A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of - Etheses - Queen Margaret ...

disability although others about me don‟t i.e. they seem to get more worried about my MS
than I do
(Susan, selected but did not reply to several attempts to contact further)
275
Identify negatively
I have damage to the surface of my brain caused by an aneurysm resulting in my permanent
disability to jump, run, carry heavy weights over sustained periods, affected by bright
sunlight when viewed from a poorly lit room, blood pressure problems, stage 3 chronic
kidney disease, polycystic kidneys, bad leg caused by motorcycle accident aged 20 (am aged
52 now), loss of use of left bicep muscle caused by nerve damage in this accident because of
cracked neck, I now have arthritis in my neck making bending and lying in bed quite
awkward, top of head hurts at certain times of the day. Yet, despite all this, I appear normal
to other people
(Kevin, selected)
I have a adult form of limb girdle muscular dystrophy, although onset was at 13, and
diagnosis not until nearly 29... Don‟t think I have got it figured out yet but would be willing
to participate. I would fall into the negative sector of your respondents, and you may have
enough of those
(Rose, selected)
A bit of all three
I have a diagnosis of depression, anxiety, and Borderline Personality Disorder... I don‟t like
to think of myself as disabled, but I am beginning to realise that recognising the limitations
this sometimes places on me is something I might have to accept to get on with my life. I
refuse to be defined by a diagnosis and I get very frustrated by the way it has held me back –
either from treatment or just in being at the same point in my life as friends of my age... I
have had both negative and positive experiences of being disabled – I guess I don‟t think of
myself as being disabled except for the purpose of filling out forms. But I do see that there
are so many little adaptations that could be made that would make society much more
inclusive for anyone who is not quite „normal‟
(Helen, selected)
I am a physically disabled man of 43 through a suicide attempt. I also suffer from manic
depression. I play guitar, draw portraits, 6 years training at night school in calligraphy. I am
very sociable. I volunteer many hours a week. I have been stable many years. Looking
forward to getting back to swimming when the kids are back at school. I still walk with limp
and a raised shoe, my injuries were serious many broken bones, jaw, leg, foot, minor skull
fracture etc. I attend Bonnybank Day Centre in Edinburgh for people with a physical
disability every Thursday
(Ash, selected)