Disibilities and Naturisum

[cheshirenudist]

I have been within the Medical/Caring career now since 1988 working with learning difficulties and physically disabilities both in adults and children. Presently I am studying for a diploma in Understanding Health & Social Care with the Open University.

Recently new to naturism but still unable to get to a club/or swim due to lack of adequate transport, (rubbish public transport service and clubs to far away from bus routes) but reading the topics on the forums and articles on naturism I hope am correct in saying that that the philosophy of being naturist is not to be ashamed of our bodies and to feel comfortable being nude.

I Wandering what?s the general opinions of the naturist community in relation the disabled, I fully understand that in some resorts have not got the facilities to accommodate for disabled people, but not every disabled person is confined to a wheelchair or are unsteady on the feet? These include Autisms, Learning Difficulties (I hate the word Handicapped Although I a member a club Called The Physically Handicapped And Able Body HALTON, part of the PHAB LTD UK) http://www.phabengland.org.uk/

Depending on the response of this topic is, am thinking of creating a group either on yahoo groups or on Lycos groups to invite people who have disabilities and are naturist/nudist or have disable naturist friends as well as able bodied naturist to pass on there experiences on resources/clubs with access for disabilities.

I look forward to here your idea?s and opinions on this topic

Best Regards
Bryan
Loneynudist


E-mail: [email protected] website: http://www.bryanshome.co.uk

[cheshirenudist]

I have been within the Medical/Caring career now since 1988 working with learning difficulties and physically disabilities both in adults and children. Presently I am studying for a diploma in Understanding Health & Social Care with the Open University.

Recently new to naturism but still unable to get to a club/or swim due to lack of adequate transport, (rubbish public transport service and clubs to far away from bus routes) but reading the topics on the forums and articles on naturism I hope am correct in saying that that the philosophy of being naturist is not to be ashamed of our bodies and to feel comfortable being nude.

I Wandering what?s the general opinions of the naturist community in relation the disabled, I fully understand that in some resorts have not got the facilities to accommodate for disabled people, but not every disabled person is confined to a wheelchair or are unsteady on the feet? These include Autisms, Learning Difficulties (I hate the word Handicapped Although I a member a club Called The Physically Handicapped And Able Body HALTON, part of the PHAB LTD UK) http://www.phabengland.org.uk/

Depending on the response of this topic is, am thinking of creating a group either on yahoo groups or on Lycos groups to invite people who have disabilities and are naturist/nudist or have disable naturist friends as well as able bodied naturist to pass on there experiences on resources/clubs with access for disabilities.

I look forward to here your idea?s and opinions on this topic

Best Regards
Bryan
Loneynudist


E-mail: [email protected] website: http://www.bryanshome.co.uk

[NudistPa]

I am glad to see this topic being introduced. My disability is deafness. I don't have major problems when I am at resorts, however I have been to two where there is a gate at the front and one needed to push an intercom to speak in for entrance. In my case, I just pushed the button and tried to speak "I'm deaf." They let me in.

I cannot speak for all resorts, but a lot of them are structurally older and I can see how people with disabilities will have a challenge getting around the facilities. However, at the same token, I've learned that resorts welcomes people of disabilities, smile.

I go to a nude swim event monthly at a health club in Rochester, NY and the gym has elevators for those who needed it. That was nice!

Terry

AIM: tbpittman
Yahoo: phillydude32

[Guest]

Some resorts would be very difficult, if not impossible, for deaf people to get into since the office is far from the entrance where you have to speak into a two-way intercom. I was a member of one such place. At Turtle lake Resort, where I now go, you go directly into the office. All nudist places should be set up that way for the hearing-impaired who can't speak into an intercom.

[Trailscout]

Yea, the two-way speaker at the gate could be a bit daunting. You go there hoping that someone will hear you when you mash the button and talk into it. At Serendipity, the office is near the pool and that makes it easier from a safety standpoint, but that consequently makes the office far from the gate. There should be some alternative way that the hearing impaired can request that the staff open the gate.

I have seen a few disabled people at resorts.
I met a guy with mild muscular dystrophy, but he could walk slowly. There is a blind lady on staff at Serendipity, but she knows the grounds pretty well now and doesn't need much help.

We had one medical emergency. Some guy fainted and fortunately someone knew a little first aid while we waited on the ambulance. With all the elderly people in some resorts, it is just smart to train the staff on what to do until the ambulance arrives. It would also be good to have someone trained in water rescue.

Resort patrons in wheelchairs... Does ADA mandate that nudist resorts provide access to all areas? I don't think it does, but it should be done because its the right thing to do.

[Guest]

I didn't see a blind lady staff member when I was at Serendipity in April, or was she hired since then, or just not working that weekend? Or else she was very good at hiding the fact that she was blind.

[Trailscout]

Jon-Marc,

She's been there, but you must have missed her. I did not see her on one of the recent weekends I was there. She told me that she did not see you either! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

Besides, she gets around so well, that you might not realize that she is blind until she is only a few feet away.

[Guest]

I never cease to be amazed at what a person can do without sight. Helen Keller was born blind and deaf, but a caring, understanding woman somehow managed to teach her.

