Disabled Rights

You learn something every day. That phrase is certainly the case this morning when I was doing a little bit of research about Schizophrenia. The first thing I discovered was that schizophrenia is not actually a split personality disorder. This shocked me, as the common perception of the general public is exactly that.

Infact, Dissociative Identity Disorder is actually when you have two people in your head. Who are basically independent of one another. The symptoms of both conditions are similar, but it didn’t fill me with confidence of the condition when Wikipedia states ‘DID is diagnosed significantly more frequently in North America than in the rest of the world’.

If you are after a feel good film then look no further than ‘Inside I’m Dancing’. The film focuses on two characters who are in wheelchairs. One thrives for independence and to not let being in a wheelchair bring him down. The other is the opposite, fine with being in a home and letting people look after him.

As the film progresses, the character who thrives for independance and to party, shows the other character that he can do anything & that being in a wheelchair shouldnt stop you from doing anything you want to do.

Scenes like chatting up some girls in a bar, dancing in a club, and moving in together are really quite moving. You can see the pain and the struggle as the outgoing character will not be defeated by the situation which he has been presented with. The film leaves you feeling uplifted and that you too can do anything.

In the light of the latest Ricky Gervais quote about his two friends being ‘Mongs’. I ask the question if its really right to describe people as disabled because of they have not done something the way you would have.

The questions is big, and people morals come in to the question. Obviously it is not right to say someone is disabled because they dont understand or arent as educated as you expected. Sometimes its just a case of someone doing something which you would never do. So because you didnt expect it, you assume its wrong or you must be disabled to have done it. As if a disabled person would have done the same thing, and not done the same thing as you because of their condition.

I understand there are a lot of factors to consider. But I think in most scenarios the line is crossed and someone is being hurt by what is being said. The question is why do people make other people feel like that?

I read an interesting article a couple of months ago about eating disorders and how it is so much more common than we think. Eating disorders are a horrible illness, ruining so many peoples lives. With many people simply thinking its just a case of eat, and you’ll get better. Its so much more deeper and drilled into people that its not that simple.

Here are a few tips to help improve your body image and how you feel as a human being.

• Wear clothes that you like to wear, not that you think make you feel thin or hide your body.
• Try and put yourself in an enviroment with positive people. Not people who will bring you down or give negative opinions about what you wear, look like, or eat.
• Try and enjoy your body, its the greatest instrument you will ever own.
• and lastly… Stay away from beauty magazines. They will make you feel ugly.

On a recent visit to Lyme Park, I was presented with an interesting question at the pay gate. Three of us went to Lyme Park in a car. One of us is a student, one unemployed and myself in full time work. The cost to drive a car into Lyme Park is £5. To walk in, its free. The plan was for the driver to just drop us off but when arriving at the beautiful Lyme park, the driver had a sudden change of heart and wondered if she could pop in for a coffee. When we arrived it was getting late, so we asked if there was any discount for unemployed or students. The answer was pretty blunt. No.

Out of interest we asked if there was ever any discounts. The answer was the same, followed by “We dont even give discount for disabled people”. To which someone in my party said “Shame on the national trust”. This interaction interested me. Should it be really be cheaper for people with a disability? My initial thought was definitely not. Why would someone with a disability want a discount to get into Lyme park? Surely most disabilities still mean that the person can enjoy the beauty of Lyme Park. And lets not forget, dont ‘they’ want to be treated the same? Why make them different by offering a discount to Lyme Park.

If someone with a disability should be given a discount for the reason perhaps they cant work, then so should a student or someone who cant find a job in this recession. What are your thoughts?