Drawing attention to disabilities?

[SirSupportman]

My local swimming pool has a coloured wristband system so they can limit the time people are in the water at busy periods. I took one of my mindees this weekend and they now give one colour for the disabled swimmer and another for the person accompaning them. Which I assume is to allow them longer in the water as it takes longer to get changed in the first place. I think that it is a good thing but I don't like the fact that it draws attention to other swimmers that the person is disabled / has special needs. OK, the child I had was obviously disabled (CP) but I often take children who wouldn't immediatly come across as being disabled.

I am probably fussing about nothing as perhaps people don't pay that much attention or should I ask the pool if they could reserve one of their colours for disabled people without coming across as being OTT and complaining about a system that is good for the most part?

[cktwo]

As a mother of a SN child, I wouldn't give a hoot about what colour band she had on. I've more important things to worry about.

[ChopsTheDuck]

But if you are 'jumping' queues you are going to get attention anyway! If anything I'd be happy to use something a little mroe visible than the hand stamp issued at legoland where we go regularly so that people realise WHY we jump straight on at the exit and that there is a legitimate reason for us not queueing.

A pool I go to has the band system and there are that many different colours that it is the last thing that would alert anyone to ds1's diabilities. His issues aren't immediately apparent neither.

I really don't think that it is fair to request support on one hand then moan when treated differently to those that are able bodied!

[bubblagirl]

im really not worried about him standing out to be honest he blends to well and is expected to behave and perform as others do if they spot his wrist band and take time to think he has sn then maybe they would be more considerate to his needs instead of funny looks and thinking his just not behaving well

im not really bothered to be honest as long as child is having good time and needs are respected i couldn't care less if anyone spots a band they would surely be more considerate

i get annoyed that we don't have such a thing and ASD being the invisible disability and him blending so well it can be hard the comments the looks the stares at least one look at a band and they could see

but i guess some people don't want attention bought to disability but considering my ds isn't obvious i guess im more about bringing attention to it in public places to make people understand him better and why he might not get the whole waiting and being patient or noise level or feel of clothes or need his games console to block out surroundings

[bubblagirl]

lol riven

[madwomanintheattic]

'impairments' makes me laugh. i'm trying to work out which word will be next, and i'm having trouble...

i would prefer a different coloured band at the pool tbh - that way if there is an emergency and they need to clear the pool, the lifeguard can instantly see who might need additional help. it would also be useful for those whistle-blowing situations if a lifeguard could tell whether any unusual behaviour/ vocalising was associated with a disability (impairment...), and that might influence their treatment of any given situation.

we've never had a different coloured band at a theme park, but the wheelchair makes dd2 look a bit different anyway, so that's our 'fast-track' ticket...

[madwomanintheattic]

oh yes - happy with the social model of disability. (well, understand it anyway lol)

and agree with the e&d thing in general -if someone finds something offensive, you don't do it.

that's why it's all 'additional' needs now in print

but it will only be a matter of time before 'impairments' is replaced by something else.

[magso]

I suppose it depends on the message others get. If it is to remind others to be considerate and think kindly then fine. I suspect the average swimmer will not know what the difference is - ie the different band colour could mean staff/ a season ticket/ attending a swimming lesson.

[2shoes]

sounds like a good idea to me, anything that makes life a bit easier is good.

[LollipopViolet]

Trust me, people DON'T notice the wristbands at theme parks. I've had some right snidey comments off people when I've used them.

[troutpout]

I think you are fussing about nothing
My ds doesn't immediately come across as having special needs
I would welcome any system which takes account of his needs though and I couldn't care less if the rest of the world knows it.
I would rather his needs are accommodated rather than pretend he is the same as everyone else and expect him to fit in

[troutpout]

I don't like 'special' needs either. Particularly since i heard ds being referred to as 'a bit spec' by another child at school
'Individual needs' sounds much better

[Mitchell81]

I wouldn't mind using a different colour wrist band if there is a benefit for DD.

I do feel sorry for people who don't know the new terminology though, as it does change all the time. It is not their fault for not knowing what the correct term is. It does make me cringe to hear the words handicapped and retarded, but some older people don't know it is offensive. But I have enlightened people politely that they shouldn't use those words anymore.

[meltedmarsbars]

The wristbands sound a great idea, esp for the reasons madwoman suggested.

Some of the ferries to france have a system where if you have a blue badge you have to drive to a seperate queue with your hazards on....and I just thought they were just daft drivers who thought no-one could see them so they were driving everywhere slowly with hazards on.

Terminology irritates me. Its just a word. I'm not pc. My dd2 is disabled. "dis" in my dictionary means "not" or a reversal. She is not able.

[2shoes]

dd has sn and is disabled

[meltedmarsbars]

but I'm talking about dd2 without the stuff - as she is she is not able. I agree that the kit and help makes her more able, but without it all she is disabled.

[meltedmarsbars]

In our natural state we are agile/clumsy/lithe/strong etc etc. In her natural state she is not able to walk/talk/crawl/climb/etc. Does that not mean she, herself, is disabled, before you then give her equipment to enable her? I really don't get the fine line between why disabled and impaired are different.

[lou031205]

"Does that not mean she, herself, is disabled, before you then give her equipment to enable her? I really don't get the fine line between why disabled and impaired are different."

It's a political thing. The idea is that in an inclusive society, her inability to 'vocalise' would not be a barrier to her 'talking', because society would be set up so that she would have a 'voice' regardless of whether that voice came from her mouth or her equipment, etc.

[TotalChaos]

I don't think people notice the wristband either, and as madwoman says there may be good safety reasons for staff to be able to quickly tell who has an impairment. Personally - I am fine with Special Needs, but hate "special" as even at it's best it has "aw bless" connotations.

[madwomanintheattic]

aw, bless.