I object strongly to terms such as this.
I don't think my impairment should be defined in terms of non-disabled
people's experience of it.
They are inaccurate: my epilepsy may not be visible a lot of the time, but
if I have a fit I frighten the horses for miles around.
They lump together impairments that have very little in common with one
another. While there may be some logic in a term like 'wheelchair users',
which brings together people who may have quite different impairments but
share many barriers, why group, epilepsy, heart conditions, hearing
impairment etc?
In my experience 'hidden disability' is often a lazy shorthand for 'all that
other weird stuff we don't understand and can't be bothered to find out
about'.
I think all impairments can fail to be apparent, depending on the situation.
Thus, a wheelchair user will not be apparent as such when on the phone.
(For this reason, coming out is an issue for every single disabled person.)
Best wishes
Allan Sutherland
Read 'Neglected Voices', four cycles of transcription poems by Allan
Sutherland, based on interviews with disabled people.
http://www.disabilityarts.org/Neglected-Voices
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Rossiter" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2011 9:32 AM
Subject: Hidden/non-visible Disability definition
Dear All,
I have come across the terms 'hidden' and 'non-visible' disabilities
throughtout the literature. While at face value these terms seem obvious I
have struggled to define an actual definition or classification of
conditions which would qualify as hidden. For example I am at a loss as to
understand if certain aids would mean an otherwise hidden disability would
indeed be visible (i.e. a hearing aid).
If anyone could enlighten me on this, or share any references I would be
very grateful.
Kind regards,
Chris
Christopher J. Rossiter
PhD Researcher & PsyPAG Representative (BPS Wessex Branch)
Department of Psychology & School of Management
03 AD 00 University of Surrey
Guildford. GU2 7XH
________________End of message________________
This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for
Disability Studies at the University of Leeds
(www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies).
Enquiries about list administration should be sent to
[log in to unmask]
Archives and tools are located at:
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web page.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.454 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/4064 - Release Date: 12/06/11
22:40:00
________________End of message________________
This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies).
Enquiries about list administration should be sent to [log in to unmask]
Archives and tools are located at: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web page.
|