okay ad'ers. ask me anything (but be nice! :))

[DeafDoc1]

i agree!

unfortunately, members of both communities don't always understand the other and think one disability is worse than another.

what we need are more forums like this where we can help educate others about deafness, blindness and deafblindness.

And I might add, mobility impairments as well. I have been a quadriplegic for over 21 years. If someone offered me a "cure" tomorrow, I'd be pretty reluctant to accept. Wheeling is all I've known for so long, I'd have to go though rehab just to learn to function on two feet again. I know what I have, and although better hand function would be nice for signing, I'm perfectly content being who I am.

I think we all fear what we don't know or understand, and reading your posts has given me more insight into blindness. Although I still wouldn't want yet another disabilty, the education you've provided to me and ADers makes it a little less scary.

 

[Nika]

And I might add, mobility impairments as well.

DeafDoc1, have you noticed acceptance or rejection overall of in-betweeners in the mobility impairment community? For example people that use a wheelchair for severe arthritis, but can walk if they absolutely need to, or people that use a cane or a walker but not a wheelchair. I know there is obviously a lot of diversity in the community, so I'm just curious to know what you've observed.

 

[Nika]

I think we all fear what we don't know or understand

I couldn't agree more. For example if I lose some of my hearing or mobility, while it will still be hard to adjust, it won't be as scary as it would have been had I not joined AD. Forums like these help to erase and rebuild notions surrounding "disability," help ease our fears, and help us realize disabilities are really alternative abilities. Should any of us become "disabled" in another way, we will be much more prepared and educated.

 

[Nika]

Do you think that society as a whole tends to overemphasize readily visible "disabilities" and overlook invisible ones?

 

[Hear Again]

And I might add, mobility impairments as well. I have been a quadriplegic for over 21 years. If someone offered me a "cure" tomorrow, I'd be pretty reluctant to accept. Wheeling is all I've known for so long, I'd have to go though rehab just to learn to function on two feet again. I know what I have, and although better hand function would be nice for signing, I'm perfectly content being who I am.

 

[Hear Again]

I couldn't agree more. For example if I lose some of my hearing or mobility, while it will still be hard to adjust, it won't be as scary as it would have been had I not joined AD. Forums like these help to erase and rebuild notions surrounding "disability," help ease our fears, and help us realize disabilities are really alternative abilities. Should any of us become "disabled" in another way, we will be much more prepared and educated.

exactly.

 

[Hear Again]

Do you think that society as a whole tends to overemphasize readily visible "disabilities" and overlook invisible ones?

most definitely.

that's why i think it's easier in some respects to be blind or have a physical disability compared to being hoh, deaf or have a mental illness. i can only speak to the experience of being blind, hoh, deaf and having a mental illness. out of all of those disabilities, being blind has been the least restrictive. having said that, others will disagree. it's all a matter of perspective.

for example, there are some people who look at the 3 disabilities i have and ask me how i cope from day to day. since i've been blind my entire life, hoh for a good majority of my life, deaf for 10 years (even though i am still deaf, but you know what i mean) and have had mental illness since i was in my early 20s, i'm used to all of these disabilities and have learned to deal with each of them the best i can.

 

[Nika]

being blind has been the least restrictive disability. having said that, others will disagree. it's all a matter of perspective.

I agree. Most people acknowledge my blindness. (My family is an exception but that is family being family.) But many people don't acknowledge my PTSD. And the irony is my PTSD feels a lot more like a disability, because that's what makes it hard for me to get out of bed in the morning--not my blindness!

 

[Hear Again]

I agree. Most people acknowledge my blindness. (My family is an exception but that is family being family.) But many people don't acknowledge my PTSD. And the irony is my PTSD feels a lot more like a disability, because that's what makes it hard for me to get out of bed in the morning--not my blindness!

i couldn't agree more! i feel the same way about my bipolar. sometimes it's *so* difficult trying to deal with rapid cycling as well as mania and severe depression. when i'm severely depressed, i don't want to talk to anyone, can't think clearly and want to stay in bed all day. it's quite debilitating. when i'm manic, it can be just as debilitating since there are risks associated with impulsivity, gambling/spending sprees, saying things i don't mean, overconfidence and trying to tackle 100 things at once with nothing getting done.

