Multiculturalism in YA,Fantasy, Sci FI,Paranormal and fun books ;p discussion
Differently abled, not disabled
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Love this post =D I'm so sorry people have such a negative of low vision =(
Thank you Laurel for sharing your story. I've learned a lot from just this post alone, i hope that with this group you can change many people's minds on differently abled people :)
Hello everyone. As I recently posted, I am low vision, something not many low vision people will admit to publically -- at least online. The reason is simple: there is enormous discrimination, particularly employment discrimination. Four years ago I lost my job as a graphic artist and commercial photographer (did I get your attention there doing a job that stereotype says I cannot do?). I have not found another job since (with dire circumstances if that does not change soon).
A major reason for that: people's stereotypes and the many ways employers circumvent the ADA. For example, all they have to do is claim that a valid driver's license is a "requirement" for the job (regardless if that is actually true) or that I am required to work beyond the hours that public transit operates and boom! Instant "we do not have to hire you."
Contrary to stereotype, most people with sight loss do not receive government disability assistance; when I applied, social security said I was not disabled enough -- even though I also suffer from crippling chronic severe migraines and lost half of my hearing to child abuse.
Which means that I, like so many differently abled people, fall between the cracks.
There are many more stereotypes. Here's ten of them I discussed on Yahoo Voices this winter http://voices.yahoo.com/ten-myths-bli....
If I can convey one critical thing to everyone it is that I am not disabled (as in lacking something, a creature to be pitied), but DIFFERENTLY ABLED -- I go about things just different from people.
As a matter of fact, what really intrigues me as a medieval historian and science fiction author is that the arguments used to prevent me from being independent are typically the same ones that were used to discriminate based on race.
In losing my sight (traumatic brain injury in my case) I am somehow LESS HUMAN to people and the law in particular. Because, well, I am LACKING something.
May I say that what I gain from losing sight is more than I lost (except for one peeve of mine: no color difference between the background on a web page and imput boxes -- like this page for posting to GoodReads; I cannot find the boxes. There is no contrast to lock onto!).
My audiologist pointed out that losing my sight trained my ears. paired with my natural gift for music (I've been writing music since preschool), and my ear for language is much more trained and refined that for a "normal" person. Understandably; I rely more on sound than most of you do in order to survive.
I know this wasn't very much about books; though I will point out that you will learn something about my experience of sight loss through my book Ghosts of the Past. But I hope it helps everyone reach out and understand a little more about sight loss and my experience as a differently abled person.