Adapting To Disability
Discussion on Adapting to our disability.
Adapting to a disability can be a profound and multifaceted process that involves physical, emotional, social, and psychological adjustments. This journey is unique to each individual, shaped by the nature and extent of the disability, personal resilience, available support systems, and societal attitudes. Some of these points might relate to you, but all can be helpful. Here are some key points to consider:
Physical Adaptations
1. Assistive Technologies:
Mobility Aids: Wheelchairs, prosthetics, and walking aids can enhance independence.
Hearing and Vision Aids: Hearing aids, cochlear implants, glasses, and braille readers improve sensory functions.
Communication Devices: Speech-generating devices and adaptive keyboards help those with speech or motor impairments.
2. Home and Workplace Modifications:
Accessibility Improvements: Ramps, wider doorways, and modified bathrooms accommodate mobility aids.
Adaptive Tools: Specialized kitchen utensils, adjustable desks, and ergonomic furniture facilitate daily tasks and work.
Emotional and Psychological Adaptations
1. Acceptance and Mental Health:
Grieving and Acceptance: It’s normal to grieve the loss of certain abilities. Counselling and support groups can aid in processing these emotions. Think about making a post here in the 7 Cups Disability Support Community and find emotional support from others.
Positive Mindset: Focusing on strengths and capabilities rather than limitations can foster a positive outlook.
2. Building Resilience:
Self-Efficacy: Believing in one’s ability to manage and overcome challenges is crucial.
Stress Management: Techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, and physical activity can alleviate stress.
Overcome ‘brain fog’: take steps to help yourself concentrate and remember, but also be kind to yourself and make sure that you get enough sleep and good quality rest.
Mindfulness and Stress Management: Practices such as meditation, journaling, or breathing exercises can help reduce stress and improve emotional well-being.
Professional Counselling: Therapists or counsellors specializing in disability or chronic illness can provide coping strategies and support.
Social and Interpersonal Adaptations
1. Education and Advocacy:
Awareness Campaigns: Educating the public about disabilities can reduce stigma and promote inclusion.
Self-Advocacy: Learning to advocate for one’s needs ensures that appropriate accommodations are made.
2. Support Systems:
Family and Friends: A strong network provides emotional support and practical assistance.
Support Groups: Connecting with others who have similar experiences can offer understanding and shared coping strategies. Visit the Disability Support chat room here at 7 Cups and share your voice with other like minded individuals.
Practical and Financial Adaptations
1. Financial Planning:
Disability Benefits: Accessing government or organizational support can ease financial burdens. These vary from country to country so be sure to investigate and ask.
Employment Support: Programs that assist with job training, placement, and accommodations help maintain economic independence.
2. Skill Development:
Rehabilitation Programs: Physical and occupational therapy can help regain or improve abilities.
Education and Training: Learning new skills or adapting current ones can open new opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Societal and Structural Adaptations
1. Policy and Legislation:
Accessibility Laws: Ensuring public spaces and workplaces comply with accessibility standards is crucial.
Anti-Discrimination Laws: Protecting individuals from discrimination in employment, education, and public services promotes equality.
2. Community Integration:
Inclusive Design: Urban planning that considers the needs of people with disabilities enhances mobility and participation.
Cultural Inclusion: Promoting diverse representation in media and culture helps normalize disability and fosters a more inclusive society.
Adapting to a disability is a comprehensive process that encompasses various dimensions of life. It requires a blend of personal determination, social support, and systemic changes. By focusing on strengths, leveraging available resources, and fostering inclusive environments, individuals with disabilities can lead fulfilling and empowered lives.
How have you had to adapt to your condition or disability?
What would make it easier to adapt for you?
Do you have any tips to share to our community that may help others to adapt more easily.
If you have a condition or 'Awareness Campaign' that you feel we should recognise please message either myself @MistyMagic (teens and adults) or @AffyAvo (adults)
@MistyMagic
How have you had to adapt to your condition or disability?
we have many physical disabilities, learning disabilities and mental disabilities. at 32yr we bacame fully disabled. this has affected every part of our life. but we still able to be independent and that the big thing to us. but the grieving the lose of ability to work was very hard on us. due to we worked from a very very young age on farm and doing other work. so that been hard for us. we had to adapt our beliefs about what make us worth anything too.
What would make it easier to adapt for you?
people not assuming things by looking at us. we had people make very rude and hurtful comments. when we used the monetized carts at store. also people to listen and ask questions when they not fully understand what we saying. also people to not assume we low IQ just by our spelling and grammar. we had that happen both online and offline. that hurtful to us a lot.
