Disabled?

[Katester]

I didn't know where to post this. If this is the wrong place, please let me know!

I've read on here that people with Celiac are considered disabled.

Is this true?

Do we apply for handicapped parking?

Thanks for your time!

[darlindeb25]

No, a celiac/gluten intolerant is not disabled. Celiac is very controlable, as long as you remain gluten free. Sometimes, a person will go years and years without a diagnosis, and may have many other problems because of the delay in diagnosis, yet it is very rare that a person is disabled.

Do you honestly think you need a handicapped sticker for your car? I know I don't need one. We have become a very lazy society and want things given to us. Your health is up to you, you have to work to feel good.

I have been gluten free for over 8 yrs now. I was sick for over 20 yrs before diagnosis...I had diarrhea nearly every night, sometimes all night, I had severe panic attacks, anticipatory anxiety, borderline agoraphobia, and neuropathy. I didn't give up, I still tried to do everything I thought was expected of me, and not once did I think I was disabled. Now the panic attacks are rare, the agoraphobia is gone. I will always have peripheral neuropathy, I have so many intolerance's it's easier to list what I can eat, Raynaud's Syndrome, arthritis, and sleep apnea, with headaches every single day. Am I handicapped, NO!!! I work 40 hours a week.

No, celiac is not a disability.

[ShayFL]

For me to apply for a handicapped sticker for my car, I would have to be completely unable to walk. When I broke my foot and the doctor said because of the type of break, I would not be able to walk for 4 - 6 months, he wrote up the form for me to get the handicapped sticker. I never applied. I used my crutches. I never see myself as incapable. I always see myself as "being able to do anything" I set my mind to. I dont want to get lazy or be handicapped.

Do you see yourself as disabled? It is not for us to judge. If you really feel you need a handicapped sticker because you cannot walk very much, then you can ask your doctor about it.

[jerseyangel]

Hi Katester,

I'm thinking that you may have read here about the Americans With Disabilities Act in regards to school lunches for children with Celiac, as that is discussed here from time to time (?). Celiac Disease isn't regarded as a "disability", although I know of at least one person who is disabled from Celiac to the point of having to use a wheelchair.

Your question was a valid one

[kbtoyssni]

I think you could get a disabled sticker for your car if you have complications from celiac that doesn't allow you to walk a longer distance. But you wouldn't get one just because you have celiac. ADA is worded something along the lines of "reasonable accommodations must be made" and a celiac doesn't need to have access to close parking but would need access to a safe, CC-free environment for eating.

[Katester]

Thanks for the replies! I do not consider myself disabled. I was just curious because I had heard of Celiac being a part of the ADA. Whenever I would bring that up, someone would ask if you get a handicapped parking spot so I figured I'd ask about it. I never thought I'd get such strong responses!

[GlutenWrangler]

I doubt Celiac Disease alone would qualify for disabled status. However, complications and associated illnesses stemming from Celiac Disease can definitely cause disability. I currently have a non-functional gut, partially due to Celiac Disease, which prevents me from being able to eat, at all. The complications and symptoms of this has left me disabled, for the time being at least. But celiac disease is manageable by itself.

-Brian