Although attitudes towards disability have greatly improved over the past 20 years or so, I do feel that there is still a lot of prejudice against people with a physical impairment, disability or medical condition even in our society today.
I think mental health conditions are still greatly stigmatised and often individuals with a mental illness are given unfair stereotypes. I have a friend who has been diagnosed with a mental health condition under the banner of bipolar. However, it took him nearly a year to explain how he felt to his parents and to seek medical advice for fear of being judged. Even after his diagnosis he was reluctant to tell people and only told his closest friends for fear of being bullied (mainly as we were still in Secondary school). However, really is there a difference between a mental health condition such as bipolar or a physiological condition such as arthritis?
However, even away from mental health conditions many people can still feel judged for having a medical condition. My sister recently went to a giant corn maze with a group of teenagers with varying disabilities. At the end of the day, although she had greatly enjoyed it, she was annoyed by the fact that “people kept staring”, as “they are normal teenagers, they just have a disability”. I think that for the most part people stare as they do not know how to react. This is mainly true of adults. However, I personally feel a really kind smile to someone who is staring can relax them. As, 9 times out of 10 they are only staring as they feel awkward. I think the only way to really help this is by breaking the taboos and explain the medical conditions to more people to help break down these barriers.
This is what my sister has always done. As a Type 1 diabetic she often has to test her blood glucose levels in public. In places like school she has said it is better to explain to people why she has to prick her finger, in particular if they feel awkward. Although I can appreciate that many people may find this difficult. Often this is due to the social situation, the complexity of the medical condition, or just plain embarrassment. However, what need is there really to be embarrassed about, it is not like admitting to a crime! After all, it is not my sister’s fault that she has diabetes, it is not my friend’s fault that he has a mental health condition, it is just one of those things. For me, I feel that the more people begin to realise this the easier in will become. I will end with the words of Kate Bornstein, “lets stop ‘tolerating’ or ‘accepting’ difference as if we’re so much better for not being different in the first place. Instead lets celebrate difference, because in this world it takes a lot of guts to be different.”
Gracey's medical blog 