What is disability?

[Kendodd]

Watching the Paralympics made me wonder. Oscar Pistorius for example, how could anyone describe him as disabled, and yet the man has no legs, he couldn't be much more disabled!

Ellie Simmonds, she's another one, I don't know if dwarfism even is a disability, but if I'm ever drowning I hope she happens to be walking by to save me.

Anyway they both seem fitter and more able than I ever have been and yet are classified as disabled. I know they are both extraordinary examples and comparing them to the average disabled person is like comparing me to Jessica Ennis.

Just because you don't see me cry . Does not mean I don't cry

Can sum up my life some days . Days when it hurts because I can't roll over in bed days when the spasms are so bad looks like I'm doing the highland fling or when in smiling on the outside the inside is screaming in need of painkillers .

Yet if you saw me in street etc you would never know it as I am known to be pretty cheerful person
Same as you never know what the para Olympians are really feeling or what amount of pain they going through

I would love to know where these jobs are.
I will have to get a job in a couple of years, but do wonder what job.
I will have been out of the job world for 20 years nearly.
and have to have time of at the drop of a hat for illness (dd) appointments (dd) and holidays,

Same as you never know what the para Olympians are really feeling or what amount of pain they going through

this

did the op ever bother to come back, ??

I asked MN to move this thread out of Chat so it doesn't go poof. Despite the OP getting scared and running off, I've found it really, really helpful for myself to see all this so well articulated.

But it's in General Health.
This seems to place us firmly in the Medical Model then.