Adjusting for ‘happy’ beyound the holidays

The holiday season is once again upon us. We at Access II Independent Living Center have much to be thankful for during this season of good cheer. For many, however, especially those with disabilities, the holiday season is often a time when people feel isolated and depressed. When I think about what we here at Access II do, I often forget how hard it is for a person who is newly disabled to make the adjustment to “living” with a disability.

I remember a friends experience as a person recovering from a spinal cord injury. Upon being discharged after a ten-month stay in a rehabilitation hospital, they found themselves having to sleep in a hospital bed in their parent’s living room The bedrooms were upstairs. No lift had yet been installed so they could not come and go as they pleased. Their brothers would push them up and down a make shift ramp made of 2 x 12 planks. Their friends, although supportive, were not calling and inviting them to participate in the kinds of things they had been accustomed to as a 20 year-old boy, like shooting hoops, playing softball, or just horsing around. Life as they previously knew it had drastically changed. They felt isolated and very alone. Making the adjustment to this new life seemed inconceivable. What would it mean to really “live” with a disability?

When we say, “living,” of course, I am referring to living a positive, responsible and independent life. Although we all sometimes take this for granted as if we have “made it,” we subconsciously know that adversity is always lurking around the corner. For instance, a secondary illness or other health setback is not uncommon for persons who are living with a disability. After all, as Ed Roberts, the father of the independent living movement once said, “disability is an equal opportunity club, anyone can join at any time.” Some folks, in fact, may feel like they have joined more than once! No matter your situation, however, positive adjustment is possible if you do the right things. Importantly, disabilities can be managed to a mere inconvenience. You can still do many of the same things you always did, you just do them a little differently and maybe a little slower.

Making the adjustment is where Access II Independent Living Center comes in. All of Access II’s programs and services are directed toward identifying resources and information that empower consumers to make choices that lead to independence and improved self-esteem. For some, this may mean getting a home modification that includes the installation of a ramp, widening of a door, or the construction of a wheel-in shower. For others, it may mean obtaining in-home personal assistance services in order to remain in the community and continue living in their own home. Finally, for some it may mean getting assistance finding employment or understanding the myriad of rules and regulations related to social security work incentives.

Whatever the situation, Access II, Independent Living Center’s programs provide a complementary and integrated combination of resources that solve the independent living challenges and goals of consumers throughout green hills region and beyond. We are certain you will agree that programs promoting personal responsibility and choice are what enable people with disabilities to fully realize independent living and achieve positive adjustment to disability.

Happy Holidays from the staff at Access II

Jan Rushton

Administrative Assistant