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Am I Disabled?

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Re: Am I Disabled?

#131

Post by JohnBooty »

aethertron wrote: post #91
Causality1 wrote: post #71

The neurodiversity argument always seems to me a misguided one. It argues that these neurological identities/configurations are not inherent problems but just differences which are only made to have negative effects on the person's life by societal preconception and bigotry. Those things do make it much worse and need to change, but I would argue that doesn't stop these brain-states from being independently troubleso…

Did you know there are folks out here arguing for an even stronger version of this position? The 'social model of disability' is the name for the wider notion that includes the neurodiversity argument/paradigm to which you refer, and applies to all other disabilities. On this view, all the problems you mention are only problems because society doesn't give affected people enough support (ETA; to clarify (or rather, t…

    On this view, all the problems you mention are only 
    problems because society doesn't give affected people 
    enough support
Sure, it's possible to reductio ad absurdum the "social model", just like nearly anything else.

"Being in a coma isn't a problem! It just makes you different. The problem is society's refusal to cater to the workplace needs of people in a vegetative coma state!"

All the social model aims to do is think about a separation of the impairment itself and the ways in which society may make it worse.

In some cases, sure. Lots of impairments will just be debilitating no matter what. Somebody in a coma is not going to be able to participate in society very much.

Lots of counterexamples though. For example, imagine a skilled software developer. However, she needs a wheelchair and she can't work anywhere in town because none of the buildings have wheelchair access. A perfectly able developer has been rendered disabled (or at least, unable to work) by this fact. This is somebody who could be working, if we simply build wheelchair ramps or allowed her to work from home.

Re: Am I Disabled?

#132

Post by watwut »

anoncake wrote: post #116
souprock wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I knew a colorblind person with a Graphics Design degree. He got by by using a color picker to read the RGB values. He ended up switching careers.

Having someone colour-blind involved in the design at least guarantees that it's accessible to them.

Involved yes. But it is quite limitation in terms of creating design that is not wtf for majority.

Re: Am I Disabled?

#133

Post by kolinko »

auganov wrote: post #73
kolinko wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I remember Google Campus having a form for filling in before a tech event that was crazy invasive - asked for literally everything: race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and so on.

Pick random answers when asked stupid questions. If enough people start doing this they'll stop asking.

Good idea, will do it from now on. Black? Yes. White, yes. Potatoe? Yes.

But seriously - these race questions seem wildly out of place in countries like Poland where 99% people are white, and sure there is racism, but there are better determinants for disadvantaged groups - like the place someone was born in, or family income.

Re: Am I Disabled?

#134

Post by watwut »

JohnBooty wrote: post #124
Causality1 wrote: post #71

The neurodiversity argument always seems to me a misguided one. It argues that these neurological identities/configurations are not inherent problems but just differences which are only made to have negative effects on the person's life by societal preconception and bigotry. Those things do make it much worse and need to change, but I would argue that doesn't stop these brain-states from being independently troubleso…

The author mentions problems with speech processing, speaking, sensory overload, sleeping, getting out of bed, eating, smells, textures, and navigation. None of those problems were created by society Your understanding of the neurodiversity movement isn't correct. Neither the article nor the movement in general claims that society "created" her difficulty performing those things. The neurodiversity movement points ou…

> It says that autism and other behavioral health issues are not necessarily inherently "bad" (just as being in a wheelchair is not inherently bad) but we fail as a society when fail to accommodate such folks.

You know, when I put on ramp for someone with wheelchair, it is done. It takes some space, alright, but mostly does not affect healthy peoples days.

When I am yelled at and get insulted by an autistic because I personally did not done things in the exact required routine, then it is not nearly the same thing. It is not that we should not accommodate people with issues. But pretending these are not issues that dont affect others is not accurate either.

Re: Am I Disabled?

