I have been an epileptic for more than thirty years, in that time, I have learned a lot through the lens of the condition. I have dealt with the stigmas, dealt with the horse shit comments and finally decided to work for myself. From early on, kids would tease and make fun of my spastic convulsing on the ground. Then older versions of those kids would just not talk to me. Teachers had no Idea what was wrong,even though it was explained. To them, I was either a demon or a special education case. Being on drugs like phenobarbital do not aid in attention spans. I would be called "catfish" by coaches.
Somehow I find that less insulting than later in life where the insults are more veiled. "Epileptics are just not reliable people" Friends and family insist you get government aid, however, the government HATES conditions it cannot see. "go to the ER twice a week! even if you don't need to!" is the battle cry of those who have gotten disability. However, at the ER they look at you like "haven't you been here twice this week? go see your doctor!" Yes, thank you master Yoda. I had not thought about how many charities there are for epileptics, and what a short drive Ft.worth or Houston is for me that I can get someone to take me. ( I DO go to FTW every few months, a 2 hr drive for me and whoever is driving)
So, the SSI office denies you, and says "well, you CAN get gainful employment working fast food with safely precautions." Are you NUTS! grease on floor, sharp objects, HOT grease, Multiple hard surfaces. not to mention, how many employers want to hire you if you have to go home so often? Not epileptics are this way, Some have far better control of their condition through medication. but it is difficult to not get depressed when your whole family was in the navy and you CANT go. College is difficult to attend, and jobs simply like to tell you they "found someone better" in a right to work state, that is all they have to do. So depression is quite easy.
this brings me to the most infuriating thing I have ever seen. ABLEISM, a bit like bigotry without skin color, religion or sexual orientation being called into account, only, some people think the last part is. Just look at Tumblir; you will see tons of reblogs about how someone is being a victim of ablesm, not because they are gay, or bi or even heterosexual in some cases, it usually is something like "I am in love with my sugar glider as we were separated by a premature death in another life, and I finally found them! but nobody understands! I am a sugar glider trapped in a human body!" and when someone simply says "uh okay" they get deemed abelist. It drives me nuts that a perfectly justified social movement of people with legitimate rights to such a movement, has gotten a reputation of a group of tards