So for people with so-called invisible disabilities (diabetes, cancer, chronic depression, Crohn's, ankylosing spondylitis and so on) a difficult choice has to be made. Do we put down on an Equal Opportunities Form that we have a disability, or do we keep schtum until it presents a problem once we are employed? Do we decide to apply for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or do we just try and muddle on without it? Are we 'allowed' to consider 'being disabled' as part of our identity, or could someone see that as a gross exaggeration? It's certainly not as tricky as those people who have no choice, but it is tricky nonetheless.
Equal Opportunities Forms are a nightmare. Despite the Disability Discrimination Act 2010, which was put in place to try and prevent employers from discriminating against a potential employee due to any physical or mental impairment that employee might have, there are still doubts - in my mind - at least, that an employer would pick me (with my inability to stand or sit in any position for longer than 20 minutes) over someone with the same qualifications and skills who could do anything for any amount of time. Legally I do not have to disclose anything to a potential employer about my physical or mental health, but many job adverts now put a disclaimer at the bottom with words to the effect that employees will need to complete a 'satisfactory' medical examination in order to be employed, whatever that means.
As for the DLA, in the past, I could really have done with the money - I was unable to resume employment in a position that paid me well, because I could not cope with the long shifts where I was unable to sit down or have breaks; I was in pain all the time because of school work, and had no energy to look for part-time work anyway. But if you look at those forms, you can tell they haven't really thought about chronic illnesses like AS, and how they manifest themselves:
You may get DLA if you are under 65 and have a physical or mental disability severe enough that you need help with your personal care or someone to supervise you,(see page 16 of the form) orAt the time when I wanted to apply for the DLA, I met all these conditions, BUT, I only met them for, say, 3 days a week. AS is capricious. It comes and goes, and sometimes you can predict when something will cause a flare, and sometimes you can't. I know now, that if I'd been successful in my application but had subsequently been assessed on a 'good day', I would never have received any money. Now, with my current medication, I probably wouldn't qualify anyway, but then, now, I am in a position where I feel I don't need the money anyway, as I have an OK chance of finding a job (well sort of, given the double dip, shortage of graduate jobs, the bleak prospects for the economy and all that). Yet I still find myself getting angry that others have been denied the money, especially as I know AS sufferers who deserve (and need) the money, but who are too proud to apply, or who give up thanks to the application process. But what rankles the most are the misunderstandings that lead to the assumption that you are faking it, or a benefit cheat. Fairly recently, people with AS have been raked over the coals for supposedly scamming the state, because they appeared on a prime-time TV show, actually *dancing* (ooh, the cheek of it! How dare they enjoy a pain-free day!).
• you are unable to walk, or find walking very hard, or you need help to
get around, and
• you have had these care needs or walking difficulties (or both) for at
least three months, and they must be likely to continue for at least
another 6 months.
(DLA form online)
