Does This Make Me Look Old? is a podcast about aging, that was started by two friends who are in denial about getting older. Talking to each other helps. Talking to the rest of the world might help even more. Like it or not, they will age - with, or without grace!
https://doesthismakemelookold.com
episode 8: Season 2: Episode 8: Disabilities and Aging Biases
This week we’re taking inspiration from a medical magazine that Shiv received touching on disability bias in medicine and how it affects patient interaction. That got us thinking about the disability bias in society and whether there is a link between that bias and ageism. And whether or not we should accept that we're all “temporarily abled”?
Being “temporarily abled” does make us aware that as we age, some things in the world might become more difficult to navigate, which can be a hard pill to swallow. But if we look at ourselves in this light, it could also make it easier for us to accept the changes in our abilities that come with aging. And then there’s Steve’s hearing loss in And Just Like That…yes, we went there! And admit we use closed captioning. We can’t be alone, right?
It’s important to acknowledge that at some point we may become differently-abled and become part of a community that can, unfortunately, suffer from the effects of society's disability bias. We should also take into account that there is a lot in common between ageism and bias against those that are differently-abled. The silver lining is that by doing so and addressing disability bias, it can people who are older and vice versa.
How do you feel about "normal" ranges, falling outside of them, and being "temporarily abled"? Let us know at doesthismakemelookold@gmail.com.