My experience is that the "traditional" disability rights organizations and
communities (fizz dizz) have historically failed to challenge
myths/fears/stereotypes regarding persons with psychiatric disabilities, and
failed to include persons with mental health conditions (as well as other
persons, such as persons with HIV) for political and other reasons. The
cross-disability coalition to enact the ADA without psychiatric exclusions
was an important turning point. IMO, the marginalization of psychiatric
disabilties in the broader disability rights scene has been slowly improving
(at least here in the Bay Area, Cal. where I am) but there is long way to go.
I don't think this history is about the amount or absence of literature on
mental health disabilities (there's a fair amount of such literature, though
not all of it particularly helpful). I think it has more to do with the
political fears of mainstream disability organizations (a la lavender
menace).
Claudia Center
In a message dated 99-10-27 10:49:14 EDT, you write:
<< I first wanted to counter the notion that it is "fear of
crazies" that separates phys. disabled identities from groups more concerned
with cognitive impairments.
Couldn't it be, rather, that the borders arise from:
1) ignorance of each others' unique concerns and experiences,
2) the general (but artificial) border between apparent disability v.
"hidden"
disability,
3) the ever-increasing literature on physical disabilities v. scant writings
available from/about cognitive disabilities? >>
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