Am I disabled according to the social model?

crazydaisy

Hi!

I came across Scope today.

I was doing a bit of research for my newly resurrected blog, 'Don't dismiss M.E', and I found myself asking the quesion, "How do I know that Iam disabled?". Then I found myself here!

I have ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, celiacs disease and lichen planus, another auto immune condition.

I've been ill for 9 years and have slowly and at times quickly deteriorated in my illness.
Iam currently 100% house/bed bound. Normally, I am in the range between 85-90%. 

Have I answered my question? Am I disabled? The answer is yes and yes! But, mine like so many others is one that is invisible to the world. When I am out and in my wheelchair, people can see me, or not as I've found! There really should be a law about people walking and looking down at their phones as I've had many people almost land on my lap despite my shouts of "four" (golfing term )!!

But, what I do not have the answer to is this. If I am housebound and not out and about, then am I still disabled? If our impairements prevent us from accessing the outside world, then can we call ouselves disabled according to the social model?

Answers on a postcard please!

Nice to meet you all. x

Pippa_Alumni

Hi @crazydaisy, and a warm welcome to the the community! Great to have you here.

Really interesting question, and great to hear your thoughts on it. I imagine our community members will have some of their own thoughts and experiences to share too. In the meantime, you may be particularly interested in our invisible impairments discussions!

Ami2301

Hi @crazydaisy welcome to the community!

You make an interesting point and I am sure many members of the community will share their opinions!

I am a wheelchair user and it irritates me how many people don’t look where they are going! What is the true definition for ‘disabled’...got me thinking now