Pretending
The act of passing oneself as having an impairment. One may pretend to be an amputee, paraplegic, blind or having any number of other impairments.
The term "Wheelchair Pretender" is often used, but is considered a misnomer. These people are wheelchair users: they do not pretend to use wheelchairs, they do. They may be paraplegic pretenders, but aren't wheelchair pretenders. The distinction is important.
There are two broad types of pretenders: those who do it for the sake of enjoying it, and those who do it because it is the only way to appease the turmoil caused by body integrity identity disorder.
Some therapists are starting to suggest to people who have BIID that pretending is an appropriate outlet and should be considered a form of therapy.
