There are so many good points here already that I'm in two minds about adding this - but I think it's still worth saying.

I have a lot of physical difficulties - rheumatoid arthritis plus various other things - which mean that I use a wheelchair if I'm out of the house; I can't do much typing, piano playing or whatever otherwise my hand gets much more painful and swollen; I don't shake hands properly any more because it's not worth the risk of pain if someone squeezes even a little bit. That should hopefully be enough to give some idea of what type of difficulties I have.

It's very easy for people to look at me and see the wheelchair, or to take offence because I don't shake their hands, or to look sideways if my husband cuts up some meat for me if we are eating out. They see the disability - or rather its effects - rather than me. All too often people talk about a space for a wheelchair rather than for a wheelchair user, for instance.

When I was a primary school teacher, I taught a number of children with special educational needs. Many colleagues referred to these children as dyspraxics, autistic or whatever. Not as children with dyspraxia or children with autism.

I am a person, and these children were people too. They just had some characteristics or behavioural traits that made them obviously different from most people in some ways. You too are a person, and while I can understand your terror of being labelled as mentally ill, even if you were (which I doubt) it wouldn't affect your value as a human being. You are yourself, and that is the most important thing.

Sorry if this sounds preachy or too much like a rant. But you have huge worth just by existing, Johnny, and nothing can take that away from you.


Bluegrey