Attidues towards disabled/disability in Ireland

[john40]

Having had a physical disability since birth, I often wondered about attitudes towards the disabled in Ireland.

Thankfully my disability is mild (I have mild cerebral palsy which requires me to walk with crutches). I'm so lucky to be able to say I've had a fantastic life. I've travelled a lot of the world. I had a 25 year career in the HSE until 2016 when I had to have major spinal surgery as a result of using the crutches (all the spaces between all my discs in my neck were closing in) which resulted in having to have 2 discs removed.

I often think people think I'm weird when I say this, but I'm glad I'm the way I am since birth because I've known no different and just got on with it. I can't imagine how hard it must be to have to adjust to life after having a major accident or event in life that leaves you without the use of your limbs.
I've never ever said "why me" and I'm not looking for any plaudits for not doing so. My attitude is, there is always someone worse off than me.

On my travels around the world I've had people say to me that I'm great for what I do. Don't get me wrong, I know what they mean and I know they mean well. I just always feel, why wouldn't I do what I'm able to. I know my limits and have no time for anyone sitting around looking for sympathy. I also never wanted to have a regret that I didn't do something that I wanted to.

So, on to what I mean about attitudes towards disabled people/disabilities. I think a lot of it is ignorance and I don't mean ignorant people, I mean lack of understanding.


I know I've got those looks when I used to walk into a bar or nightclub as if I've 10 heads. I've heard people say to others when I worked in the hospital "he works here". Oh and I've had the classic line while out for dinner with a friend "does he eat mushrooms "? Fair play to my friend who said "I don't know, you'll have to ask him" 🤣 I've had encounters where all that's missing is a pat on the head. I do feel some people think if you have a physical disability you must also have a mental disability. I often feel like telling people to try talking to me or others like me for a while before they judge.

If I do have a regret it's that I never had a relationship. Nobody to share those amazing experiences while travelling or to come to all the concerts I go to every year. I've had lots of female friends and fallen for quite a few but never anyone who was more than a good friend. I've had amazing experiences with some beautiful ladies whom I met through EI and had great friendships with a few of them. I'm 50 now and quite content with life but often thought, what might have been but I don't get hung up on it either. I'm still enjoying life to the full and even more so since retirement 😀

I do think though things are changing thankfully. I always had a saying "we all have a disability of some kind, you don't always have to see it".