09/but-i-dont-feel.html/comment-page-1#comment-38581 sara Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:24:38 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/09/10/but-i-dont-feel-disabled/#comment-38581 And by defining disability as something that substantially limits major life activities, the ADA uses the "functionalist" paradigm, rather than the medical model in which all people are defined by how closely their bodies adhere to the medical field's definition of "normal." In a perfectly designed world, no one would be "disabled" at all - because they would be able to function as a citizen, employee, customer, person. And by defining disability as something that substantially limits major life activities, the ADA uses the “functionalist” paradigm, rather than the medical model in which all people are defined by how closely their bodies adhere to the medical field’s definition of “normal.”

In a perfectly designed world, no one would be “disabled” at all – because they would be able to function as a citizen, employee, customer, person.

]]> By: Antigonos http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/09/but-i-dont-feel.html/comment-page-1#comment-38580 Antigonos Tue, 11 Sep 2007 05:28:19 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/09/10/but-i-dont-feel-disabled/#comment-38580 Yes, I feel disabled. One would think that, being a nurse, and working in a medical environment, there would be more understanding, but in fact I have found it not so. I need a regular working schedule--I cannot work all shifts, round the clock, during the space of one week; I need to be able to have (sensible) meals at correct intervals. Nothing very extreme, I hear you say...but the "all for the patients" mentality means that I was forced to accept working schedules and lack of meal breaks that very nearly caused my collapse, until I left the job. My type 2 diabetes impacts nearly every aspect of my life--for example, running the kids to school first thing in the morning is now impossible, as several times I've become hypoglycemic while driving. But since we diabetics don't look "ill" it can be very difficult to convince others that we have to be constantly thinking about that next meal, where, when, and what, and can't be creatures of impulse. If disability is defined as " a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities" (i.e. eating), then, yeah, I'm disabled! Yes, I feel disabled. One would think that, being a nurse, and working in a medical environment, there would be more understanding, but in fact I have found it not so. I need a regular working schedule–I cannot work all shifts, round the clock, during the space of one week; I need to be able to have (sensible) meals at correct intervals. Nothing very extreme, I hear you say…but the “all for the patients” mentality means that I was forced to accept working schedules and lack of meal breaks that very nearly caused my collapse, until I left the job.
My type 2 diabetes impacts nearly every aspect of my life–for example, running the kids to school first thing in the morning is now impossible, as several times I’ve become hypoglycemic while driving. But since we diabetics don’t look “ill” it can be very difficult to convince others that we have to be constantly thinking about that next meal, where, when, and what, and can’t be creatures of impulse.
If disability is defined as ” a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities” (i.e. eating), then, yeah, I’m disabled!

]]> By: Angela Biggs http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/09/but-i-dont-feel.html/comment-page-1#comment-38579 Angela Biggs Tue, 11 Sep 2007 02:05:41 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/09/10/but-i-dont-feel-disabled/#comment-38579 Thanks for the post Amy. I followed the comment link over to TuDiabetes yesterday, but I couldn't contribute because I didn't want to sign up for another website. I ranted to my husband instead, along exactly the same lines as your quoted text. And I completely agree with Sara (in exactly the same words - just ask Jeremy!), "I have a disability, but I am not disabled." Well said. Thanks for the post Amy. I followed the comment link over to TuDiabetes yesterday, but I couldn’t contribute because I didn’t want to sign up for another website. I ranted to my husband instead, along exactly the same lines as your quoted text. And I completely agree with Sara (in exactly the same words – just ask Jeremy!), “I have a disability, but I am not disabled.”

Well said.

