Do you declare your disabilities?

[Freefaller]

Random question following on from a conversation with a group of friends today.

I've got bad hearing, and technically and legitimately I'm classified as "hard of hearing". I've worn hearing aids for a while, whilst I can survive fine without them, my hearing is the equivalent of having your head in a bucket of water - whilst I can make out most of what people are saying, I miss out on a lot of key sounds in words, add more than 1 conversation in close proximity and without my hearing supported I basically just have to nod and smile. The audiogram I have puts me at moderate/moderate-to-severe, and is considered a disability under legal definitions i.e. the UK Equality Act 2010.

During covid it was hell as I never realised I relied on watching lips move when speaking to people (I don't lip read at all, but clearly subconsciously it supplemented my bad hearing). That said, I CAN cope without them I just end up saying "pardon" a lot, or just missing out on a lot of sounds (birds and other high frequencies), and even lower frequencies tend to blur/merge together.

Anyway sorry for the ramble, the conversation I was having with my friends was talking about child/parent parking spaces and how it annoys us when people who blatantly don't have children in the car just park in those spaces. One my friends is partial sighted (uses a cane, and obviously cannot drive) and he talks about the annoyance he has of people parking in disabled spaces - his wife drives. Then I was asked if I applied for any permits etc...

I haven't even applied for a discounted railcard. I feel it's not fair on those that need it more than me. Physically for my age, I'm probably fitter than the majority of my peers (I don't mean it to sound that arrogant, not sure how to phrase it), and I would feel like a fraud. I also don't feel it will really improve my QoL. I'm happy to walk a bit further when I park. I don't need a discount for the train (although that is tempting when you look at the prices) and I don't feel I need special treatment, when there are people there with far more serious conditions.

This isn't pride of having a "condition", I guess I just feel it's not "bad enough" to warrant anything. Perhaps when I'm older and things become more of a struggle I'd feel more inclined.

So my question is... those of you with a "disability" or a condition that entitles you to not just a blue badge but any other discounts have you gone for it? No judgement at all I promise <3

Second question, at work, or during diversity questionnaires, do you say "I have a disability" or not? I've been tempted to but still feel like it's not enough of an issue, and when I talk to people I say to them sorry if I don't always follow my hearing sucks (I'm quite laid back about it).

 

[Diddums]

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

 

[Freefaller]

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

Where is Mr Hunt, first name Mike.

 

[JonRGV250]

In the quiet words of the virgin Mary, come again

 

[Feek]

I went to a pop-up store in Battersea last December. I got there about two hours early and was about the tenth person in the queue.

But I walk with a stick now and there no way I could stand for two hours so I approached the security guys and asked if I could sit somehow. They directed me to a coffee place around the corner and told me I could sit there. I asked if they'd keep my place in the queue and they told me there was an 'accessible' queue which they'd put me in. They also apologised for not seeing me with the stick.

Ten minutes before the little store was due to open, I got back, they put me in the accessible queue and when it opened, I was let in first.

I felt incredibly guilty, by now the queue was probably around 200 people long. Even though I was there when the queue was tiny, and all the people ahead of me saw me, I just felt guilty about being let in first.

I guess I just feel it's not "bad enough" to warrant anything

I knew I did the right thing, but this is exactly it. All I wanted was a seat, not priority access.

 

[Freefaller]

In the quiet words of the virgin Mary, come again

 

[m4rmite]

Yep, all 9 inches.....



Damn short legs

 

[Freefaller]

I went to a pop-up store in Battersea last December. I got there about two hours early and was about the tenth person in the queue.

But I walk with a stick now and there no way I could stand for two hours so I approached the security guys and asked if I could sit somehow. They directed me to a coffee place around the corner and told me I could sit there. I asked if they'd keep my place in the queue and they told me there was an 'accessible' queue which they'd put me in. They also apologised for not seeing me with the stick.

Ten minutes before the little store was due to open, I got back, they put me in the accessible queue and when it opened, I was let in first.

I felt incredibly guilty, by now the queue was probably around 200 people long. Even though I was there when the queue was tiny, and all the people ahead of me saw me, I just felt guilty about being let in first.


I knew I did the right thing, but this is exactly it. All I wanted was a seat, not priority access.

I feel that's perfectly reasonable, if you can't stand for ages it's unfair for you to be in pain. I get it though, a chair would have been more than enough - but at least they helped which is all that you can ask.

 

[Dis86]

I went to a pop-up store in Battersea last December. I got there about two hours early and was about the tenth person in the queue.

