How do you know if you have a disability?
I was asked a very good question on Saturday, something like, if disability is a social construction, how does one know the values of a particular society to realize a specific disability? Here is the answer: "sometimes you do, and sometimes you don't." Ultimately one has to have enough cultural competence to discern the values of a particular group and/or sub grouping to realize they have a specific disability. If they do not possess an appropriate level of cultural competence to do this, they must discern disability via hard knocks. If a particular individual is hitting a lot of roadblocks in society, the response might be to seek medical attention, psychological and/or biological, receive a diagnosis, learn more about it, and accept the label given by the professional and its corresponding definition. Acceptance of a common idea, and its transference creates a common culture and awareness of a disability. On the other hand, one can have the traits of a particular disability in AMERIKA and not be aware of it.
For example, if you are working for Microsoft Corporation and have the traits of Asperger's Syndrome, there might be several people you know in the company who also have these traits, and several in your family, so you might not know enough about the potential problems you might face in AMERIKAN society to seek a diagnosis. In other words, the traits of Asperger's Syndrome might seem normal enough, until someone in the extended family gets a diagnosis and educates you about it and you make the choice to accept, reject, or deny the possibility that you have enough traits to qualify for that label in your culture.
The degree of acceptance of a disability can and should vary from person to person. Someone could fully accept society's negative issues surrounding a specific label and concentrate only on changing themselves, running with the herd; accept the label and try and change things in society while mitigating the most disabling traits of their impairment, being a free thinker within the herd; or not accepting disability at all, becoming a deviant and not running with the herd. If one is aware enough of their issues within a social group to have pattered difficulties and chooses to ignore the diagnosis or the possibility of a diagnosis, they are likely to encounter problems socially as well as physically. But, if one is in a welcoming employment situation, has a happy home life, and is managing to pay their bills on time, why should one seek out a diagnosis, whatever traits one might have? There are NO biological, neurological, psychological issues that are inherently bad. Society determines these factors for us, and we as individuals have the power to band together and change these factors of society. I encourage people to read the previous posting regarding the definition of disability, and furthermore to seek out information on the social construction of disability. WE MUST CHANGE THE WORLD!!!!
For example, if you are working for Microsoft Corporation and have the traits of Asperger's Syndrome, there might be several people you know in the company who also have these traits, and several in your family, so you might not know enough about the potential problems you might face in AMERIKAN society to seek a diagnosis. In other words, the traits of Asperger's Syndrome might seem normal enough, until someone in the extended family gets a diagnosis and educates you about it and you make the choice to accept, reject, or deny the possibility that you have enough traits to qualify for that label in your culture.
The degree of acceptance of a disability can and should vary from person to person. Someone could fully accept society's negative issues surrounding a specific label and concentrate only on changing themselves, running with the herd; accept the label and try and change things in society while mitigating the most disabling traits of their impairment, being a free thinker within the herd; or not accepting disability at all, becoming a deviant and not running with the herd. If one is aware enough of their issues within a social group to have pattered difficulties and chooses to ignore the diagnosis or the possibility of a diagnosis, they are likely to encounter problems socially as well as physically. But, if one is in a welcoming employment situation, has a happy home life, and is managing to pay their bills on time, why should one seek out a diagnosis, whatever traits one might have? There are NO biological, neurological, psychological issues that are inherently bad. Society determines these factors for us, and we as individuals have the power to band together and change these factors of society. I encourage people to read the previous posting regarding the definition of disability, and furthermore to seek out information on the social construction of disability. WE MUST CHANGE THE WORLD!!!!
posted by Jody John Ramey at 6:41 AM
2 Comments:
Another question: Say a person has the traits of a certain disability. What is the most responsible thing for that person to do? Diagnosis could point out areas that a person could work on to get by better in society. On the other hand, what if having a label could hurt someone in the job market? Meybe it is more socially responsible to seek diagnosis, because it would show solidarity with those others who also face roadblocks put up by society. It might also provide a stronger position for advocating change in society. But what if the good of society is in conflict with the good of the family?
The answer the question posted by murry, it is all about disclosure. Labels do hurt at times, and do help. If you have a phychological and/or medical diagnosis, you do not want to tell someone this in a job interview. Also, a job interviewer cannot ask if you have a disability. They can ask if you are able to do the job with or without accomodation. They might attempt to lead you into volunteering that information, but I recomend not doing so. When you are hired, nly volunteer what you need to volunteer to get whatever accomodation you need to perform your job. If you need no accomodation, do not disclose your disability. However, if you are in a job that is specifically disability oriented, it might be better to disclose your diagnosis to the client population you serve.
Most medical providers should be aware of past medical labelings and there are a lot of great books covering the subject of disclosure, and when it appropriate to disclose on a larger scale. I do not tell everyone I have a disability, nor do I wish to do so. I am at the point where I do not have as much fear about "comming out" to people when the conversation travels toward the subjet of disability, but that is because I have learned a lot about when, where and why to disclose. If you suspect a specific disability, and wish to seek diagnosis. Go ahead. You do not have to tell people you recieved a label. That is your choice to tell or not to tell.
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