Self identifying as disabled

[GCautist]

There’s a slight furore in Scottish politics I was reading about on Twitter last night, where it was stated in an SNP doc that a potential candidate who self identified as disabled or BAME would be placed at the top of the list for list votes to ensure better representation in parliament.

On the surface having diverse representation is much needed but there’s been a lot of issue with the term ‘self identify as disabled’.

IMO there’s a difference between declaring you have a disability and self identifying as having a disability and it’s the wording rather the policy itself that is problematic.

Aibu to think you can’t identify into being disabled in the same way you can’t identify out of being disabled?

Can we please discuss this issue without it turning into a rant about independence (for or against) or how awful you personally believe Nicola Sturgeon is?

Self-identifying as anything could be tempting if there is something to be gained.

Imagine there’s a scholarship/bursary available, or indeed a job opening.... there will be people citing all sorts of “disabilities” (eg short-sightedness was mentioned upthread) in order to gain an advantage.

I have seen myself it frequently discussed on The Student Room website how you can gain extra time in exams and gain adjustment/consideration with universities. If people (egged on by parents) can just “self declare” that they have a disability then it will make a nonsense of things.

“I have seen myself it frequently discussed on The Student Room website how you can gain extra time in exams and gain adjustment/consideration with universities. If people (egged on by parents) can just “self declare” that they have a disability then it will make a nonsense of things.”

Except it’s already worded as - if you feel that you have a disability on the UCAS form, has been for a long time...

You then have to provide evidence to the uni and they assess you for support.

@tabulahrasa

“I have seen myself it frequently discussed on The Student Room website how you can gain extra time in exams and gain adjustment/consideration with universities. If people (egged on by parents) can just “self declare” that they have a disability then it will make a nonsense of things.”

Except it’s already worded as - if you feel that you have a disability on the UCAS form, has been for a long time...

You then have to provide evidence to the uni and they assess you for support.

Yes, my daughter will have to go for another assessment sometime soon in order to be eligible for disabled student allowance and concessions next year (assuming she gets in). The assessment has to be recent I gather. I think you get sent a list of centres where you can go for the assessment.

@Bandino

Also there are a number of conditions that take years to diagnose. You go through multiple different specialists trying to rule out what it isn't with 9 month wait for appointments in between. Meanwhile you've been let go from work and given up your home to stay with relatives because you can't walk let alone work. That's the reality in today's system. And I'm talking pre covid days.

This.

I was born with Dyspraxia, EDS and EBS. Diagnosed at 21, 25 and 26 respectively. I had asthma symptoms as a child but wasn't diagnosed until I was 29 as I don't wheeze - "it can't be asthma without a wheeze" - so it's not just the rarer or more complicated conditions which can be missed.

I saw so many specialists as a child for various issues (bladder problems, hernias, restricted growth (the drs suggested surgery to break my legs to make me taller), sleep problems, not being able to walk properly, weak ankles etc.) and not one of them picked up on any of the underlying conditions.

@IrmaFayLear

Self-identifying as anything could be tempting if there is something to be gained.

Imagine there’s a scholarship/bursary available, or indeed a job opening.... there will be people citing all sorts of “disabilities” (eg short-sightedness was mentioned upthread) in order to gain an advantage.

I have seen myself it frequently discussed on The Student Room website how you can gain extra time in exams and gain adjustment/consideration with universities. If people (egged on by parents) can just “self declare” that they have a disability then it will make a nonsense of things.

But all of those things will have a qualifying level to achieve them. That level will also mean that those who are disabled but not disabled enough will miss out sadly.

It isn’t a case of “I’m disabled give it all to me” it’s a case of “I have a disability and now I need to fight for basic adjustments”

This is the exact reason I don’t ‘get’ self identification @GCautist It seems like you can self identify as certain things eg man/woman if you’ve decided to change sex but you can’t decide to identify as disabled or decide to identify as over 18 in order to buy alcohol. So strange. I can’t get my head around it.

But it could be a case of managing to clear the first hurdle in the case of a job application. If a declaration of a disability means an automatic interview, then at least you’ve got a foot in the door and the opportunity to impress.