Would you consider a person with only one hand disabled? Why or why not?

Question

I am writing a profile essay about my dad who was born with only one hand. I do not see him as disabled not does he. I'm trying to find if my statement "My father, who by societies standards is disabled/handicapped is by his standards "normal". Would a majority of you out there agree with that statement?

Answer 1

There is a difference between having a disability and being disabled. I would consider your dad to clearly have a disability, but whether it has been disabling to him - only you and his family can say. He very well might be treated as if he is disabled even if he is not by some.

Answer 2

Even if he's fully capable, which I'm sure he is, there are still many things he would have difficulty doing, at least without assistance or a different method from that which two handed people use.



As he was born with one hand, he is, by his standards, fully normal. Had he lost his hand in later life, he would perhaps consider himself disabled, as he would be used to living life with two hands.



It's not a put down to say he's disabled. It's simply an acknowledgment of the fact that he performs every day tasks in a different way (or perhaps sometimes not at all) from people with two hands, which is, biologically and statistically speaking, the norm.

Answer 3

I agree with the statement "My father, who by societies standards is disabled/handicapped is by his standards "normal". That is a good way to put it. And believe me, many people with disabilities feel the same way (for example deaf people, autistic people etc.). They feel that their disability is just a difference and not really a disability. However, society sees things differently and considers people to be disabled if they don't fit the defined standards.



A person who has only one hand is considered to be disabled by society. However, most people who have only one hand learn to do things differently, so their lives may not necessarily be affected much by their disability.



It is possible to have a disability and to not be disabled by it.

Answer 4

While having one arm or one hand doesn't stop too many people from living a full life it is technically a disability.



An upper limb amputee uses more energy than a person with two arms. There is also an increased risk for tendinitis and other over use problems in the remaining limb. ( which is why all amputees need to protect their remaining limbs)



I'm a lower limb amputee and I see myself as " normal" I only really realize the full disability when my leg breaks down or I damage my remaining side.



I'm sure if you're father ever injured his full hand he would temporally feel really disabled because the side he's always relied on doesn't do what he needs.



I know a fair share of arm amputees some choose to wear prosthetics others choose not to. I think your statement is very accurate.



I tease my arm amp pals because they get the cooler gadgets and they can take off their arms when ever they want.

Answer 5

it would be medically its a developmental disability.

i would consider it an impairment and not so much a disability.

though i have have hemiparetic cerebral palsy and to the broader society it's consider a disability i consider it an impairment. it's not a burden this is my life and I've been living it since my birth and it's been normal for me.



i think everybody has impairment in one way or another and what creates a disability lies within the attitude of the society and in the way they evaluate peoples impairments and their unwillingness to adapt to include them or indifference towards them then they'll use those impairments to bar a particular individual or group of individuals from gaining access and fully participate in all aspects of that society.

Answer 6

I knew a man with one arm that was principal of a school then Superintendant. On the side he bought old houses. Moved them on his land in town. Refurbished them and rented them out. Mostly alone though he had a crew. None could keep up with him.

He would not let people use words like disabled and handy capped. He died a well off man with a large family that loved him.

You are only disabled if you can't perform a function. Most of us don't like to be called disabled because we still have some function and feel normal.

Don't let society dictate terms.

Answer 7

it a disability but it does not limit him in most thing in life. but there are thing like sky diving that you need two good hands to do.

Answer 8

For legal and sometimes employment reasons they are but in general they are still very capable people and adapt well.