The examples David cites are typical examples of persons using their
disabilities to gain a competitive advantage in situations in which they
would otherwise be competitively disadvantaged. Laws in the United States,
where I live, and elsewhere around the globe, permit them to do that. When
I applied for a job after graduating from law school, I chose not to mention
my disability -- bipolar mental disorder and some neurological problems that
resulted from a traumatic brain injury -- because I did not think it
significantly impacted on my performance and that it was more likely to
influence the interview panel negatively than positively. In a blank on the
form next to "Disability," I wrote "none." I was informed that I outscored
the person who was chosen, but he got the job because he had a disability,
schizophrenia.
No resentment there, because it is an issue we weigh and make our choices --
to tell or not. I concealed or at least did not mention my own disability
in the educational or employment spheres for 57 years of my life, despite
the fact that I have worked in the field of mental disabilities for my
entire career -- earlier as a social worker, the last 15 years as a special
needs lawyer. That changed when my disability took a more prominent role in
my life, requiring hospitalization for the better part of a year. Now I
talk about it openly, but the only "privilege" I claim is a placard for my
car to gain preferred parking. That was a necessity because I have balance
problems and I also forget where my car is.
It's a mixed bag, choosing in this revised culture of disability where a
disadvantage can be converted into eligibility for special privileges
(advantages). The opportunity to take advantage where you really don't need
or require it is there, and some people take it. Some do so in ways that
are downright unseemly. Still, it is a culture that is so much more humane
and fair than the one I knew in the 60's when mentioning that you had a
mental disability would end the discussion about a job or an educational
opportunity. Ultimately, I decided to remove the mask because I can finally
argue more powerfully for my clients' rights as someone who shares in their
challenges.
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