Comment on Is it considered ableism to treat someone unfairly with regard to their health condition(s) even if they're not a recognised disability?

Cagi@lemmy.ca ⁨11⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

Any health issues that affect your ability to do “normal” things is a disability, no matter how severe, but using the term ablist at people is counter productive. It’s a great term for describing types of behaviors and attitudes, but it’s not productive in a real life ablist encounter. It just makes them defensive and deaf to reason. Work with them to create knowledge and understanding, don’t oppose them or accuse them, offer friendly insight into your life. If they accept it, great, if not, move on. You can’t control others, don’t stress about it.

That said, I’m not sure what you mean by “not recognized”. If it’s a medical issue of any variety, it’s recognized somewhere in the DSM. But it is very popular, especially among young people, to self diagnose and go on as of it’s a sure thing. There are crap doctors out there, so one should seek as many opinions as needed, but until a physician diagnoses it, it is ablist to coopt disabilities and misresent what being disabled actually is based on a hunch. The way to act in this situation is to say “I think I might have x, but I haven’t gotten a confirmation yet” or something. Totally fine. But saying “I have x” when no physician has told them so is lying to others and themselves for their own ego.

If someone were to make up diseases not recognized by the DSM and claiming it’s a disability, this is just as ablist.

I am on permanent disability, unable to work, with severe mental health shit. I live in Canada. If you want more info, feel free to dm me.

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