Sometimes we don’t believe we personally have the power to make the changes. We wait for someone to come along and save us. All along, it is we, you and me, who can save ourselves.Scooter
http://www.missingframesblog.wordpress.com
“I know that I know what I think I know, but it has moved to somewhere else in my brain, and maybe I will find it sooner than later.”
Missing Frames, Memoir of a woman living with hidden disabilities
by Scooter
Brain trauma occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, “Disabilities resulting from a TBI depend upon the severity of the injury, the location of the injury, and the age and general health of the individual. Some common disabilities include problems with cognition (thinking, memory, and reasoning), sensory processing (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell), communication (expression and understanding), and behavior or mental health (depression, anxiety, personality changes, aggression, acting out, and social inappropriateness).
In many societies, there exists what is called one or more “modernizing elites”. People who create significant social change and influence the direction in which it goes.
Those with hidden disabilities including famous people, and their families or caregivers become modernizing elites who create social change that is; accepting, not judging, accommodating, accessible, not blaming or punishing because we have hidden disabilities.
One of my worst disabilities is what my licensed clinical psychologist calls the “lack of a continuous self.” According to a paper published by Susan Bluck & Hsiao-Wen Liao at the University of Florida, “Beginning at least in adolescence, humans are unique from other animals in the combination of having a conscious, reflective self and being aware of their movement through chronological time. Together, these create the need to maintain a sense of self continuity across the lifespan.”
People with the hidden disability of memory loss or amnesia or other mind altering disabilities lose time and have difficulty with self continuity.
“I forgot easily, particularly when it pertained to days and time. It is truly different when you have to manage “hidden disabilities” that the medical community does not seem to understand either.”
Missing Frames, Memoir of a woman living with hidden disabilities
by Scooter
Disability Resources, Inc. has received numerous awards for its service. “They are a small group of volunteers (with and without disabilities) who work professionally in library, communications, and disability-related fields. We were founded by Julie Klauber, a nationally recognized expert in disability information resources, and Avery Klauber, a communications specialist for nonprofit organizations. We are most ably assisted by Sally Rosenthal,Ruth Porfert, and Barbara Olsen, among others. (If you’d like to become part of our efforts, please click here to find out how you can help.)”
Emergency Preparedness is an important topic for individuals dealing with disabilities, particularly those with hidden disabilities. Emergencies and disasters can strike quickly and without warning.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has provided emergency preparedness information specifically for those with disabilities.
“The National Organization on Disability (NOD) is a private, non-profit organization that promotes the full participation and contributions of America’s 56 million people with disabilities in all aspects of life. NOD focuses on increasing employment opportunities for the 80-percent of working-age Americans with disabilities who are not employed.”
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” -Christopher Reeves
Missing Frames 