Americans with disabilities act

By sioux Monday, July 26, 2010

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Dear MM and all, today we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Americans with disabilities act. I'm glad that we hAVE COME AS FAR AS WE HAVE, HOWEVER WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. It's great that businesses and Govt. offices have taken steps to accomodate wheelchairs and other things neccesary for the well-being of those w/physical disabilities, but what about those w/ disabilities that can't readily be seen? For instance anxiety and depression, or bi-polar or schizophrenia?? They can't readily be seen because those of us who suffer are always trying to hide the fact that we suffer greatly because of the stigma attatched to having one or more of these maladies. Overall I don't believe there have been many accomodations made for us. As soon as an employer finds something like that out about you, you are treated differently, passed over for promotions and discriminated against in other ways as well. Hopefully in another 20 yrs. that will have changed and people will realize that people w/ mental issues are just people trying to deal with their disabilities and have a life. Thank you for letting me vent. Sioux.

brain fog lazy brain, airhead syndrome

Comments (4) | Add comment

Merely Me, Health Guide

7/26/10 3:27pm

I had no idea it was twenty years now...wow. I was in the field and working with people having multiple disabilities when this all came to pass.

Things really have come a long way but we still have a long ways to go for sure. When I go out in public with my son who has autism or my mother who has schizophrenia...the stigma...yep...still there. And you are so right...many disabilities are invisible. Nobody knows that I might be losing my ability to see or walk on a hot day due to my Multiple Sclerosis...they might wonder if I am drunk.

It would be interesting to research how things have changed since this act took effect.

Thank you again...I passed along your post to some of my producers so that they also know about this anniversary.

Donna-1

7/26/10 8:30pm

Yes, I agree sioux. I hope that change is coming.

The message I get from everyone, doctors included, is that since I am not "obviously" mentally ill anymore, I should just sweep it all under the rug. Never to be seen or heard from again. Kind of like none of those years counted for anything...or maybe that I didn't count for anything during those years. They were important years of my life because of all the changes, mostly good, that they brought about. I have no intention of forgetting that. Or hiding it. People should use their life stories to help others survive their disabilities and find hope. If we don't, then the disabled who follow will not know the truth -- that recovery and a meaningful life are still possible.

Donna

Judy

7/26/10 11:36pm

Sioux, you are right about the unseen disabilities and it reminded me of an incident my older son told me about last week. He was out of town with his wife while playing in a softball tournament and there were a lot of people drinking too much, clowning around, etc. He said this one guy dressed goofy and started acting weird, saying he was a "retard." My son, because of his brother with a developmental disability, told the guy to lay off and that he'd better not ever pull that stunt again. I was so proud of him! We try to be so polite and give people the benefit of the doubt, but maybe sometimes it's good to point out how what they say actually hurts, even if they don't mean any harm.

sioux

7/27/10 10:41am

OMG Judy that word is one of my pet peeves !! I used to be a med. tech in a home for developmentally disabled people and those people raised my own awareness so much as to the plight of DD people. I became very protective of their interests and tried as much as you can within the SYSTEM to be their advocate. Good for your son for having the courage to stand up to that guy for his insensitivity to a Special part of the population in this country. Sioux.

Americans with disabilities act

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