I think, as with any discussion involving "society", there are too many unnamed "people" involved. Everyone has problems; each of us sling the opinionated mud and have the mud slung at us at one time or another.

I don't identify with my handicaps, I either accept them (so other's uneducated opinions are meaningless) or I'm working to overcome them (so other's opinions don't matter, unless they have an idea that I think might help me).