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As far as public support goes, why aren't disabilities and chronic illnesses treated in a similar manner to LGBT issues? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago by MossBear@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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I'm just curious about this. As someone with a chronic illness, I pretty much never hear anyone talk about things related to the sorts of difficulties and discrimination I and others might face within society. I'm not aware of companies or governments doing anything special to bring awareness on the same scale of say, pride month for instance. In fact certain aspects of accessibility were only normalized during the pandemic when healthy people needed them and now they're being gradually rescinded now that they don't. It's annoying for those who've come to prefer those accommodations. It's cruel for those who rely on them.

And just to be clear, I'm not suggesting this is an either or sort of thing. I'm just wondering why it's not a that and this sort of thing. It's possible I'm not considering the whole picture here, and I don't mean for this to be controversial.

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[-] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 year ago

Here's an example of disability discrimination: many doctors' offices don't have any exam tables a person could get on from a wheelchair. If you don't bring a person who can lift you they'll refuse to see you. Even when I'm there to lift my husband some will say that's not possible, but we just do it anyway.

By not having a table that lowers (they exist and are great) nor having an orderly to assist, they can avoid dealing with anyone with a disability.

And they get away with it because the ADA has no agency of enforcement. You would have to have the time, energy and money to sue each individual inaccessible business in order to make them change, so the burden is on the most vulnerable population.

Airlines are worse, because the airline lobby got them excluded from the ADA entirely.

As for people being rude to those with a disability, it happens all the time. Kids asking questions is not rude btw. I'm talking about rude adults making rude remarks.

However, there is a Disability Pride Month (July) a Disability Employment Awareness Month (October) and even a Disability Pride Flag. https://www.womansday.com/life/a43964487/disability-pride-flag/

And we have come a long way since I was young. We just have to keep moving forward.

this post was submitted on 14 Aug 2023

200 points (87.9% liked)

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