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.

Great idea..

Ive read several Threads where posters have been unaware of assistance and support available to them. 🌺

Yes please. Great idea OP.

Akire Interesting comments about the difference between disability and special needs. I suppose rightly or wrongly I’ve always seen special needs as relating to the classroom rather than the world outside.

But the most important thing is that if the special needs boards were set up for people with all sorts of disabilities then they’re clearly not working as people are not finding them and are posting anywhere but there.

Yes please!

Yes to me SN is very much in the classroom but can’t think how else’s SN adult would be described.

Oh yes please

I would describe SN as relating to difficulties with or barriers to education, emotional control or stability, psychological issues, etc.
Whereas Disability would relate more to issues of physical disability, injuries or restrictions, pain, neurological symptoms, chronic or progressive illnesses etc.
Obviously one can exist alongside the other. And I'm not in any way suggesting that having SN isn't a disability. But that's not to say that being disabled is the same as having SN.

If I want advice on issues relating to my disability, I don't bother to look on MN. The lack of a specific board means that requests for advice get missed too easily. Specific Facebook or Reddit groups are much more helpful.

I'm partially deaf and works not consider myself to have special needs. I work in an SEN school so do see it more as pupils with SEN. I'd much prefer a form called 'Disabilities', as somewhere adults with disabilities can go to chat. I'd love to find other d/Deaf or hard of hearing adults to talk to.

I'd really love to have a disability board

So basically those with physical disabilities don’t feel comfortable being grouped with those with non physical disabilities and when you read Special Needs, what you are receiving is Special EDUCATIONAL Needs?
. Honestly if that’s the case I think we shouldn’t be using SN for anyone.

I think it’s been discussed many times. For years only SN topics was for kids so only last few years having adults or parents with Disabilites was even a thing and then still called SN. Glad it’s not just me that thinks SN isn’t a relative tag today you can still have profound SENDS and still call yourself Disabled. Seems more inclusive to me.

Just as terms for LGBT or BAME change on a regular basis as society norms and language do it’s not really a surprise it effects Disability community as a whole too.

i have an adult dc who is disabled(CP) i posted on the sn topic when they were young, but once they became an adult it didn't seem the right place. the carers topic seems to be more about caring for parents. so wonder if someone like me would be welcome, I often need advice from her perspective(hope that makes sense)

Samcro I agree it would make sense to include carers too. Carers play a huge role for many of us, and lots of the advice people ask about will be relevant to both disabled and carers.

Personally I prefer disabled, but it was felt that people with children who were just starting out might find SN more inclusive. If the opposite is true then surely it’s a simple task to rebrand as disabled.

I too post less now ds is older.

Makes sense

@HarleyQuinnn there is an autoimmune board.

I do think a disability board would be useful but so many of the 'specialisms boards are quiet. I'm as guilty as the next person of not using them daily.

I would love a disability board. I have been disabled since my twenties and would never consider SN as applying to me. I also never liked SN for my disabled children even when they were younger and certainly not now that they are young adults.
As both disabled myself and a carer such a board would be great.
As an example of how random advice is now I was once able to tell another poster about some crutch adaptations on the Christmas board!

Yes pls. I hate the way I have to say I'm disabled upfront in case I'm accused of drip feeding later if a topic seems irrelevant to my disability but takes a twist.

I can’t quite believe there isn’t already one!

Great idea

Yes,please.
I would love somewhere to talk about the day to day with a disability/ chronic health condition in tow.

Pretty please.

Yes please!

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

Maybe you need to define what you mean by disability?

ASD, ADHD and many other neurodiversities are disabilities.

It's also very common for people who are neurodiverse to have co-morbid conditions like hypotonia, joint hypermobility, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue/ME, severe digestion issues and many others.

DLA, PIP and Blue Badges are awarded to people with neurodiversity with or without co-morbid conditions.

I see no problem about anyone requesting a board for physical disabilities - if that's actually what you do want, but don't be surprised if you get input from the neurodiverse community because many of them have some form of physical disability too.

Yes please! Fully onboard for this as someone who is getting to grips with pip and things that are available to me I think it would be helpful!

BlankTimes oh dear, looks like I expressed myself badly. Sorry. Of course ASD, ADHD etc are disabilities - I really didn’t mean to imply that they’re not.

But it’s clear from this thread that lots of us with disabilities just don’t see the term ‘Special needs’ and think that it relates to us.