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I have a different take. This article is talking about the rise of those on disability benefits. Parents are incentivised to portray their children as disable

I have a different take. This article is talking about the rise of those on disability benefits. Parents are incentivised to portray their children as disabled for benefits, and schools are incentivised to do the same for extra funding and lower standards being applied to them. I think most people apply for benefits likely believe they're genuinely sick and disabled, since being on benefits is not a pleasant life by design. Oh yeah, and with rising obesity and paternal/maternal age generally getting later and later I would be unsurprised if there was an increasing rate of actual disability. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factitious_disorder_imposed_on_another https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factitious_disorder_imposed_on...

LorenPechtel 3y ago
But the parents/schools get the benefit from things which simply impair, especially things without a definitive test for their existence. A bunch of brain function issues come to mind. I'm sure such things are overdiagnosed, both amongst the poor (for the benefits) and the rich (for the aid in getting into elite colleges.) However, such overdiagnosis will not keep them out of the labor pool.
- faeriechangling 3y ago
  A person and the people around them being told over and over about how they struggle more than most people and being held to lower standards creates a self-fulfilling prophecy, especially if this occurs in childhood during the key developmental period. The stigma can also have real consequences on employment even if the diagnosis is fictitious.
  - illwrks 3y ago
    I 100% agree. I know someone that works in a school with children that have special education needs. I was talking with them several months ago and they said majority have genuine issues but they suspect some children have just been ruined by their parents. Their opinion was the children are very capable and as able as any normal child but have self-labelled as having 'special needs' because their parents have told them that from a young age. It didn't make sense to me until I then was told that by doing so the parents could claim various benefits, be a stay at home 'carer' etc. Such wasted potential.

LorenPechtel 3y ago

But the parents/schools get the benefit from things which simply impair, especially things without a definitive test for their existence. A bunch of brain function issues come to mind. I'm sure such things are overdiagnosed, both amongst the poor (for the benefits) and the rich (for the aid in getting into elite colleges.) However, such overdiagnosis will not keep them out of the labor pool.

faeriechangling 3y ago
A person and the people around them being told over and over about how they struggle more than most people and being held to lower standards creates a self-fulfilling prophecy, especially if this occurs in childhood during the key developmental period. The stigma can also have real consequences on employment even if the diagnosis is fictitious.
- illwrks 3y ago
  I 100% agree. I know someone that works in a school with children that have special education needs. I was talking with them several months ago and they said majority have genuine issues but they suspect some children have just been ruined by their parents. Their opinion was the children are very capable and as able as any normal child but have self-labelled as having 'special needs' because their parents have told them that from a young age. It didn't make sense to me until I then was told that by doing so the parents could claim various benefits, be a stay at home 'carer' etc. Such wasted potential.