Can a person self-diagnose a disability, that is to say, decide for themselves that they have a disability?
Generally, a disability should be medically cognizable. Medical diagnosis is one excellent way of determining this. Some disabilities, such as blindness, deafness, and paraplegia, are self-evident. Mental, emotional, and psychological disabilities should always be medically diagnosed by a certified and credentialed mental health practitioner. In some situations, such as depression, the medical profession has encouraged general practitioner medical doctors to diagnose and treat the condition. In almost no circumstances would a herbologist, naturopath, or acupuncturist be able to make an acceptable diagnosis of a mental, emotional, or psychological condition that would qualify as a disability under the law.
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