 

[Nika]

i couldn't agree more! i feel the same way about my bipolar.

What can I say, the world's got it backwards. I wish companies and schools would be better at officially recognizing mental illnesses and then would let us be the flaky employees/students that we often (not always) are. I can work and study fine as long as I'm allowed to take a mental health day off when I really need one.

Do you ever feel that way?

 

[Hear Again]

What can I say, the world's got it backwards. I wish companies and schools would be better at officially recognizing mental illnesses and then would let us be the flaky employees/students that we often (not always) are. I can work and study fine as long as I'm allowed to take a mental health day off when I really need one.

Do you ever feel that way?

yes, i do.

in fact, this semester has been emotionally difficult for me because of my statistics class. i've had problems with rapid cycling, racing thoughts and auditory hallucinations all semester long, so it took everything inside of me to attend class every day and do the best i could.

by the way, my university provides accommodations for students with mental illness by allowing them to take time off if they experience bipolar or severe depression (supportive documentation must be provided by a psychiatrist), but i never thought to use that in my case since i feel my deafblindness takes first priority. having said that, when i return to university in january, i *might* consider using those accommodations at least until i'm able to get my rapid cycling under better control.

 

[Nika]

since my deafblindness takes first priority. having said that, when i return to university in january, i *might* consider using those accommodations at least until i'm able to get my rapid cycling under better control.

See that is where I think schools have it backwards--that they put physical disabilities before emotional ones.

I think you shouldn't hesitate to use the accommodations if you need them, just like you wouldn't hesitate to have a braille transcriber or interpreter.

I had a lot of issues in school because a lot of my flashbacks are school-oriented so there were a lot of triggers in school that would send me into flashbacks. I was pretty much having constant panic attacks in school. Suffice it to say my grades suffered.

 

[Nika]

Do you smoke or drink?

 

[Hear Again]

Do you smoke or drink?

no, i don't do either. i don't smoke because i'm allergic and i don't drink because of my meds.

 

[Nika]

Oh yeah forgot you're allergic. Same here for the same reasons.

Do you enjoy going for walks?

 

[Hear Again]

I think you shouldn't hesitate to use the accommodations if you need them, just like you wouldn't hesitate to have a braille transcriber or interpreter.

that's what the disability office told me as well after i let them know about the difficulties i was having because of my bipolar. i've only been diagnosed as bipolar for 2 years, so it's still relatively new to me. i accept my diagnosis completely, but i really want to make sure that i receive accommodations only if i need them. it's obvious that i've been struggling emotionally this semester and something needs to give, so i think i'll be taking a closer look at receiving accommodations due to my bipolar as well.

 

[Nika]

i think i'll be taking a closer look at receiving accommodations due to my bipolar as well.

I'm glad you will be getting the accommodations you need. It's not fair to be stuck in a situation where your grades reflect your rapid cycling and not your hard work, your intelligence, your enthusiasm, etc.

 

[Hear Again]

Do you enjoy going for walks?

yes. during the spring, summer and fall (depending on how cold it is) i do.

in fact, it's not uncommon for me to walk 5 days a week for 2 hours at a time.

 

[Hear Again]

I'm glad you will be getting the accommodations you need. It's not fair to be stuck in a situation where your grades reflect your rapid cycling and not your hard work, your intelligence, your enthusiasm, etc.

that's true. that's what my therapist said as well. i *love* to learn, but 95% of the time, i just don't have the patience or emotional capability to sit in a 3 hour lecture.

 

[Jiro]

that's true. that's what my therapist said as well. i *love* to learn, but 95% of the time, i just didn't have the patience or emotional capability to sit in a 3 hour lecture.

oh my god 3 hours lecture? It makes me go postal