But I walk with a stick now and there no way I could stand for two hours so I approached the security guys and asked if I could sit somehow. They directed me to a coffee place around the corner and told me I could sit there. I asked if they'd keep my place in the queue and they told me there was an 'accessible' queue which they'd put me in. They also apologised for not seeing me with the stick.

Ten minutes before the little store was due to open, I got back, they put me in the accessible queue and when it opened, I was let in first.

I felt incredibly guilty, by now the queue was probably around 200 people long. Even though I was there when the queue was tiny, and all the people ahead of me saw me, I just felt guilty about being let in first.


I knew I did the right thing, but this is exactly it. All I wanted was a seat, not priority access.

See, I think you feeling guilty is quite sad. You turned up in good time, you don't deserve to stand there in pain. As someone without any disability I absolutely would not begrudge you being given an accessible queue and actually I like seeing places provide these options.

 

[Josh]

No I was diagnosed with PTSD a few years ago, and I have a “serious underlaying health condition” in the form of an auto immune disease.

Both can get me “things” but I don’t need them so I don’t claim them, if people have a genuine need, I’m all for them getting what they are entitled to.

 

[BUDFORCE]

No I was diagnosed with PTSD a few years ago, and I have a “serious underlaying health condition” in the form of an auto immune disease.

Both can get me “things” but I don’t need them so I don’t claim them, if people have a genuine need, I’m all for them getting what they are entitled to.

Oh yea you reminded me.

I've also got a serious underlying health issue.

Got all the COVID jabs first, get my annual flu vaccine free even though I'm early 40s.

I got no idea what my underlying health issue is though!

 

[brendy]

No and chance would be a fine thing to get an actual diagnosis. Four years and counting waiting on my first ENT appointment.

 

[DB_SamX]

Disability no, but long term chronic health condition yes, if they ask. E.g. I'm on the priority register for water and utilities

 

[arknor]

I've got bad hearing, and technically and legitimately I'm classified as "hard of hearing". I've worn hearing aids for a while, whilst I can survive fine without them, my hearing is the equivalent of having your head in a bucket of water - whilst I can make out most of what people are saying, I miss out on a lot of key sounds in words, add more than 1 conversation in close proximity and without my hearing supported I basically just have to nod and smile. The audiogram I have puts me at moderate/moderate-to-severe, and is considered a disability under legal definitions i.e. the UK Equality Act 2010.

werent you an air traffic controller at one point?

 

[throwaway4372]

Yeah some people live on benefits with the same health issues as me, but I can earn a good salary working from home so that's overall better, no need to condemn myself to poverty because my health sucks.

I also have dodgy hearing, sometimes it's borderline normal and sometimes it's borderline disability, just comes and goes. Seen ENT but all they did was test and confirm, thanks for telling me what I already know. If it was permanently bad I'd try to get a blue badge, because everyone would rather the deaf guy wasn't walking across the car park.

 

[Freefaller]

werent you an air traffic controller at one point?

Not me! I just jumped out of planes didn't control them.

 

[Freefaller]

Yeah some people live on benefits with the same health issues as me, but I can earn a good salary working from home so that's overall better, no need to condemn myself to poverty because my health sucks.

I also have dodgy hearing, sometimes it's borderline normal and sometimes it's borderline disability, just comes and goes. Seen ENT but all they did was test and confirm, thanks for telling me what I already know. If it was permanently bad I'd try to get a blue badge, because everyone would rather the deaf guy wasn't walking across the car park.

Electric cars are the devil if I'm coming back from my dojo and haven't put them in literally can't hear them.

 

[Feek]

See, I think you feeling guilty is quite sad. You turned up in good time, you don't deserve to stand there in pain.

I think it was the first time I’ve properly been out and needed some assistance. That’s why it felt odd.

 

[Epburpee]

My hearing is normal, as I have also taken the audiogram. But I have a similar thing of struggling to follow conversations in noisy environments, and I wonder if I have some auditory processing disorder.
My immediate thought is I don't want to get anything for it, I guess. But then again, if I were entitled in that way, then there shouldn't be any qualms about that if it genuinely helps. I probably just need to tell people more or ask questions though, rather than nodding or saying 'hmm, yeah' all the time.

I read an article the other day about smart glasses, and they offer some promise for helping with hearing issues.

 

[Dis86]

I think it was the first time I’ve properly been out and needed some assistance. That’s why it felt odd.

Well I hope that feeling passes for you. Also you now have the advantage of being able to crack young whippersnappers with your stick so definite positives!