MORE than a quarter of Scots feel disabled people exaggerate the extent of their physical limitations, with around the same proportion believing they should accept they cannot have the same life opportunities.
A survey by the Multiple Sclerosis Society in Scotland has shown "alarming stigmas and attitudes" to disabled people and a lack of understanding about disability, according to the charity.
A separate poll of people with MS in Scotland found 40% feel the public don't consider them equal as a result of their condition, while almost one in three (31%) believe they have been ignored because of their illness.
Almost half of sufferers said their symptoms have been mistaken for drunkenness, while three-quarters have experienced someone questioning the fact they have MS because they "looked well".
Scotland suffers the highest rate of MS in the world, with 10,500 people diagnosed.
Patricia Gordon, director of the MS Society in Scotland, said: "Because it's poorly understood, living with MS can turn a simple shopping trip or social event into an ordeal – where strange looks and hurtful remarks can all be part of daily life.
"Yet people with MS have the same aspirations as anyone else. Most want loving relationships, an active social life and a successful career – and they can have this, given the right support and understanding - MS presents many challenges, but society can place further unnecessary barriers in the way of people with MS, making it harder than it needs to be to live a full life."
The charity said "shocking" survey results stemmed from a lack of public understanding of the disability, with more than three-quarters (78%) of Scots admitting they don't feel they know enough about MS.
The findings are published in a new report called Fighting Back, launched today to mark MS Week and draw attention to the emotional and social effects of the condition.
A fund-raising target of £500,000 has been set to secure better treatments and support for sufferers.
Multiple sclerosis affects the central nervous system and is usually diagnosed in people in their 20s and 30s. Symptoms can include problems with mobility and balance, eyesight, memory and thinking, and bladder control, and extreme fatigue. Around twice as many women as men have MS.
The MS Society in Scotland said sufferers find it particularly hard to talk about the condition, – 34% of those diagnosed avoid telling people of their illness.
Its survey found 42% of those asked were worried about telling their boss about their diagnosis given the current economic climate. This comes as 37% of sufferers report that having MS does not impact on their work.
In addition, 39% have found the condition has strengthened the bond with their immediate family, and almost half (48%) say it has led them to take up new hobbies and interests.
Cat Johnson, 25, a student from Edinburgh who has MS, said: "Like most people my age, I want a social life. I want to get dressed up and go out for drinks with my friends, and my MS hasn't stopped me from doing that, but I know what my limits are.
"I can't wear heels or dance all night, and getting drunk with MS isn't helpful, but my friends don't mind and have been really supportive. MS might restrict me, but I won't let it define me; life is too short."
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