Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!163!223!Chris.Brown
From: Chris.Brown@f223.n163.z1.fidonet.org (Chris Brown)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: LUPUS/DEPRESSION
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Date: 12 Oct 90 19:44:46 GMT
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Index Number: 11098

Sorry, I don't know how to use the editor so I can't directly
respond to quotes, but....

Nadine was right when she suggested keeping a balance.  I find that
has been the hardest part.  I decided NOT to keep a balance when I
decided to fight for increased recognition.  I'm glad I did.  I
think it was necessary for the issue and, more to the point, I was
publicly identified with this issue, and, as a journalist, the
statements authorities were making to the effect that we couldn't
ell when we knew something and when we did not was of critical
importance to several other concerns.

your family is important.  I'm just now pulling myself out of a
full-tilt go to the wall fight...and rebuilding relationships,
making new ones, and so on.  But when friend have killed
themselves, and when you understand the suffering caused by
bigotry, it's hard not to fight...expecially if, at the time, you
have nothing to lose.

Distributing pamphlets is nice, but I have yet to meet a health
professional who is willing to respond to reason.  They tend to
respond better to authority and the law. what has worked in
bringing this issue forward here is using Human Rights laws,
"reasonable accommodation" and "harassment" provisions.  Boycotting
the census brought six cabinet ministers on board.  inventing and
"marketing" a FRESH AIR Brick broght a lof of media attention.
Refusing to pay taxes for three years helped.  (I have a letter
from an aide to the minister for taxes saying "You're crusade is
long and hard.  I sympathise. I refuse to be an inquisitor".  I
haven't been audited, and every cabinet minister's office knows I
haven't paid.

the disabled community hasn't been all that gelpful here....It
seems there's a tendency towards discrimination amongst SOME
physically disabled persons about hidden disabilities, and we have
found it hard to get on the agenda of disabled action groups,
advisory committees, and so on.  But eventually they too will find
us sexy and get on board.

Chemical sensitivities are receiving increased attention with
increased interest in the environment.  Most of our people are
disabled by polluters, (that is to say, sensitive to substances in
pollution).

Some people with disabilities casued by "birth defects" were likely
born of parent(s) whose sensitivities resulted in reproductive
system dysfunction.  So there's reason for all disabled people to
be concerned about this phenomenon, if only to prevent SOME others
from dbeing born with various disabilities.

Another thing to watch out for is the (correct) opinion amongst
doctors that all sensitivities can not be explained by inmune
system dysfunction.  Many sensitivities result from "intolerances"
or innappropriate flora and fauna in the digestive tract.

Some people have auto-immune disabilities as a result of the effect
low level (or high level) exposure to chemicals has had on their
auto-immune function.  Some poeple with diabetes, some
witharthritis, lupus, and so on, experience reduced auto-immune
degeneration if substances they are sensitive to ("barriers") are
removed from their environment and diet.

The woman I live with was diagnosed as epileptic for several years
before a doctor found that she had convulsions in response to
certain foods, sometimes hours after ingesting them.  The whole
thing is complicated by the fact that the person may have symtpoms
affecting one system of the body...such as diabetes, for instance,
which can be auto-immune related, which can be caused by long-term
exposure to chemicals, but this person may sho no other signs of
sensitivities, such as rashes, or IgE reponse....

Recently Canada's Health Minister, Perrin Beatty, stated that in
cases of ambiguity involving psychiatric symptoms, environmental
causes should be ruled out first.  (I don't mean social
enviornment)

What was the name of the doctor who told you more poeple should
know about this stuff?  Perhaps (s)he can help bring the Ashford
Report to the

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