Are You Handicapped?

[FlyLikeABird]

[quote name='Big Joe' date='Sep 27 2004, 04:03 PM']Heh...

One of my friends, who's deaf (met him in speech therapy), always said, "Deafness isn't so much a handicap as a way of life"
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I'm of the mind that it's a cultural thing :
I spend a lot of time with my local Deaf community.

I'm Hard of Hearing myself (moderately severe loss 40 - 60 db) I wear two hearing aids (ever had an ear infection and been made to shove things in the infected ear?)Had surgery for a bone anchored hearing aid about two years ago (I am now a definite advocate AGAINST surgical hearing correction), aid works ok but started triggering migraines.

I also have scoliosis and cervical (neck vetebrae) fusion plus what's called torticollis (tilt of the head). Let's see... oh yes hypertonic muscles, absent one kidney, legally blind in one eye. Had surgery for the scoliosis some years ago, basically ended up with traumatic arthritis and recurring inflammation around the steel rods. Some other minor stuff that probably wouldn't be polite here...

But enough about me

[annie]

Sinner! I, too, am a physical therapist, and agree with your statement. I myself am not impaired (unless being 5' tall is an impairment to some) but have a handicapped son (12) with hypotonia, LD and ADHD, and a daughter who suffers with an eating disorder.

[Nicole8223]

God Bless everyone for their courage....Pete, you are a great inspiration!!

[Old_Joe]

Well, I've decided to go crazy, but not to worry I'm doing something about it. I've made an appointment with a counselor at Catholic Social Services for possible social anxiety and depression. I'm not exactly sure how I'll pay for the sessions. They said insurance would cover some and that they could reduce the fee if I could show that I didn't have enough income. I'm also trying make an appointment with a priest to talk about that and some other things that have come up in my life.

Edited August 12, 2005 by Old_Joe

[Anastasia13]

I have ADD and asthma. I also sometimes get tension headaches on the side of my head and neck that turn into migrains.

What is LD?
Being a lefty is a handycap? Well I guess as a result of our society it might be.

Edited August 13, 2005 by Light and Truth

[RC_]

LD = Learning Disability


I also have asthma, and a seizure disorder. The seizures are controlled very well by medication, unfortunatly, one of the side effects is insomnia.

[Guest maggieberry]

I am also left handed. Did you know that Saturday, August 13th is Left-Handed Day. So, too all you southpaw's--Happy Left Handed Day!! Make all the right handed people in your life be left handed for the day, eh!

I also have Multiple Sclerosis. I'm not sure if that counts as a handicap, disability, puts me on the cripple list, or whathever. I currently do okay-I have my ups and downs, but I have pretty decent control over all of my appendages, pretty decent.

My directional abilities are also quite handicapped, as in I can't find my way out of a paper bag. It is bad, real real bad. (editors note: I understand that I just used two adjectives where two adverbs were needed-please forgive the rotten grammar, I just felt it added to the feel of the statement).

Yup, that's it.

Maggie

[RC_]

Welcome to the Phorum, Maggie

As a cripple, I vote that MS is qualified as a handicap. Just don't let it get you down, 'Kay?

[FlyLikeABird]

I agree RC_, it really doesn't matter what you are labelled with, just be who you are and enjoy life. I do and it's great!

[LSW]

Social anxiety and depression here.

[goldenchild17]

[quote name='ICTHUS' date='Aug 28 2004, 11:32 AM']I intensely dislike the poll on this thread, but yes, I am a 'cripple'.

I have Spina Bifida, but, by God's grace, can walk with braces.
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Same here, cept I use a chair to get around.

[goldenchild17]

[quote name='Noel's angel' date='Aug 28 2004, 01:55 PM']all imperfections count, i think
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Then we all should put "yes" if you count sin .

[goldenchild17]

[quote name='Pete-ster' date='Aug 28 2004, 02:51 PM']What word do you prefer?

Personally, I like "cripple," it's short, it's sterile, it has a distinctive sound.  I hate "gimp", it's usually used derogatorily, and all the PC terms are condecending...
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Personally I dislike cripple as well as the other words used for the poll. But I'm not sure there are many words I would be too happy with. I'm just human with a specific trial that God puts me through.

But I do prefer "disabled" or something along those lines. But whatever works for you.

Edited August 15, 2005 by goldenchild17

[RC_]

Disabled is about the best word, really. It's not vulgar, it's not pretentious. It aptly describes the condition...

If anyone ever calls me "differently abled" I'll run over thier toes...

[White Knight]

When I was younger I think I had a learning disability. Now over the years I think thats been re indenified as stubborness or hard-headedness.