Myths and Facts about People with Disabilities:

Myths are roadblocks that interfere with the ability of people with disabilities to have equality in
social opportunities admissions for education marital relations and friendship and employment.
These roadblocks usually result from a lack of experience and interaction with persons with
disabilities. This lack of familiarity has nourished negative attitudes concerning social
acceptance of persons with disabilities. Listed below are some common myths and the facts that
tell the real story.

1. Myth: A child with disability born in the result of sins committed by his or her
parents

Fact:

God doesn’t give the punishment of one’s crime to another. It is far from his justice

2. Myth: A person with disability is inferior than others

Fact:

No one is superior or inferior according to God except his character

3. Myth: Disability is a stigma

Fact:

Disability is a diversity like other diversities

4. Myth: Disabled people have some super natural powers

Fact:

It is not necessary

5. Myth: Disable people have some spiritual status

Fact:

There is no relation between disability and spirituality

6. Myth: Blind people have always extra ordinary memory

Fact:

Not always just they focus more on their memory than others
 7. Myth: Blind people have some inside vision

Fact:

Not necessary

8. Myth: Blind people are usually suspicious

Fact:

It depends on their grooming and environment

9. Myth: Hearing impaired people are usually aggressive and fighter

Fact:

It depends on their grooming and environment

10. Myth: airing impaired have low IQ

Fact:

Not necessary

11. Myth: Children with intellectual disabilities are fighter and higher

Not necessary

12. Myth: People with disabilities are sick and in constant pain.

Fact:

People with disabilities are like people without disabilities. People get sick on occasion or
sometimes may be in pain. People with disabilities typically do not suffer or experience pain due
to their condition.

13. Myth: People with disabilities are special and should be treated differently.

Fact:

The label of “special” in reference to a person with a disability does not convey equality.
Expectations for success should not be underestimated to accommodate the “special” label that is
associated with people with disabilities

14. Myth: Disability is a personal tragedy and deserves our pity.

Fact:

Disability does not mean a poor quality of life. It is often the negative attitudes of society and the
lack of accessibility within the community that are the real tragedy

15. Myth: People with disabilities want to associate with each other.

Fact:

Relationships and friendships are a matter of personal choice. People with disabilities may share
similar characteristics. They usually have both disabled and nondisabled friends.

16. Myth: People with disabilities are a one-dimensional group. Who all have the same
needs, interests and opinions?

Fact:

People with disabilities reflect the same diversity that exists in the rest of society, including
varying social, economic, cultural, family and educational characteristics.

17. Myth: People with disabilities are brave and courageous.

Fact:

Adjusting to a disability requires adapting to a lifestyle, not bravery and courage.

18. Myth: All persons who use wheelchairs are chronically ill or sickly.
Fact:

The association between wheelchair use and illness may have evolved through hospitals using
wheelchairs to transport sick people. A person may use a wheelchair for a variety of reasons,
none of which may have anything to do with lingering illness.
19. Myth: Wheelchair use is confining; people who use wheelchairs are "wheelchair-
bound."

Fact:

A wheelchair, like a bicycle or an automobile, is a personal assistive device that enables

someone to get around.
20. Myth: All persons with hearing disabilities can read lips.

Fact:

Lip-reading skills vary among people who use them and are never entirely reliable.
 21. Myth: People who are blind acquire a "sixth sense."

Fact:

Although most people who are blind develop their remaining senses more fully, they do not
have a "sixth sense."
22. Myth: People with disabilities are more comfortable with "their own kind."

Fact:

In the past, grouping people with disabilities in separate schools and institutions reinforced this
misconception. Today, many people with disabilities take advantage of new opportunities to join
mainstream society.
23. Myth: Non-disabled people are obligated to "take care of" people with disabilities.

Fact:

Anyone may offer assistance, but most people with disabilities prefer to be responsible for
themselves.
24. Myth: Curious children should never ask people about their disabilities.

Fact:

Many children have a natural, uninhibited curiosity and may ask questions that some adults
consider embarrassing. But scolding curious children may make them think having a disability is
"wrong" or "bad." Most people with disabilities won't mind answering a child's question.
25. Myth: The lives of people with disabilities are totally different than the lives of
people without disabilities.

Fact:

People with disabilities go to school, get married, work, have families, do laundry, grocery shop,
laugh, cry, pay taxes, get angry, have prejudices, vote, plan and dream like everyone else.
26. Myth: It is all right for people without disabilities to park in accessible parking
spaces, if only for a few minutes.

