Experience of Disability - Article Example

Introduction Disability has become a very common occurrence in the twenty first century. It may be caused by various factors. Some of them may include accidents at work or even road accidents. This paper is dealing with an experience of disability. It further identifies international, national, and state organizations that deal with the disability. This paper also shows the body functions and structures that have been affected by the disability. There are also participation restrictions and activity limitations that were experienced due to the disability. (David, 2004) Personal profile I am fifty two years old and live in a remote town called Susanville. I was diagnosed with spinal injury, that is, paraplegia. This occurred after I had a road accident that affected by back. This has also made me quite unable to lead my normal life since I cannot do most of the daily activities by myself. Organizations There are various international, national, state and local organizations that deal with spinal injury related disabilities. One of the international organizations that deal with disabled people is called Disabled People’s International. This organization deals with people who are disabled that are found all over the world. It is concerned with various aspects like helping disabled people get employment. This organization also helps disabled people get equipment that can help them carry on with their daily activities. There is also the National Spinal Cord Injury Association. This organization is found in United Sates and only deals with people who have spinal cord injuries that are found in United States. This organization gives education to people with spinal cord injuries. This is also concerned with how the patients can avoid further injuries. This organization also gives moral support to people with spinal cord injury. At the state level, there is the Backup Trust organization. This organization mainly deals with people who have spinal injuries in the state. It helps in identifying people who have spinal cord injuries. These organizations enables people with such injuries meet and discuss their daily challenges and how they can overcome them. There is also a local based organization that deals with people with spinal cord injuries. It is known as Spinal Research Association. This organization helps in mobilizing the community to help people that have spinal cord injuries. This organization helps in identifying the disable people and recommends them to international organizations that deal with the same issue. (Frank, 2006) Effects of paraplegia Paraplegia has got various effects on a person’s body. This condition has also affected me as an individual in various ways. One aspect is that I can no longer walk. This is due to the fact that my feet were affected by the spinal cord injury. In fact they do not have mobility at all. Another effect has been the fact they lost feeling. This means that I cannot feel any high or any low or even normal temperature. They also do not feel any pain. This means that putting my feet near a hot object, I would just get burnt since there is no sense of touch and pain. Possible benefits from organizations The above named organizations would help me in various ways. One of the ways through which the organizations would help me is in relation to homecare. For instance the Disabled People’s International would help me get essential information concerning spinal injury. This is through books, magazines and journals. This international organization normally distributes these resources to people who have spinal injuries including paraplegia. This would enable me learn so much concerning the ailment and what I can do in order to quicken recovery. (Gary, 2005) The National Spinal Cord Injury Association would also help me through different ways. One of the ways through which is I would benefit through this organization would be the interaction with other patients suffering from spinal cord injury. This is due to the fact that this organization offers open forums for people with spinal cord injury. I would also benefit by getting aiding facilities like wheelchair which would enable me to move around with ease. Backup trust organization would help me by providing homecare. This organization is concerned about people that have spinal cord injuries. It has programs where volunteers go to the patient’s homes and help them with their daily chores. This includes running errands like paying bills and even other household chores. This would be very beneficial to me since running errands is very difficult with the paraplegia condition. This organization also has links with health professionals who offer physiotherapy services to patients who have spinal cord injuries. Furthermore I would benefit from this organization by getting free exercises that are offered to people with spinal cord injury. It is normally very difficult for an individual to carry out exercises on their own. With such help I would have faster recovery than what I am currently undergoing. Spinal cord research association would also enable me to know other organizations that help people with spinal cord injuries. I would benefit from the organization through open forums that they have for patients with spinal cord injuries. This would enable me to be more informed on the issues that pertain to the ailment. (Longest, 2002) A day’s experience with paraplegic condition Living with the paraplegic condition can really be a hard experience. This is especially the case when one only has the bare facilities. As for my case, I only have a walking stick to aid me to walk. Below is one of my days’ experiences with paraplegia. 7 a.m getting out of bed- 3 No railing to use 7. 