Invisible Impairment Blog

Blog about living with an invisible disability by English charity SCOPE.

blog.scope.org.uk/2015/02/1...

[daisymay70]

You know what?It`s something we discussed in Family Support Group last week.It`s not just the society that do not accept invisible disabilities , but even family members.They expect that you act and deal with problems as healthy people do without thinking that even making a decision or a simple cup of tea get more effort than an healthy person. I asked my tutor to have more suggestions for completing my assignments for the Uni and he supported me saying the way to approach things in advance because I tend to get information more slower,but only because he`s an expert...a neuroscientist dealing everyday with people having brain injury...otherwise I` ve being ignored even from my Gp...I `ve done 1 MRI in 12 years living in London to check my closed Brain aneurysm....there is not so much information in society even in medical field

[StrawberryCream]

Thanks for this link. It is similar to what we with BI can experience everyday of our lives too.

[angelite]

Thanks for posting. A good illustration that not all disabilities are immediately obvious. Will be slowly working my way through the 100 stories it links to : )

[Hidden in reply to angelite]

Yes, 100 stories = really good idea but will take AGES! Well done Scope. Think they used to be the spastics society, do they help with all disabilities now, I'm not clear?

When I was young they put big model kid (girl usually) with leg brace on in shops and you put money in slot. And in those days 'spaz' was often used in playground to anyone not doing something well.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

> in those days 'spaz' was often used in playground

it still is but just as common I'm told is "specials" for the people who have special need. Language changes, insults change, education is always needed.

[Matt2584]

Thanks for posting this jriddell.

The word needs to get out.

It is pretty sad that so many people seem to be prejudiced these days.

I stick by the saying "Don't judge a book by it's cover", a lot of other people should do the same.

I was in a situation once where there was a cue of people wanting to use the toilet and the disabled toilet right next door was vacant. I wanted to use the disabled toilet, and am entitled to as well, but wasn't sure whether to use it or not at the time as every time I edged closer to the door, I got those 'Where-do-you-think-your-going?' Looks

I know I could've and should've used the toilet without thinking twice but back then I wasn't very confident with certain things. Now is a different story because I wouldn't give a hoot and if I was questioned or told not to use the toilet, I would simply whip out my disabled card. "Stick that in yer pipe and smoke it".

People say that a brain injury is a hidden disability and in some cases it is but for some BI people, it is not exactly hidden. Like with me for instance, it is notable for strangers that I do have some sort of disability because of the weak muscles in my face and the poor balance but there are people with BI who look as if nothing is wrong with them.

People on the outside need to know that having a disability does not mean you have to be in a wheelchair like the symbol shows. There are decent people out there that do realise these things but there are also people who clearly don't give a crap if you're disabled or not.

On the buses in my area, there are bays for the disabled/prams or pushchairs, I would think all or most buses have these now. We do not have the traditional man-sitting-in-wheelchair logo to show disability but a man with a walking stick. I hope people do not think you have to have a stick to sit in those seats though, that will really show to me that we live in a world full of mongoloids.

What if the man-with-the-stick logo was holding a shotgun? :).

[Hidden]

I used disabled toilet other day: one for 'non-disabled' was full. I haven't got disabled card and nobody should need one: ALL toilets (and everything/everywhere) should be easy for EVERYBODY to use whether labelled disabled or not!

I once used disabled bay at post office 2-3 years ago (I haven't got Blue Badge) and woman had a go at me, said I AM disabled. I only used it that day coz had to go there and felt SO bad couldn't do that AND walk from parking further away as I always do. When too tired don't go out usually if can put it off til feel better/a good day.