Fact:

Because accessible parking spaces are designed and situated to meet the needs of people who
have disabilities, these spaces should only be used by people who need them.
 27. Myth: Most people with disabilities cannot have sexual relationships.

Fact:

Anyone can have a sexual relationship by adapting the sexual activity. People with disabilities
can have children naturally or through adoption. People with disabilities, like other people, are
sexual beings.
28. Myth: People with disabilities always need help.

Fact:

Many people with disabilities are independent and capable of giving help. If you would like to
help someone with a disability, ask if he or she needs it before you act.
29. Myth: There is nothing one person can do to help eliminate the barriers confronting
people with disabilities.

Fact:

Everyone can contribute to change. You can help remove barriers by:
• Understanding the need for accessible parking and leaving it for those who need it
• Encouraging participation of people with disabilities in community activities by using accessible
meeting and event sites
• Understanding children's curiosity about disabilities and people who have them
• Advocating a barrier-free environment
• Speaking up when negative words or phrases are used about disability
• Writing producers and editors a note of support when they portray someone with a disability as a
"regular person" in the media
• Accepting people with disabilities as individuals capable of the same needs and feelings as
yourself, and hiring qualified disabled persons whenever possible

30. Myth: People with disabilities cannot lead a full and productive life.

People with disabilities are capable of fully participating in community life.

Myth: Individuals with visual impairment or those considered legally blind always use a white
cane.
Fact:

A person with low vision may use a white cane in specific situations, but many do not rely on a
cane for mobility guidance. [2]
31. Myth: People with visual impairment cannot live independently.
Fact: Regardless of one’s level of visual loss, it is not a barrier to living a free and
independent life.
 32. Myth: People who have low vision are unable to drive.
Fact: Currently, over 25 states allow individuals with low vision to have a restricted
driver’s license. Many may require the patients to use a bioptic telescope while behind
the wheel. Eligibility requirements vary by states. [2]
33. Myth: Individuals with low vision must read Braille because they are unable to read
regular print.
Fact: The type of print patients with low vision read varies. Some use Braille, others use
larger fonts,and there are those who read normal size print with an optical device.

Myths about hiring of PWDS for employment

MYTH

Hiring employees with disabilities increases workers compensation insurance rates.

FACT

Insurance rates are based solely on the relative hazards of the operation and the organization's
accident experience, not on whether workers have disabilities.

MYTH

Employees with disabilities have a higher absentee rate than employees without disabilities.

FACT

Studies by firms such as DuPont show that employees with disabilities are not absent any more
than employees without disabilities.

MYTH

People with disabilities are inspirational, courageous, and brave for being able to overcome their
disability.

FACT

People with disabilities are simply carrying on normal activities of living when they work at their
jobs, go grocery shopping, pay their bills, or compete in athletic events.

MYTH

People with disabilities need to be protected from failing.

FACT

People with disabilities have a right to participate in the full range of human experiences
including success and failure. Employers should have the same expectations of, and work
requirements for, all employees.

MYTH

People with disabilities have problems getting to work.

FACT

People with disabilities are capable of supplying their own transportation by choosing to walk,
use a car pool, drive, take public transportation, or a cab. Their modes of transportation to work
are as varied as those of other employees.

MYTH

People with disabilities are unable to meet performance standards, thus making them a bad
employment risk.

FACT

In 1990, DuPont conducted a survey of 811 employees with disabilities and found 90% rated
average or better in job performance compared to 95% for employees without disabilities. A
similar 1981 DuPont study which involved 2,745 employees with disabilities found that 92% of
employees with disabilities rated average or better in job performance compared to 90% of
employees without disabilities.

MYTH

People who are deaf make ideal employees in noisy work environments.

FACT

Loud noises of a certain vibratory nature can cause further harm to the auditory system. People
who are deaf should be hired for all jobs that they have the skills and talents to perform. No
person with a disability should be prejudged regarding employment opportunities.

MYTH

Considerable expense is necessary to accommodate workers with disabilities.

FACT
Most workers with disabilities require no special accommodations, and the cost for those who do
is minimal or much lower than many employers believe. Studies by the Job Accommodation
Network have shown that 15% of accommodations cost nothing, 51% cost between $1 and $500,
12% cost between $501 and $1,000, and 22% cost more than $1,000.

MYTH

Employees with disabilities are more likely to have accidents on the job than employees without
disabilities.

FACT

In the 1990 DuPont study, the safety records of both groups were identical.

Source: President's Committee on Employment of People With Disabilities - October, 1994.

Used with permission