Dear Ria
I totally agree with you. I am the co-founder of the Adult Dyspraxia
Support Group, England. I am an Adult with Aspergers Syndrome with
Dyspraxia/ Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (D.C.D.) and
Dyslexia.
I will point out, that D.C.D. and Dyspraxia are used interchangeably
in England, The former is a new term in the medical world and the
latter in education.
Many individuals may have Attention Deficit Disorder and concentration
problems and are easily distracted by noises and lights etc. They are
also impulsive and this can cause great problems. If the person may also
have A. D (H) D, the (H) being hyperactivity.
I see a lot of children and adults with these above impairments and
unfortunately
many can end up in the Criminal Justice System.
Individuals with 'hidden impairments' experience discrimination and
prejudice
through the lifecourse.
Many individual with Autistic Spectrum Disorders and Specific Learning
Difficulties usally also have co-exsisting mental health problems,
especially
depression and anxiety. I hear a lot of stories that many individuals have
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I myself agree with you when you say that
many individuals with 'cognitive and psychiatric impairments experience
'social exclusion'.
We seem to want to blame the individual for them being 'difference'.
I believe this process of exclusion begins for the child who is 'different'
when the enter the education system.
In my own personal experieces many organisations/self-advocacy group
for individuals with physical impairments and 'socially-exclude' other
people
with learning difficulties and/or peole experienceiing mental distress.
I believe the 'social model of disability' excludes many individuals who
are 'differerent'.
We need to challenge inter-prejudices within the disabled people's
movement.
I believe that many individuals with physical impairments may well
experience
mental distress, but in a culture where 'you' are not allowed to show your
weaknessess at an emotional level, then their will be many individuals who
will
suffer in 'silence'.
We need to understand the impact of 'Disability' on the 'Individual' at a
'Psycho-Social' perspective.
Regards
Colin Revell
-----Original Message-----
From: Ria Strong <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 27 February 2000 14:55
Subject: Re: attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyper activity
disorder
>
>My experience, for what it is worth:
>
>An awful lot of "cross-disability" organisations and services focus
>almost exclusively on people with physical and/or sensory
>disabilities.
>
>People with cognitive and/or psychiatric disabilities:
>* are neglected
>* are marginalised
>* are made to feel unwelcome
>* are, in fact, sometimes explicitly excluded
>
>
>The Victorian Women with Disabilities Network launched a book
>yesterday-- the stories of women with disabilities. I was the *only*
>contributor who had a non-physical disability.
>
>It was so, so typical...
>
>(BTW, the book, called _Oyster Grit_, is well worth reading. It's just
>a pity that it leaves out so many women's experiences.)
>
>
>- Ria
>
>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
> Ria Strong
> Melbourne, Australia
>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
> [log in to unmask]
>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
>
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>
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