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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

What's the point of the two new SN topics for adults with disabilities?

105 replies

inheritancetrack · 22/01/2022 11:21

So following requests for a topic relating to adults and/or children with physical disabilities, we now have two new threads... mumsnetters with disabilities and mumsnetters with neuro diversity.

The requests from the original poster and contributors to that thread were specifically asking for a topic on physical disabilities relating to PIP, wheelchairs, employment adjustments and generally advice on living with the multitude of physical disabilities which affect people. These include illnesses causing physical disablement, like accidents, arthritis, multiple sclerosis etc, as well as long standing conditions like cerebral palsy. So this audience is large and generally ignored.

So what have we ended up with? Two topics which yet again are all about neuro diversity, ASD, ADHD, dyslexia and so on. 2 out of the first 28 posts (gave up counting then) are actually related to physical disability. Those 2 posts are lost in the other posts and have a couple or no replies.

On the original request post there was a lot of pushback from posters pointing out that autism was classed as a disability and therefore there need not be a distinction. No one denied it was a disability but the request was for support for physical disabilities, which are quite different, and which has just been ignored.

Honestly MN, adding the word 'physical' to the new disability topic does not make you discriminatory. It just clarifies and signposts the topic and stops people like me, with a physically disabled teenager, from feeling pushed out into the cold. A good opportunity to embrace true inclusion has been thrown away.

OP posts:
Hazelnut5 · 14/02/2022 12:21

I don’t think it’s ever going to get much use until the Special Needs board is renamed Special Needs and Disabilities. Loads of us have tried to explain to mumsnet why we don’t relate to Special Needs. Either they’re not listening or they’re being very slow about it. Or they’ve got some other solution which they haven’t told us.

Thoosa · 14/02/2022 12:29

TBF, @Hazelnut5 the board is named “Mumsnetters with disabilities”. I know that sits in a section called “Special Needs”, and I agree with you, about that term; I don’t identify with it at all either.

I think we all need to claim the space labelled “disabilities” if it applies to us, because MNHQ are stretched so thinly, that an unused board isn’t going to make it to the top of their list for proposed changes to be looked at.

Imitatingdory · 14/02/2022 12:36

ThomasinaGallico there is an explanation on the thread of why the thread is in general health. The OP asked for the thread to be moved. If you want to start one on a different board you can.

gogohm · 14/02/2022 12:45

Can I point out you can have autism and other disabilities, my dd has autism, gad, bipolar and epilepsy, Dp's dd has profound learning disabilities, severe epilepsy and autism.

Not everyone fits neatly.

Thoosa · 14/02/2022 12:55

Yes indeed @gogohm

It’s why I’m posting on both boards now. Very noticeable that the ND board is bustling and MNWD is mainly tumbleweed.

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