Obvious disabilities in people and reactions to it

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We all have problems. Our problems just take different forms. The differences don't mean one problem is better or worse than another. I don't like to be treated like I'm icky when I am having a problem, so I imagine others don't like it either. I try to act the same towards everyone.

it's all about being different isn't it.
some people cannot cope with people who are different to the norm.
Some people have never been around people with disabilities,some people have only ever heard the stereotypes and abuse of disabilities so assume all are like that,some people assume everything they can't see that isn't 'the norm' [such as tourettes or APD] are mental illnesses,and also equate mental illnesses to the stereotypes of pyschos running around killing people.....its not exactly nice.
People are people,a disability does not somehow alter a person into a non person,or into non human.

I don't follow the fashions, either and that's fine, with me. I like to be able to feel my jeans on my calves. That's why they call them jeans. I also like my shirts to be looser than the norm.

i was hideously disfigured for a few days; it's interesting how people react to that. the dermatologist i eventually saw said it was an acute allergic reaction, probably to poison ivy or something similar. it started with a rash on my face. the next day it was much larger and swollen, so i went to see a doctor. i was a freshman at a large state university, so going to the campus doctors meant walking past a thousand strangers. unfortunately, student health services tends to be completely inadequate, and the pills they gave me didn't help. in a day or two my face was horribly swollen, red, and oozing icky stuff. my right eye disappeared into a crease between my swollen brow and my swollen cheek, and i could only open my left eye about halfway. i looked pretty bad.

i didn't leave my room much, skipped classes for a few days, but when i would walk across campus to go to the doctor people would always look at me and then look away real fast. it's impolite to stare at the freak, but it was very obvious that people were staring and then realizing they weren't supposed to and pretending not to. some people looked shocked or made noises, and then looked away real fast. one girl said something like 'oh my god, what's wrong with you?' and i actually thought that was the nicest reaction i got, 'cause she wasn't pretending i didn't exist and was friendly enough to talk with me about it and offer some encouraging words. i'm used to people ignoring me and acting like i don't exist; i prefer it that way, but it's weird when people obviously notice you and just as obviously pretend they didn't.

if you ever get a chance to be hideously disfigured for a few days with no lasting side effects, i'd recommend it. educational.