[fred950]

I have a 'laundry list' of 'disablities'( cerebral palsey, a childhood/young adult history of epilepsy, hearing impediments, dyslexia and, for all I know, a few others I've been ignoring all my life that I don't even know I have) so I too, know what it's like. Oddly , the C/P impedes my hand dexterity so I have a very difficult time with sign. If my hearing gets much worse I'll really be up a creek!

You are right, the world can be a very lonely place for those of us with with disabilities. The general public tends flip-flop between ignoring us (out of mind-out of sight) or overly condolesence type whom won't let us do anytihing on our own.

Thankfully my impediments tend to be mild. But even that silver lining has a dark cloud... While I've always had problems finding jobs, affordable housing etc., I am not dis-abled enough to qualify for special programs offered by federal, state and local agencies!

Thankfully , I do get around just fine and have no problems making it to nudists ventures or any of my many other interests. Feel free to PM me at any time.

[wheelie53]

I thought this would be the perfect place to post my very first message here, as I am a disabled nudist. I have a spinal cord birth defect, and am paralyzed from the waist down, and use a wheelchair for mobility. I have been to one nudist resort, and it was awesome. Also my first social experience. Everyone was accomodating and very nice. Not a word was mentioned about my disability. Everyone looked at me just like they looked at everyone else. I was worried about it at first but everything was great. I also have large scars and nobody paid them any attention. Overall, it was an incredible experience. I hope my experience helps in some way.

[shãybare]

Thanks for posting, Wheelie53. Nudists really shine when it comes to body acceptance. I don't think anyone could have said it any better than you just have.

[Naked In Florida]

I also kinda know how you who are in a wheel chair feel because I have a dibilitating disease that is slowly taking away my ability to walk. It gets tougher every day and it makes it hard for me to go to the beach or resorts. But I will not let it stop me from going in the future.

Evan

[barelybob]

I have some difficulty walking due to a spinal cord injury and my right hand is paralized. This makes it somewhat difficult to get to some locations, but a little creativity can overcome many obstacles. I have found that other naturists are usually very willing to help when you need it. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[Asmodeus]

In regards to the question of what the ADA states about accomodations at resorts, clubs, and so forth (private entities offering public accomodations), here's the webpage for the ADA that answers that question. It's towards the bottom of the page and there is a lot of information there. I should warn you all, some of this is written in such a way that it could be construed as "legalese", so it might get a little confusing.

-Asmodeus
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/q&aeng02.htm

[cheshirenudist]

I received this email from a unknown naturist on another forum I with Sent to lonely nudist: 27/09/2003

Dear Bryan:
I have been examining your interesting post within the "classicvintagepics" Yahoo group regarding Nudism and disabilities. I have no way of knowing if you received any replies but I have not noticed any generally posted within the group.

As a person who has a doctorate in clinical psychology with over 22 years experience assisting those who are handicapped in diverse ways and as a nudist myself, I feel I am qualified to speak with authority on the important subject you have brought up.

You are correct for the most part when you say that the philosophy of being a nudist is not to be ashamed of the human body and to feel comfortable being nude.

It is more than that. A stripper or porn performer is comfortable being nude in front of other people but theirs is a different issue.

Research has found that persons raised in a nudist environment have profoundly increased levels of body-oriented self-esteem. This self-esteem has contributed to a significantly lower level of common neurotic tendencies and delinquent behaviors among those raised in such an environment since infancy.

Adults, by contrast, who choose to practice social nudism, need to learn this self-esteem.

The lack of this plus other social learning factors contributes to the fear many beginners feel the first time they visit a resort. It also explains the elation many feel the first time they visit a resort for they suddenly discover the falsehoods of social learning that have confined their lives. Remember that the basic definition of nudism is "The theory and practice of life in the nude.
Nudists believe that clothing, when not necessary due to climate or other practical safety factors, should be abandoned because it tends to cause an unhealthy erotic focus on the body".
It is a simplistic definition but nudists come from all walks of life and are not a collection of social or psychological scientists. Beginners usually say they are overwhelmed with delight that people did not reject or insult them upon seeing them nude and they were overjoyed that other people accepted the beginner seeing them nude. This is presented as a profound experience of personal acceptance and personal validation. I certainly hope all goes well for you in your studies.
Good luck.

Reply From: Lonleynudist

Hello Friend,
There?s not a lot of replies I thought I would have got, in all I put the same email on about four Naturist forums and I think I got about a dozen replies out of all my posts in regarding to this topic, yours being the most interesting
I totally understand your how the philosophy of being a naturist in witch self esteem, unfortunely I not experienced that due to the fact problems mentioned in my original email.

I think in some instances that I not got over that problem, but having saying that I did attend an all boys residential school, but for the first couple of weeks I was still ashamed of revealing my naked body but after a time I just didn?t bother and roamed around the dorms naked like the others, that was about 25 years ago and since I left school returned to being the same of showing my body has returned, there no ashamed working with the patients at the hospital and seeing them naked but it's me showing my naked body to others I think it lack of self esteem.

There's was no insult intended to any bodies intelligent in my original email, being unable to experience being in a resort/swim I try to get that experience through magazines and the internet, the point that I wished to bring up is that most the resorts and large organizations on the internet & Magazines I buy, both here in the UK and in the US there was little mention in the disable category and I wrote the email hopping to get lots of positive interaction and views on this topic witch I have, And if I offended anyone in my writings please except my APOLOGISE!.


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