Reply To: "Stand! Yell! Fight! Disabilities Unite!"

[shutterbug55]

I think you are on the right track. I also think you are going to be fighting an uphill battle.

ADD ADHD AS Dyslexia, Bi Polar Disorder, and all the rest of the mental disorders out there are lumped into the “Mental Disease” label.

The world is not a nice place for those of us with a mental disease. That’s a fact. There is a stigma associated with mental disease. That stigma has been around, since there was a recorded history. There is a lot of inertia to overcome. I would pull the playbook the LBGT community used to gain rights in the US.

This would have to be adapted, because unlike the LBGT community, we need medications, mental health care, and other occupational therapy, as well as accommodations in the workplace. We have all the needs for legitimacy the LBGT community were fighting for, the medical/mental health care needs other disabled groups get under the ADA, we have to overcome the stigma of mental illness, and as if that wasn’t enough, we have to overcome the mountains of misinformation out there that is published by “knowlegeable” people.

I am not saying it can’t be done, but I think you should get yourself prepared for a fight.

I have a couple ideas on PSA’s you can run. 30 sec spot simulating the ADD experience to get people talking about those REALLY annoying commercials. I think you said you lived in the Seattle area. It might be the best place to start with all of that stuff.

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