15 a.m going to the toilet - 4 Unable to stand and need personal assistance 7: 20 a.m taking shower- 4 can’t stand for long, can’t bend and need assistance from someone to have a bath. 7: 37 a.m taking breakfast- 1 very minimal difficulty 7: 40 a.m clean the house- 4 Unable to move around and need assistance 8:15 a.m Dressing- 2Have some difficulty when dressing 8:50 a.m going to the bank- 4 need someone to drive me 9: 30 a.m feed the poultry- 3 Have difficulty controlling them 9: 59 a.m weed the vegetables- 4 I have complete difficulty and can’t manage to weed them 10: 36 a.m Wash clothes- 3 Bending is a bit difficult 10:56 a.m Reading- 1 Very minimal difficulty 11:45 a.m preparing for lunch- 4 So much difficulty and assistance is required 12: 30 p.m taking lunch- 1 minimal difficulty 1: 15 p.m having some rest- 2 have some difficulty getting on the bed and turning myself 2:00 p.m getting out of bed- 3 No railing to use 2: 15 p.m going for afternoon classes- 4 Difficulty in walking and need assistance. Can’t also sit for long on classroom seats 5:00 p.m pick my grandchild from school- 4 complete difficulty and assistance is required 5:45 p.m watching favorite program- 0 No difficulty 6: 30 p.m preparing for supper- 4 So much difficulty in this and assistance is required 7:30 p.m helping grandchild with homework- 3 some difficulty experienced 8:30 p.m Taking supper- 1 minimal difficulty 9.00 p.m Wash dishes- 4 Difficulty in walking and need assistance 9:45 p.m getting to bed- 2 have some difficulty getting on the bed Barriers or facilitators encountered The barriers that I mostly encountered were in line with movement. This is movement both within the house and outside. I also had barriers with lack of proper equipment that would help me move and bend. This made it very difficult to carry out daily activities within and also outside the house. Solutions to overcome barriers Since only the walking stick was available, having other equipment would make it easy for movement on own. This includes wheelchair and railing on the bed, electronic bed among others. (David, 2004) International Classification of Functioning According to family and friends, disability is defined as a state where one cannot carry on with daily activities due to some ailment or a biological condition. On the other hand, the ICF asserts that every person has the potential of experiencing health issues that can make him or her have some disabilities. This means that disability does not just occur to a minimal number of people. This definition contradicts that from friends and relatives. The ICF does not just concentrate on the cause of the disability but rather the impact. According to ICF, there are also environmental factors that affect disability in an individual. According to ICF disability is actually a condition where an individual’s health conditions interrelate with personal and environmental factors. According to international classification of functions, all these measurements are not static but they are more of dynamic in nature. This means that these measurements can be used in all people unlike what is believed by many people. In this case the emphasis is not just placed on the disease but the functioning. International Classification of Functioning’s definition of disability can be used among different cultures, populations and also among all the genders. The definition from family and friends does not put into consideration the environmental factors. It also cannot be adequately used in different populations and cultures. (Frank, 2006) Effects on body functions and structures The spinal injury (paraplegia) has had various effects on body functions and structures. One of the effects on body is that the legs cannot move. They are numb and have also no sense of pain, touch. That means that standing and walking is problematic. Sitting for a long time is also painful to the back. Activity limitations and participation restrictions The following activity limitations and participation restrictions were experienced during the day. There were some restrictions when getting out of the bed. Walking to the toilet was also problematic. Taking a shower without assistance was not easy. There was much difficulty in cleaning the house. Difficulty was also experienced in washing clothes, feeding the poultry, weeding vegetables, preparing food and going to the bank. There were also limitations when picking grandchild from school, going to class and washing utensils. Most of these activities required assistance from second party while some could be handled with some difficulty. Changes that had to be made There were changes that I had to make in order to accomplish all the tasks. I never used to have a house help but I had to get one. She had to help me with most of the household chores. I also had to adjust my daily chores so that they were more minimal. Initially I would board a vehicle from bus terminus to school and even to the bank. I had to change and have a taxi take me to and from these destinations. Environmental changes that would make my life easier include program from school where I can have online learning. Maybe the college opens a branch closer to Susanville. Public vehicles can also have facilities that make it easy for people with disabilities to board. The vehicles should also be in a position of dropping disabled people at their doorstep. (Baer, 2003) Conclusion Disability mostly occurs when it is least expected. I am fifty two years old, suffering from spinal injury and staying in Susanville. There are various organizations at international, national and state level that deal with such disability. This health issue has made me have restrictions when carrying out normal daily activities. ICF defines disability as condition where one’s health interacts with environmental and personal factors. Read More