The treatment of disability and disabled people differs a lot between Japan
and the US. In the US, more lip service is given to accommodation. In Japan,
other forms of support are more readily available. Broadly, with numerous
exceptions.

Transcript

K: So, lately I’ve been thinking about disability in the U.S. versus
disability in Japan meaning being disabled, but I feel like you know more –
vastly more about this topic than I do. Because I – I only started recently
identifying as disabled because I’m not really sure where – now I feel like I’m
more sure for myself. I don’t know the answer for anyone else. Where that line
is between disability and chronic illness. And, for me, I just – because I’m a
therapist – I just go to “how does the DSM” you know, the DSM 5 defines
something as a disability. When does it become a mental illness? And that’s
when it impairs daily function, so I do feel like my Lupus, while it is a
chronic illness, it’s a disability. And my hearing loss is a disability. And I
feel like my porphyria is also a chronic illness that leads to disability.

C: So, I feel like the difference between chronic illness and disability is
one of etiology – of the origin – versus effect. So, if you’re sick all of the
time, then that’s obviously something different than, let’s say, um… having the
potential to be sick but not ever actually getting sick. Having the potential
to be sick, you might still need to take cautions like I do for my asthma, but
it doesn’t affect me except for in what I avoid and what I do – like carrying
around my inhaler, that kind of thing.

K: We’re going to delve more deeply into that in a different episode. Today,
we’re doing more of a comparison.

C: Right.

K: Just – as a signpost for you all that wished we had talked more about
this. We’re actually trying to minimize digressions – a little bit, not too
much, don’t worry. We will digress. I am sure. (laughs)The reason why I think
that is because we’re having a conversation, and you guys are stepping into an
over twenty-year conversation that we’re having. So, I don’t know where this is
going to go. (laughs)

C: Mid-stream.

K: So, when – I feel like you are definitely in the disabled category in the
United States. We knew that you were disabled, and I feel like your AS has
gotten way worse, and I think that’s because you’re getting old. You’re an old
man now.

C: Yeah, it is a progressive and degenerative condition, so progressive
means that it continues to change and degenerative means that the direction of
the changes is down. 

K: So, did you hear me acknowledge that you’re old? 

C: Yes. 

K: Not as old as me. 

C: No, not as old as you.

K: You’re not a man in his fifties.

C: I will never be as old as you.

K: Yeah, you won’t. I’ll always be your elder.

C: Yes, you will.

K: Respect. (laughs)

C: Yes.

K: You do not respect your elders.

C: I’ll probably always have more grey than you, so

K: (laughs) We’re not basing respect on greyness. That’s not fair. I don’t
like that metric.

C: Oh, okay.

K: I like age.

C: You only like the ones that let you win.

K: Exactly, hello.

C: Okay.

K: Because I’m a champion. 

(laughter)

C: Yes. You’re clever.

K: I’m a winner. Hashtag winning. Winning in the oldness competition.

C: So, I think that disability – there’s different… views on it, and one
view is the social model of disability. So, people who are interested in
disability politics will already know about that.

K: So, are you talking about the difference of disability politics in the
U.S. versus disability politics in Japan or just disability politics in
general? I’ve lost the plot.

C: Di