Would you consider a nut allergy to be a disability?

[neolara]

I've just been looking at the Disability Discrimination Act's definition of disability - "a mental or physical impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities".

Now obviously a nut allergy is not the same kind of disability as a life-limiting illness or MS. And it may fit the criteria, I guess depending on how you define "substantial". I haven't made up my mind. Just wondering what others think.

Kaumana, it is absolutely fine for you to choose not to class yourself as disabled. There are many disabilities that are defined by how the people who have them feel about having them e.g. diabetes/asthma, but disability is not a dirty word and I think it's only right that people have the potential for protection because not everyone will want to trip back into work after a life-threatening experience (particularly children may be more affected) and some people may be ill for longer than others, depending on the nature of their reaction/treatment etc.

I don't have an allergy by the way, I just feel it's important that people have protection in the workplace against discrimination when bodily functions prevent them from fulfiling certain duties or make them more vulnerable. Disability Discrimination legislation helps with that. It is great for you that you don't need it, not everyone may be so luck.

lucky

Well, I don't think a severe nut allergy is any less debilitating than say severe asthma, however, maybe the difference is it requires a trigger and without that trigger the person is otherwise perfectly able-bodied so to speak, whereas, to be considered disabled in the sense of the word as it means to most people, a disability is...constantly present without a trigger factor.

I have mild asthma. I really wouldn't consider myself disabled (obviously), whereas, somebody I know who regularly collapses from asthma even without exertion, and requires a lot of treatment, etc, is definitely disabled by it. There are shades of severity within an illness/condition that tip it from irritating, mild, but not severe or threatening or impinging on day to day activities, to that of the opposite.

So back to the nut allergy. I don't think it can be described as a disability per se, however it is certainly disabling in its severest form and would merit a seperate paragraph within a policy without being put in the category as a disability (as yet).

(IMHO)

Very interesting thread. I work in the learning disabilities field and have a son with life threatening multiple allergies so can see this issue from a number of perspectives. I believe that a long term medical condition that has a severe impact on your quality of life is indeed a form of disability. Nobody's saying it's the same as being a wheelchair user or blind etc but it is still disabling. In fact, my son receives Disability Living Allowance for his allergies, asthma and eczema as these conditions have such a big impact on his quality of life. As much as I try to make sure that his life is as 'normal' as possible, the simple fact is, it's not. He can't do the same things as other children his age (eg go to friends' houses for tea) so his medical conditions are disabling him. It is very true that many people who legally could be classified as disabled choose not to be labelled this way and this is entirely their choice but this not effect their legal right to protection under the Equality Act.

I must agree with one of the other posters about the fact that you cannot only consider one type of allergy as more severe than any other. Nut allergy may be the most well known but that does not make it any more severe or disabling than any other allergy.

Oh please, Yes, I don't think I'm disabled by not able to eat nut or coming into contact with them. Yes, I have to think about what I'm going to order in an restaurant, Yes, if I get an invite to a new friends house for dinner I have to tell them about my allergy.... and so on

As you have said you do not have an allergy so I don't understand where you get off in judging me.

BTW If you would like to discuss the DDA , I'm happy to discuss as I have to deal with it on a daily basis.

Sorry the above was for rocksandhardplaces

Right-o, I "judged" you because I have an opinion about disability discrimination legislation and I think, given that hypersensitivity has a code in the ICFDH, that it should be covered by that by people who deem themselves to be disabled by it.

I work in health. Anaphylaxis, as you well know, is life-threatening. It's not about not eating nuts, it's about being in danger. Some people have extremely severe allergies and are quite disabled by them and the fact that you cope well with yours really doesn't change this. There are posters on this thread that consider that their loved ones are disabled by the same allergy that you have, and my point was that they should be entitled to have this covered by legislation. There is no need to be rude about it.

And as freefrommum has said, you can choose not to view yourself as disabled. That is your right. Others with the same condition as you will choose differently and I feel that their perception of how that condition affects their ability to take part in activities and participate in everyday life should be respected.

And let me say it again: disability is not a dirty word.

For some reason you seem to be seeing it as a criticism or personal attack. It's not.

YAWN, go pick ANOTHER thread to go pick a fight on.

What the hell? I really, really don't get your reaction here. I said what my opinion was about how disability should be defined, you said you don't think it's a disability, I disagreed.. this is really, really odd. There was no picking of fights, no aggression, nothing. Your first contribution to this thread was really aggressive and then you questioned my motives... are you for real????

I don't understand why it would bother you that much that someone would have an opinion about how disability is defined that differs from your own, or why you would construe someone suggesting that different people might define disability in their own lives differently as "picking a fight". It's really very, very odd.

Jog on..

Wow, you are one rude lady! Fair enough, with your good grace and charm, you have convinced me: nut allergies, contrary to the ICFDH, can NOT BE considered a disability and clearly I was STOKING UP a massive argument by suggesting that it would be right for some people who feel disabled by having a nut allergy to have protection under the law for the restrictions that are placed upon them by their condition. Like others on this thread who said they would find that protection helpful (who you are not judging at all).

This clearly proves I have no medical background, am judgemental and generally spend my time online picking fights. I shall now "jog on" because there is clearly no hope of sensible or adult conversation here tonight.

BYE BYE

I am reporting your behaviour on this thread.

Here in the UK we have an open forum for discussion perhaps the US should look into this? Report away..

Sorry..... did I interupt something?

I flit from labelling myself as disabled depending on the situation.... I don;t feel its blakc or white.

I have situations where I don;t feel my everyday stuff is effected and days when it really is... and days when it doesn;t feel like it but only becuase big adaptions have been made.

Reckon I;d thinka bout it more if it was aphalactic [sp - sorry tired] shock.... I mean allergens are everywhere.

[I have no medical knowledge]

kaumana What's with the attitude?! Chip, shoulder etc!

That makes no sense whatsoever, Kaumana. You have not at all been open to discussion and very much "stirring" in your interpretation of my posts and responses to them, which is quite unusual. Essentially, you don't like my very, very innocuous point about disability and are trying to bully me off the thread with some quite childish posts, actually.

rocksand hardplaces - mumsnet is very like thsi now. Discussion turns into fights quick, really weird.

I have been on this forum about an hour and have been told I;m obnoxious on a trolley thread for gods sake.