#135

Post by bluGill »

wccrawford wrote: post #104

To me it's one of those "How heavy is a rock?" questions. In a particular instance, I think anyone can answer it about themselves. But in the abstract, it's a lot harder. Some people have issues with many or all things, and can easily answer 'yes'. Some people have no real issues and will easily answer 'no'. But there are a ton of people in the middle who have problems with certain situations and it's not an easy ans…

Everybody in the world can honestly answer yes they are disabled because of something. Yet the vast majority don't need special consideration to live their life. Even when someone does need special consideration what is important: Those bumps in the sidewalk that let a blind person know there is a road crossing ahead are critical to their safety - but they are very uncomfortable to someone in a wheelchair, sometimes to the point of being unable to use the sidewalk at all!

In short, the question is invalid. What is really needed isn't a yes/no response it is an appendix of what accommodations they have and already and then a blank of what you need. If you are in a wheelchair and the place already is wheelchair accessible then you are not disabled, but if the building hasn't be remodeled to wheelchair accessibility you are disabled. If there won't be a meal/snacks then your food allergies are not a disability, but if there are then it could be (could because some are you know what to avoid and can trust to find the something safe, while others are don't even have something in the same room).

But it is easier to have a yes/no question even though that is useless to everyone.

Re: Am I Disabled?

#136

Post by anoncake »

pugworthy wrote: post #33
Thorrez wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Federal contractors (this includes many large companies, because many large companies have some government business) are required to ask. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303287804579447...

In theory if you state you are disabled, then you can also get additional assistance from the company in the form of "reasonable accommodation". As a simple example, if you are in a wheelchair, you should have (by law) access to bathrooms and any other facility you'd expect to have access to at work. The thing is though, a wheelchair is a very easy example - it's obvious and it's understandable how acommodation can h…

Being a wheelchair is also something you can't hide anyway and a prospective employer may need to know it before an in-person interview to make sure it's conducted in an accessible place.

Re: Am I Disabled?

#137

Post by anoncake »

bluGill wrote: post #129
rexreed wrote: post #107

Call me pragmatic but I think the answer is simple. If it benefits you to say you are disabled and you have a qualifying disability, medically supported, then say yes, say you are disabled. If it does not benefit you to say you're disabled and the disability is not entirely obvious to others who you don't interact with on a regular basis, then say no. Some might not like it, but if the disability is of the sort that…

That is itself abusing the system and makes it worse for those who need it. There are benefits for the disabled that some technically qualify for that are meant for those worse off than they are. Unfortunately I don't know how to draw the line - that is why it is possible to abuse the system: some who need the benefits may seem better off than others who don't need them. This same argument prevents some who really sh…

There is always someone who is worse off than you are. If the rules say you are sufficiently disabled to get accommodations, you are. You don't abuse the system by following them.

Re: Am I Disabled?

#138

Post by aidenn0 »

bzb6 wrote: post #56

At least here in my country it’s a medical tribunal that tells you if you’re disabled or not, and even tells you how disabled you are with a percent. It’s an easy question with an easy answer.

The author knows they can legally answer yes, but is considering whether it is worth it to answer yes.

Re: Am I Disabled?

#139

Post by sandworm101 »

rurban wrote: post #80
dagmx wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a current epileptic (spinal injury, recovered partial paralysis) I still have to deal with the fact that I'm in fact, disabled. Working at a FAANG in silicon valley really highlights that. My commute is 4 hours a day because I have to take public transit, and working late hours is a bigger burden than unaffected people in similar life situations. I'm completely dependent on others to take me places, even for groce…

Why don't you just live in the parking lot? 4 hours is insane

Parking lot? A truely motivated employee who cares about his job will sleep on a bedroll stored neetly under their desk. Mobility is only an issue for those slackers who choose to spend time away from the office.

(I say this as i, in all honesty, will be sleeping on a couch at work this christmas. Im in the military. There are some few jobs that require literally sleeping in your office and i was just volunteered/volentold to cover one of them over the holidays.)

Re: Am I Disabled?

#140

Post by SamBam »

majewsky wrote: post #96
rurban wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why don't you just live in the parking lot? 4 hours is insane

I know you're probably suggesting this in good faith, but this being among the first solutions to be suggested might be one of the most Silicon-Valley things I've ever seen.

"If we use inflatable tents in the parking lots, we could rent them out by the hour to shift workers. Different workers could use them during the day and during the night."
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