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What's the point of the two new SN topics for adults with disabilities?

105 replies

inheritancetrack · 22/01/2022 11:21

So following requests for a topic relating to adults and/or children with physical disabilities, we now have two new threads... mumsnetters with disabilities and mumsnetters with neuro diversity.

The requests from the original poster and contributors to that thread were specifically asking for a topic on physical disabilities relating to PIP, wheelchairs, employment adjustments and generally advice on living with the multitude of physical disabilities which affect people. These include illnesses causing physical disablement, like accidents, arthritis, multiple sclerosis etc, as well as long standing conditions like cerebral palsy. So this audience is large and generally ignored.

So what have we ended up with? Two topics which yet again are all about neuro diversity, ASD, ADHD, dyslexia and so on. 2 out of the first 28 posts (gave up counting then) are actually related to physical disability. Those 2 posts are lost in the other posts and have a couple or no replies.

On the original request post there was a lot of pushback from posters pointing out that autism was classed as a disability and therefore there need not be a distinction. No one denied it was a disability but the request was for support for physical disabilities, which are quite different, and which has just been ignored.

Honestly MN, adding the word 'physical' to the new disability topic does not make you discriminatory. It just clarifies and signposts the topic and stops people like me, with a physically disabled teenager, from feeling pushed out into the cold. A good opportunity to embrace true inclusion has been thrown away.

OP posts:
OperationRinka · 22/01/2022 21:54

Yes I just checked and you're completely right. The neurodiverse topic is very popular and that's great, but the MNers with disabilities topic is full of exactly the same issues.

Changing it to "physical" disabilities or adding an extra topic seems reasonable.

What's the point of the two new SN topics for adults with disabilities?
DuckWithOneWing · 22/01/2022 21:48

I agree

inheritancetrack · 22/01/2022 21:46

I'm just so incredibly disappointed. I've had years of no Mumsnet support addressing the physical disability issue of a young child, and believe me they are just as complex and wide ranging as a neurodiverse child, and there is still nothing. At least with something that appeared to address physical diversity there was something on the horizon but no it's not happening, we just have two new semi identical topics. Luckily Facebook has many groups for the parents of physically disabled children and adults.

OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 22/01/2022 15:56

I hadn't realised this but you certainly make excellent points.

Hazelnut5 · 22/01/2022 15:53

It feels to me like the staff at Mumsnet are blind to those with physical disabilities - maybe they just don’t have anyone on the staff who is physically disabled. Come on Mumsnet, we expect better of you.