I liked the fact that she was a well-realized character long before that issue came up, so (to me at least) it was just another part of her personality.

It's like a while back, when I worked up the nerve to ask Lois McMaster Bujold how she "did disability so right" with Miles Vorkosigan.
And she wrote back and said "I've never thought of Miles as "disabled." Miles is just...Miles."

And I said "YES!" ;)

Lois is a classy lady.