When is a Disability Not a Disability?
by So size does matter after all.
It’s always difficult to speak of disabilities without offending someone. Taking that risk I want to ask what the definition of disability ought to be. What conditions can genuinely be categorised as disability?
Last year a new support group was established by some who felt that their own particular limitations were leading to being discriminated against, that limitation being height. We are not talking dwarfism here, just people who fall below the average height a person might reasonably expect to attain.
The vertically challenged of North West Cameroon founded the “Association of Short people of Cameroon” to highlight their plight and to press for parity of treatment, claiming that being shorter than the majority constitutes a disability.
To be a member of the ASPC a person must measure less than 1.60 metres, (5 feet 2 inches) although that limit is slightly higher than was originally suggested because it excluded too many people. The President of the Association, Jonathan Fru, cites the armed forces as an example of discrimination. To join the Cameroonian army a would-be recruit must reach a height of no less than 1.65 metres, although since Cameroon makes little use of its armed forces there shouldn’t really be a problem letting in a few short people.
On this basis the following people would also be barred from defending the realm in Cameroon: Danny DeVito, Bette Middler, Dolly Parton, Kylie Minogue and John Keats.
President Fru also complains about carpenters building chairs suited only for people of a certain stature, about limited marriage prospects and about the unwillingness of employers to give jobs to short people even when size does not compromise the person’s ability to work.
But while we can sympathise with President Fru and the members of the ASPC, can we categorise being short as a disability as the President wishes? Height (or lack thereof) is genetically determined and it does bring limitations, but where do we draw the line? Being above average height also has its problems as does being under or over weight.
Maybe society has got the whole concept of disability dreadfully wrong. Maybe there should be no such category in our minds – we are just not all the same, and we all need help with our own particular life circumstances, be that stature, sight, baldness, an aversion to Christmas or whatever.
As you read. Please know that I don’t write from a position of ignorance – I have a daughter with severe learning and physical disabilities.
And now for the repercussions …. bring it on!
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Post CommentR J Evans
On December 18, 2008 at 7:16 am
I don’t think there is anything here to offend. However, I am sure that in the UK the govermnent would not be inclined to see shortness as a case for ‘disability’ – considering there are already over one million people on some sort of disability benefit over here! During WW1 when conscription to the army became universal the powers that be were horrified at the amount of people who were unable to fight because of their small stature – due quite often to a lack of good food when they were children. Perhaps the Cameroon government should also look in to what food their children are (not) eating because of their lack of money?
papaleng
On December 18, 2008 at 10:11 am
Are very intriguing question you’ve thrown to your readers. Height is now a major concern among Pilipinos who are applying for a job since most companies are having this height limit criteria. some hospitals are requiring a 5′5” height for nurses, while some big Malls do have the same height limit for women who are applying as Salesladies. Imagine, the average height for Pilipino women is only 5′1”, so most of these women fell short of the required height ceiling for job seekers. I agree with your point, when is a disability not a disability?
Glynis Smy
On December 18, 2008 at 1:06 pm
As I am under 5′2″ and taller than 5′1″, I realise I am eligble for the ASPC, what saddens me is that there is such a group. I had never worried about my height until the supermarket put chocolate on the top shelf, believe me, this shorty was fighting right to the top and no one got in my way. Seriously, Papaleng mentions 5′ 5″ for nurses, so now I am not only disabled,but out of work! Sorry I do not consider myself VC, disabled or unable to care for others, just because I am shorter than most. Strange world, brilliant article. Thanks.
James DeVere
On December 18, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Love your crazy ideas. I am splitting my sides. Choice . j
Geri
On December 18, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Great thought provoking article Thanks
TommyP
On December 18, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Hello Rask, another great piece! Given the personal contact (your daughter)with someone of real disability; shortness is obviously a frivolous *ahem* disability no matter how many people it may affect in gaining employment, or whatever venture. If those people are blocked and they believe they can’t overcome, that is their true disability.
Clay Hurtubise
On December 18, 2008 at 8:48 pm
How about folks over 6′? Are you discriminating against them? Shame on you!
Thanks,
Clay
girish
On December 18, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Ability springs from disability. mind is the corner stone.
thestickman
On December 19, 2008 at 11:44 am
NASA (The National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has or had a height (and weight) requirement for astronauts. This made sense, because every pound of mass going up in a rocket ship requires many hundreds of pounds of fuel to lift every single pound. A chubby cosmonaut means thousands of additional gallons of fuel over flight specs (and remember, they have to fly the weight of the FUEL up too so THAT requires more poundage of fuel needed!)
