Could we have a disability board?

[Hazelnut5]

I know there are loads of us on here with disabilities, but there’s currently nowhere obvious to post about it.

There are lots of threads scattered across the topics: issues like applying for PIP, grants, mobility scooters, working / parenting with a disability, where to buy incontinence pads, frustrations, etc etc. But without a clear place to post, the threads tend to get lost amongst all the other concerns. That also makes it very hard to build any kind of community among the disabled users.

There’s a special needs board but that seems to be used mainly for threads about autism and ADHD. It would never occur to me to look there for threads about disability.

Lots of people with disabilities really struggle in their lives and can feel very isolated when everyone else seems to be getting along fine in their able-bodied worlds. I think a disability board could really address our isolation and make a positive difference to our lives.

Yes, please

Brilliant idea, OP.

Excellent suggestion

Maybe titled “physical disabilities”?

I would like this too.

Yes please! One of my early complaints when I became disabled was that it didn't come with a handbook!

Vital items like wheelchairs and mobility scooters can be a minefield when you're new to them, it would be great to have a dedicated area to chat with people in a similar situation.

Yes please! It'd be lovely to build a community and also to have somewhere to post where you know people will 'get' all the complicating factors that come with disability.

Another vote ✔

Definitely agree, this is a great idea

Not sure about physical disabilities. It would be nice to have somewhere to go for support, but I have an invisible disability.

That's a great idea!

I thought there was one?

Had a look though and I could only find "mners with SN"
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnetters_with_sn

I'm sure there was a disabled parent board, cause I remember someone complaining they weren't a parent

Not just physical disabilities though, I have fibromyalgia, trigeminal neuralgia. Chronic migraines, cluster headaches, coeliac disease and other stuff possible RA/lupus being investigated. It would definitely be nice to have somewhere to come and chat/rant/moan

Yes, would also help for those of us who live with someone who has a disability.

This is a brilliant idea. I would never post under 'parents with SN' or whatever it's called, as it just doesn't apply to me. I have chronic conditions which have resulted in disability.

Having everything in one place would be brilliant.

Iirc it's been renamed and moved around a few times but never gets used that much. Then there are a lot of people who "dont identify as disabled" who want eg a chronic pain board and it's silly dividing us into six million disparate categories to keep everyone happy.

I agree btw that a simple "disability" board would make the most sense, could then include ND, chronic MH problems, chronic pain, wheelchair related posts, etc etc etc

Yes please, I’m recently diagnosed with cfs and have looked at a couple of relevant boards around the health section but never thought to look under “special needs”. It would be nice to have a proper obvious place

Yes from me

Brilliant idea.

Thanks to everyone who's posted so far. We probably won't be able to give you a decision until after the bank holiday weekend, we're afraid, but we're reading your responses and taking them all on board.

In the short term before a board is potentially set up...Anyone me suffering with pain is welcome to join us on this thread

CHRONIC PAIN - share your moans and achievements www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/4188376-chronic-pain-share-your-moans-and-achievements

I’d support this as I do feel that SN and disability are different. I have cerebral palsy and other disabilities but adult so no educational needs, not “ill” as such but impacted in most aspects of life - work, health, exercise/fitness, housework and cooking, travel. I have SN but the adult section really doesn’t cover the things I’ve just described.

There was lots of discussion about terminology when we started splitting up the SN boards and lots wanted “disability” rather than SN but the consensus was SN was more inclusive. Interesting how things seem to have done a big flip to the other way of thinking. If the SN boards are only for SEN that should be made clear, if SN now implies ASD/ADHD/etc then I think it would be better to call it that. I’m slightly baffled by the idea that physical disability doesn’t “fit” with invisible disabilities

I think it’s more SN implies you need the world to adapt around you to support you with your disability. Which works well for plenty of disabilities because they need “special” adaptions and care. But if your just have physical disabilities then apart from step free access say you have no other adaptions or changes to how people live and work with you.

So it’s more a disability than a special need. Ie I can’t talk play work live with you as your needs are different enough that you need me to change my behaviour and ways to you to function fully or provide you with support.

It’s not a visible v invisible condition. Though many invisible conditions do need special considerations or their lives are difficult and stressful. But that’s just my take.

So if I work with someone who had autism I may need to change how I speak or respond to them or understand how they express things or understand they may work in differnt ways. Where as if joe over there is in a wheelchair there is nothing I need to change or do.