Posts from ‘Weekly Spotlight’
Your Weekly Spotlight
This week’s spotlight is on the United States Adaptive Recreation Center (USARC)…
With all of the recent breakthroughs in stem cell research, next month’s World Stem Cell Summit is bound to be an interesting event.
The gathering will be held on September 22 through 23 in Madison, Wisconsin and is expected to have scientists, ethicists, investors and corporate heads from around the world in attendance…”
This week’s spotlight is on The Prince Synergy, an worldwide organization focused on maximizing human capitol.
In The Prince Synergy’s own words, “Traumatic Brain Injury takes away victims’ freedom and opportunities internally.” With the unique obstacles faced by traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients in mind, this business works to help companies and their employees work with the limitations created by this injury and others…
We found an interesting Website that has some very unique items to assist people who have a disability.
B Independent showcases everything from pill organizers to mind, body, soul CDs. You can find eating utensils with angled, comfort grips, food bumpers, two handed mugs, balance pads, hand exercisers, communications boards and so much more…
Bicycle helmet studies – how seriously can you take them? We are aware that there are contradictory studies that benefit both those for and those against the use of helmets, and each one states that its conclusions are the right ones. Knowing of these biases, how can you determine whether wearing a helmet will benefit you or not?
We mentioned last week the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act (H.R. 1727) and there was a bit of confusion. To clear things up, here is a direct description from the Christopher Reeve Foundation Website, should you wish to assist in passing this bill:
An unusual path to brain damage:
In the news these last few days have been versions of a story about a woman who suffered brain damage from a detox diet she was on. The British woman, Dawn Page, was taking a nutritionist’s advice and ingesting large amounts of water while cutting back on salt intake.
The resulting sodium deficiency caused an epileptic fit that lead to permanent brain damage. Page was given a settlement by the nutritionist’s insurance company, but that didn’t exactly make up for the memory damage, speech difficulties and loss of concentration that Page now lives with…
ClinicalTrials.gov is this week’s spotlight.
This Website is dedicated to providing information on a variety of traumatic brain injury (TBI) trials. If you are interested in participating in cutting edge research regarding various aspects of TBI, this is a good place to start looking for information…
Re-adjusting to the workplace with a disability:
Monster Career Advice has an interesting article by Matt Krumrie on re-entering the workforce after sustaining a disability. Typically we don’t consider what would happen if we lost or ability to walk or to read or even to maintain an even mood. We continue through life focusing on our family, our friends, the boat we want or the life we will live once we retire. But when you sustained a life-altering injury that leaves you disabled, all of these priorities are, at least temporarily, put to the bottom of the list.
Now you have to focus on whether or not you can stay in your current job or on your chosen career path. Things like how to navigate down narrow isles between cubicles or how to concentrate on spreadsheets when your back is radiating pain become real considerations – ones that more likely than not you are unprepared for.
Krumrie’s article discusses how to look for other skills that you can apply if your disability hinders the ones you have been using so far. If you lose the use of your fingers, then perhaps voice dictation or customer support will be an option. It’s about looking at life with new eyes and realizing that your disability doesn’t mean the end of work or living the life you care about. In some cases, the addition of workplace accommodations will take care of any access issues you may have. Don’t be afraid to speak with your employer about your needs and how he or she can best help you to get the job done.
Adjusting to new situations can be difficult, especially with a disability, but have hope and realize that there are a lot of great resources available to help you make that transition. Others have overcome incredible obstacles – you can too!
Communicating How You Want to Be Treated After A Disabling Injury
When you are newly disabled, whether through a spinal injury or traumatic brain injury, there are so many vital things to process and re-learn that figuring out where to start can seem very overwhelming. Today we are looking at tips on how to speak with someone who is disabled or what you can and should request in the behavior of those who speak to you. The following suggestions are thanks to Disapedia.com
- When talking to a person with a disability, look at and speak directly to that person, rather than through a companion who may be along.
- Relax. Don’t be embarrassed if you happen to use accepted common expressions such as “See you later” or “Got to be running along” that seem to relate to the person’s disability.
- To get the attention of a person with a hearing impairment, tap the person on the shoulder or wave your hand. Look directly at the person and speak clearly, naturally and slowly to establish if the person can read lips. No all persons with hearing impairments can lip-read. Those who can will rely on facial expression and other body language to help in understanding. Show consideration by placing yourself facing the light source and keeping your hands, cigarettes and food away from your mouth when speaking. Keep mustaches well trimmed. Shouting won’t help. Written notes may.
- When talking with a person in a wheelchair for more than a few minutes, use a chair, whenever possible, in order to place yourself at the person’s eye level to facilitate conversation.
- When greeting a person with a severe loss of vision, always identify yourself and others who may be with you.
It takes time for the family and friends of someone with a disability to realize that they don’t need to tip-toe around you or to understand that your disability does not make you a wholly different person. It’s your right to request a respectful and equalizing communication process that takes into account any barriers that your disability may present.