Airlines tend to hire shorter stewardesses (oh, -’xcuse me… “Flight Attendants” they are called now) for the same reason, and some airlines are charging extra fare for ‘obese’ fliers (whom, by the way, get to occupy two seats… it they have to pay more, they get more than one seat to sit in.) And also, airlines might prefer to seat ‘taller’ passengers by the emergency hatches to accommodate their legroom requirements. This ‘discriminates’ the ‘average’ height passenger whom as we all know, is very crammed into their alloted seatage space…
As a shortness-challenged person myself, it is nearly impossible to buy cloths tall enough to fit me. I am over 6′2″ tall with a size 13 shoe (THOSE are hard to find often enough too!) By the time I find a shirt with a large enough neck circumference, the body is big enough to cover a automobile… So, I wear T-shirts and stretchies…
I tend to not wear hats because too few places make XXL hats. I *have* bought “XXL” hats mailorder but they are trying to throw curve… the ‘first’ “X” is scrawled onto the label in BALLPOINT PEN INK!! -Yeah, -bastards sold me a “XL” that they changed to “XXL” and feigned ‘that is the way the manufacturer makes them!’ (well I got my money back and they received bad press over it..)
I did finally get an XXL hat though… (felt fedora, see it in my profile picture)
Lost in Arizona
On December 19, 2008 at 11:47 am
I don’t know if I would consider being short a disability. I’m a shorty, and I’ve never let that get in the way of me doing what I do. Being only 5′ 2 myself, I can still tackle my husband down (who is still a foot taller) when needed…lol. And I agree with RJ. Nutrition has a lot to do with growth, and when one thinks of Africa, many are malnourished. Being short isn’t a disability, it’s just being vertically challenged. Interesting article nevertheless.
Mercedes Rubin Sanchez
On December 20, 2008 at 11:50 am
Thanks for the article! Being an individual who actually has a disability (lymphedema in both legs and it’s primary)I never realzed that being short was another thing to add to my list.(watch me cringe) I find it offensive as a disabled young lady to have others say they are disabled simply by being a “a bit short”. I was genetically short because both my parents are short. Before my Lymphedea got painful I was a manager at age 15 and then again in another store at age 17. If the case to be pointed was that shortness causes descrimination(again not dwarfism) can it be that I’m abnormal for actually succeeding? Moreover, I suceeded while having a visible disability (again Lymphedema).I don’t get it! I tink as a society we are getting more and mroe into politically correctness but where do we draw the line? Vertically challenge Puh-Lease! Again thanks so much this article was very enlightening and made my day! Now I can go and add my Vertically Challenge self to another self help group that I don’t need (NOT!!!) LOL AGAIN *hugs* Gret article!
dderrbydave
On December 20, 2008 at 11:55 am
Further to previous comments, I think the answer to your question is in the word “disabled”. In England The Disability Discrimination Act defines a disabled person as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. If a small person aims to do a job which requires a certain height then they are disabled by their height. If they are putting shoes on, they are not disabled by their height. However, if their fingers are poorly formed, then this disables them.
What is truly inspiring is the person who does not allow their “disability” to limit their life. Watch the Disabled Olympics for examples of people who can out perform most of us although labelled “disabled”. Disabled from what? I would like to know. Watch the documentaries about Mums with no arms or no legs who still raise their children without too many problems.
Hope this helps.
reenmsn
On December 20, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Thank you for this refreshing insight on a subject most of us don’t realize or understand.
payge
On December 20, 2008 at 10:51 pm
liked the article…disabilities of any kind is a touchy topic.and thereare people that either dont want to deal with or dont want to learn from it.we all have our shortcomings as humans,it just show smore in others.im 5ft7…a ok heingt…but i fight disabilities everyday that isnt seen unless you know me.i dont let them get to me,though it does make things hard to do.life is to short and you only get one go round,do the best you can .thank you for writting the article -very well done.
jayne brown
On December 21, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Well!!! what an interesting article. I was inspired to look this subject up by a customer in the nightclub i work in. I am 4ft 9 1/2 inches in my bare feet but was wearing my usual platform shoes (thanks to the spice girls, hehe) and this lady, (also short) informed me that i could claim disability allowance due to my lack of height, well i just fell about laughing but i vowed to google it which is what i have done and low and behold the USA have brought this in. Its a shame the uk government do not see this a disability as i could of claimed due to the fact i was turned down to be a page 3 girl in the sun because i was shorter than Sam Fox ( i am going back 20 years by the way) Thanfully! god may of given me short legs but he gave me big lungs. thanks for the giggle jayne xx
jheri
On September 27, 2009 at 7:44 am
I am a tall (1.90 m) women. There are many things that don’t fit and flying can trap my legs. My work requires a lot of travel and I was able to convince my employer to have a requirement that I fly business class as having your legs locked into position can cause medical problems.
Finding clothing is an issue and you have to know a good tailor. Many men dislike tall women. But on whole I like my height.