How to Deal with a New Disability

Some people have felt sorry for me because of my disabilities. I have been disabled my whole life, so this is all I know. I feel sorry for people who became disabled later in life because they remember what it was like to not be disabled. The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) has some advice for these individuals:

1. Give yourself time to adjust to your new disability. It's normal to feel angry and resentful at first. With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, now is as good a time as any to seek counseling so you can talk with someone about your feelings and discuss coping strategies.

2. Be aware it may take a while to receive assistance from the government. Be your own advocate by following up with agencies after a reasonable amount of time has passed. Keep good records of your interactions with the agencies.

3. Don't let your disability define you; it's only a part of who you are. Do your best to move on with a positive attitude. For information about how NMEDA can help, go to https://nmeda.com/coping-with-a-new-disability/.

NMEDA logo

(image via nmeda.com)

Spotlight: Jeremy Swartz

Jeremy Swartz, a musician with autism from South Hadley, Massachusetts, was a contestant on Wheel of Fortune last Thursday. After a strong start, he didn't make it to the bonus round, but he told host Pat Sajak being on Wheel was a dream come true. Swartz, age 26, is a singer and tambourine/shaker player for the Berkshire Hills Music Academy performance troupe, a band of young adults with disabilities. As part of a disability awareness program, troupe members talk to audiences about their intellectual handicaps. Swartz can also tap dance and has acted in local plays. To learn more about him, go to http://www.jeremyswartzmusic.com/home.html.

Note: The 21st Annual Family Cafe for people with disabilities and their loved ones will take place June 7-9 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando. To see the complete program for this free event, go to https://www.familycafe.net/images/stories/pdffiles/21st_FamCafe_2019_WEB_compressed.pdf.

Jeremy Swartz

(image via facebook.com)

National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

Today is National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. Fibromyalgia is a medical condition that consists of widespread and intense pain. It may also include sleep problems, fatigue, and memory and mood issues. These symptoms may occur after a physical trauma, surgery, or high psychological stress; sometimes, they happen for no known reason. If the symptoms are severe, fibromyalgia is considered a disability. There is no cure for this disorder, but medications, exercise, relaxation, and stress reduction can help treat symptoms. For more information, go to https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fibromyalgia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354780.

National Fibromyalgia Association logo

(image via fmaware.org)

Spotlight: Geoffrey Mikol

May is also National Photography Month. Geoffrey Mikol, age 25, is a photographer who has Down syndrome. Mikol has been taking pictures for almost ten years. Before graduating from community college, he began exhibiting his work at art shows. Mikol, who competed in Special Olympics, has received awards for his photography. He opened River Bend Gallery with his parents in Galena, Illinois, in 2016. His success led him to move to a bigger location on the same street a year later. For a week in March, a few of Mikol's photographs were featured in the Inclusive Art Gallery at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. For more information about River Bend Gallery, go to https://www.riverbendgalleries.com.

Geoffrey Mikol

(image via riverbendgalleries.com)

Better Speech and Hearing Month

Today is the first day of May, also known as Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM), which is intended to raise awareness of communication disorders and treatment options. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) website, the theme for this month is "Communication Across the Lifespan." BHSM is relevant to me partly because I'm hearing-impaired; I can hear only with my right ear, which has moderate hearing loss. I see an ear, nose, and throat specialist on a regular basis (as a matter of fact, I have an appointment with him tomorrow afternoon). While I was in elementary school, I took speech therapy, which improved my ability to communicate verbally. For more information about BHSM, go to https://www.asha.org/bhsm/.

BHSM logo

(image via asha.org)