Society needs to rethink labeling

I'm looking up symptoms of ADHD. The way they phrase the symptoms, no one in their right mind would say "Oh good! I have ADHD". But the fact is, having ADHD is not a bad thing. They could easily list the symptoms in a factual and neutral tone. No wonder people do not want to acknowledge a disability. Even the medical books lean (and fall) toward negativity. What a shame.

If we lived in a society where we all accepted and supported one's differences (and if we look we'll notice everyone looks, behaves, thinks or feels differently from others) then people would get the assistance they need sooner, they would understand themselves better, and probably heal sooner too.

At IC a few years ago a woman was resisting using a wheelchair. She could no longer walk distances, this was stopping her from socializing, shopping, and going to activities. But she was set against using a wheelchair thinking people who use wheelchairs are restricted. The term 'confined to a wheelchair' puts that idea into all our heads. We had a wheelchair party for her. We had wheelchair races, crowned her as wheelchair queen and more. She then began using her wheelchair feeling the freedom it brought her. She was thrilled. She could now go for walks. She could now go out and about. It was freeing. Of course!

If we have ADHD but we don't know it we might constantly feel we should do better, what's wrong with me, that sort of thing. But if we know we have ADHD then we can set up our lives appropriately to deal with our way.

Knowledge is freedom. If we understand and accept our issues we can then deal with them.

It will be nice when society supports ones differences. We're not there yet. At least at IC we are there! Good for us anyway!

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