Do you have any tips to share to our community that may help others to adapt more easily.
accepted ones disability and learn as much as you can about what your dealing with. also learn were you can get help and ask questions. do not believe your disability defines you. do not allow others to see you as your disability. as your a person with a disability but that disability is not who you are.
@stormieandpaws your answer to the second question, that's all true for me too, unfortunately🙁 gives you a giant tiny hug 💗💗💗
@Tinywhisper11
thank you sorry it true for you too hugs
@stormieandpaws these are great answers, thanks for sharing with us.
It is all too often that people judge what they see, not what they know. But we need to be strong!
@MistyMagic well I'm doing well, I've evolved past the need of legs😁 pain levels are something you just can't get used to, but mentally getting used to everything is the most difficult🙁 keeping a positive, grateful attitude has helped me sooooo much😁 wheelchairs and this big brace thing that allows me to sit up straight, they are definitely God sends💗 also I have this cool uppy downy bed, it's fun😁 and having people you can trust to help you and talk to is a must💗
@Tinywhisper11
agree with you things we have today are God sent. need to see them as positive and helpful. yes it hard mentally to accepted the disabilities and all that go along with them. we can still walk but in great pain 24/7. sounds like you that way too. yes having others to talk to that can relate helps a lot. hugs
@Tinywhisper11 I want an 'uppy downy' bed! They are great and very comfortable as long as memory foam mattress is included lol!
@MistyMagic yesss you should get one 💗💗😁
Yeah, it's been s huge lifestyle change.
My tips are to be patient with yourself. Allow yourself to feel your feelings and it's ok to not force the positivity focused stereotypical things people suggest. Just avoid getting trapped in a downward spiral, engage in something self-soothing to help. For me that's not forcing gratitude, a saccharine mindfulness exercise or piling on a fake get out and live the day to it's fullest attitude. No judgment though if those work for you.
Connect with people going through something similar, broadly they tend to have ideas for things that may be useful. Within the groups also try to find the personality matches - the dark humour, the cheerleader, the person who will have a cry with you. The way we express ourselves and our coping methods can be different and it doesn't always work well within the bigger group. Matches don't need to be the same, it's finding those you click with.
@AffyAvo I love these tips! Thanks for sharing with us!
I think we have all had enough sometimes of the sticky sweetness or saccharine stevia style of things that is just not good for us and makes us turn inwards and realise that yet again sadly they don't understand what we are living with.
@MistyMagic
How have you had to adapt to your condition or disability?
@OhLookItsChris I cannot begin to understand how you must be feeling but 4 years is a lifetime lived each day by day but also a very fleeting time. I think you sound very brave to share with us here and I hope that we can all bring each other hope and kindness.
Do you have any other tips that may help us?
@MistyMagic. It was hard for me to adapt to not being able to do many things that I could do physically in the past. Coming here has helped me to find acceptance after hearing other people’s stories and ways of coping. I do keep gratitude journal to help me remember the good things that I have and balance out the negatives that come to mind from illness and disability.
@adventurousBranch3786 That sounds great. A journal can be a real help, a secret place to write down thoughts and notes or even a single word to help us.
I also find that looking back and reading over past times can show my journey, the good and the bad and it is amazing sometimes the things that I have forgotten and learned to live with.
@MistyMagic
How have you had to adapt to your condition or disability?
One of the biggest things I've done for myself is start using mobility aids (cane, forearm crutch, etc.) to maintain stability, pace myself, and have less limitations.
What would make it easier to adapt for you?
More understanding, acceptance, and representation of disabilities. Most people have probably seen a movie, show, or even commercial with someone with physical disabilities and maybe even learning disabilities, but even with those the representation isn't the most accurate and you almost never see representation of invisible disabilities.
Do you have any tips to share to our community that may help others to adapt more easily.
One of the biggest tips I would give to anyone is to have fun and be confident in who you are, it can sometimes be scary to adapt in ways that may cause the outside world to see you as having a disability but its worth it to help you. Make any aids a representation of you.
@SmollPeridotsBreakdown Thanks
I have noticed that contemporary tv and films now show more disabled people, wheelchairs seem to be quite often pictured, not so much crutches though. I wonder why?
I like you tip about trying to decorate or colorize our adaptations, tools, wheelchairs and walkers as well as sticks or crutches.