Disability Inspired Alliance think it is important
to remember UnSeen Disabilities are simply ailments that may debilitate a person
but are not always visibly seen. Unseen ailments can range from:-
- Hearing impairment (Deafness)
- Partially sighted/Visually Impaired
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Visual Impairments
Most people assume if you are not
in a wheelchair, using a walking stick or don’t have a guide dog then you don’t
have a disability. This could not be
further from the truth.
DISABILITY INSPIRED ALLIANCE RESEARCH
Research relating to Unseen Conditions.
HEART ATTACKS 67,000 Men
46,000 Women
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Total 113.000
Figures quoted from Oxford Record Linkage Study - ORLS in UK 2006
ANGINA 52,000 Men per year
43,000 Women per year
--------------
Total 96,000 Per year
Figures from Scottish Continuous Morbidity Study
CASE STUDIES
An interview with one such woman, who
herself was ambulant said; ‘The wheelchair does not represent me because I’m
not in a wheelchair. Although I can walk, I find it very very difficult.’ Another man who was interviewed by the Disability Inspired Alliance was
very unhappy about the global image of a wheelchair used to highlight his
disability.
When Disability Inspired Alliance spoke with young teenager
living with an UnSeen Disability, she said, ‘Every time I book tickets at a
theatre I always get asked the same question, are you in a wheelchair?’
Disability Inspired Alliance also found that there often
seems to be a hierarchical structure of disability which appeared to exist
between those in wheelchairs and those who were not therefore perpetuating a
division between the two groups. Wheelchair users ranking themselves the
highest, followed by walking-stick users then those who were partially blind.
People
living with unseen disabilities also felt that they had
to prove their disability to those who had visible disabilities. Proof of disability often stems from having
to prove the degree of disability through Works and Pensions - D.L.A assessments thus
compounding the unseen issue.
Disability Inspired Alliance also found that people living
with unseen disabilities were frequently told ‘you don’t look disabled’ or
asked what their disability was or even as far to say that they should not be allowed
to park in disabled bays because they weren’t in a wheelchair or carrying a
pair of crutches!
Arguably one has to question, ‘what
does disability look like and whose perception of disability is it? Furthermore, is there a set model of
disability? The answer is yes. Not only is there a set model of disability
but two other models; the medical model and the rehabilitation model each with
their own set of criterias and definitions.
With the introduction of The
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) in 1995, this legislation was largely
implemented to promote and ensure civil rights for disabled people and to
protect disabled people from discrimination.
However, discriminative comments
towards people with unseen disabilities were indicative of people’s attitudes,
stereotypical perceptions, cultural influences, myths, assumptions and
prejudices. It was clear from those we
spoke to that having a disability seemed to be perceived purely as physical
ailments as opposed to conditions that caused disabilities.
Comments such as ‘Why do you have a
blue badge?’ and ‘This toilet is only for disabled people and ‘Do you know that
seat is for disabled people?’ made it poignantly clear that the Disability
Discrimination Act of 1995 is not protecting people with UnSeen Disabilities
from discrimination.
In 2003 the Disability Rights
Commission wrote,
‘Legislation is no guarantor of social change; nor can
the law operate in isolation from other social and economic forces. The causes of social change are complex, the
reasons for legislative impotence various. To stand a chance of success the law
must be adequately framed......’ (Politics.co.u.k website)