]]> By: Tim http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/09/but-i-dont-feel.html/comment-page-1#comment-38578 Tim Mon, 10 Sep 2007 17:05:53 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/09/10/but-i-dont-feel-disabled/#comment-38578 Amy, great comments and summary of the discussion! I was one of minority arguing that diabetes may not necessarily be a disability. But, you make some excellent points and I tend to agree that it is better than not to have the legal protection on our side. As a T1 diabetic, I would never self-identify as disabled, but it is indeed reassuring to know that the protections are there for those who need them. Amy, great comments and summary of the discussion! I was one of minority arguing that diabetes may not necessarily be a disability. But, you make some excellent points and I tend to agree that it is better than not to have the legal protection on our side. As a T1 diabetic, I would never self-identify as disabled, but it is indeed reassuring to know that the protections are there for those who need them.

]]> By: Michelle http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/09/but-i-dont-feel.html/comment-page-1#comment-38577 Michelle Mon, 10 Sep 2007 17:01:14 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/09/10/but-i-dont-feel-disabled/#comment-38577 oh it is so hard! I don't look at my child as having a disability (heck I don't even think of him as having a disease) but I am happy that we are allowed the protection that a 504 gives him at school. Its such a fine line. We either have to say "yes, he's disabled" and deal with THAT or "no he's not" and deal with the repercussions. I'm not sure which route is the right route. oh it is so hard! I don’t look at my child as having a disability (heck I don’t even think of him as having a disease) but I am happy that we are allowed the protection that a 504 gives him at school. Its such a fine line. We either have to say “yes, he’s disabled” and deal with THAT or “no he’s not” and deal with the repercussions.

I’m not sure which route is the right route.

]]> By: Jana http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/09/but-i-dont-feel.html/comment-page-1#comment-38576 Jana Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:36:38 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/09/10/but-i-dont-feel-disabled/#comment-38576 Timely post, Amy! I was just pondering the other day whether or not I'm supposed to check the box "Disabled--other disability" on two applications for U.S. gov't fellowships for graduate school. I ended up deciding not to, but I guess maybe I should change that. I agree with Sara too--I'd like to have the law on my side, if I need it. Timely post, Amy! I was just pondering the other day whether or not I’m supposed to check the box “Disabled–other disability” on two applications for U.S. gov’t fellowships for graduate school. I ended up deciding not to, but I guess maybe I should change that. I agree with Sara too–I’d like to have the law on my side, if I need it.

]]> By: Sara http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/09/but-i-dont-feel.html/comment-page-1#comment-38575 Sara Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:43:30 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/09/10/but-i-dont-feel-disabled/#comment-38575 Adam - That civil rights specialist may have been the one to point it out for the purposes of this post but the three prong test is actually part of the law. Adam -

That civil rights specialist may have been the one to point it out for the purposes of this post but the three prong test is actually part of the law.

]]> By: Adam http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/09/but-i-dont-feel.html/comment-page-1#comment-38574 Adam Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:22:42 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/09/10/but-i-dont-feel-disabled/#comment-38574 So, I'm wondering, is "one civil rights specialist" licensed to practise law? And, more to the point, when was the last time he won a case under the ADA ? It sounds as if when it comes right down to it..... The party that would win any court case resulting from diabetes discriminaton.....would be the party which has the most money to spend on lawyers. (.....What we already knew....) So, I’m wondering, is
“one civil rights specialist” licensed to practise law? And, more to the point, when was the last time he won a case under the ADA ?

It sounds as if when it comes right down to it…..
The party that would win any court case resulting from diabetes discriminaton…..would be the party which has the most money to spend on lawyers.
(…..What we already knew….)

]]> By: Sara http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/09/but-i-dont-feel.html/comment-page-1#comment-38573 Sara Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:22:32 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/09/10/but-i-dont-feel-disabled/#comment-38573 Since I work in a college environment, I always 'advocate' for my diabetic students to file accomodations for their diabetes as a disability. And it is for the exact reason you stated - just in case they need it. I have a disability but I am not disabled. It is all about person-centered vocabulary. Since I work in a college environment, I always ‘advocate’ for my diabetic students to file accomodations for their diabetes as a disability. And it is for the exact reason you stated – just in case they need it.

I have a disability but I am not disabled. It is all about person-centered vocabulary.

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