Beat Disability-By Embracing It

Wholeness - How would it feel to fully and completely accept yourself for who you are right in this very moment?

Article Written By Liz

We are all works in progress, learning as we go, to fully love ourselves, and others. To fully love others, we owe it to ourselves to not only love our positive sides, and all the wonderful qualities that we have. We owe it to ourselves to love the fact that we are fully human, and not perfect. We need to look at and appreciate our darker sides.

There are strengths in our not so pleasant character traits, when we look at things from a balanced perspective. I, for one, have never liked the fact that I am so emotional and open. It’s great when I have fun things going on and I can share and rejoice with friends, and laugh. But when things aren’t as positive, and I am sad or angry, I often wish I didn’t wear my heart on my sleeve.

Looking at this from a balanced perspective, I know that my openness has some times given others the permission they need to get over the fear, and just express where they are at. I have many people — often strangers — sharing their troubles with me. Perhaps they sense my honesty and willingness to just listen and not try to fix them. In any case, I can see my emotional side serving a purpose for other people. The reasons and the whys have become unimportant.

Knowing that our character flaws, or what we see as flaws, can serve a purpose, will help us love ourselves more. We are all perfectly created and wonderfully made. This includes the light and the dark within us. There are no mistakes. We are perfect and whole. Just as we are. Right now.

Life is a journey of self-discovery and striving to be more of who we already are. Appreciating the good and bad makes the journey easier. We don’t have to separate ourselves into good and bad. We can let go of perfectionism, and release shame over our faults. We can simply be who we are. All of who we are.

How can loving all of who you are help you let go of limits, and be more fully able to love others?

To learn more about Liz visit her website at www.accessiblebeyondlimits.com

Filed under Attitude Personal Stories Wheel Chair accessibility

0 Comments

2/12/10

Helping the war afflicted- Refugee Camps in Jalalah , Mardan - Pakistan

Article By Dr Usman Raza . MD. MS ( Harvard )

Peshawar Medical College- Pakistan

The war against terrorism reached its peak last year when the military began its operations in the Swat region of Pakistan. Every day brought news of death and suffering. Besides those who were killed or injured, there were those four million who had left their homes in search of a shelter. Some settled in refugee camps set up by governmental and non-governmental organizations. A few rented houses in other cities. But initially, many had to spend their life in open grounds until help arrived.

In July 2009, I happened to visit one of the refugee camps in Jalalah, Mardan, as part of team of faculty and students of Peshawar Medical College, who were conducting a survey of the psychosocial services for IDPs. The survey was completed successfully, but we had a heart wrenching experience. The camp’s physical structure was commendable, which I believe was the result of the countries experience with a major earth quake in the recent past. However, the services were nowhere near enough. Several NGOs were running small health centers in the camp, with a basic set of services and very limited supply of drugs. A number of refugees, when learned that I am a physician, came running after me, pulling my arm begging me to help their loved ones. I saw a very old lady who had suffered a stroke ten days ago and was lying in scorching with no medicine. I heard the story of a young woman who gave birth to a baby with no medical assistance, and the baby died of infection. Psychiatric services were non-existent, as were any special facilities for the disabled. During our survey, we identified many children who were still not able to sleep because of what they had seen. The stories went on and I started getting uncomfortable. Luckily then, I got the chance to work on a collaborative project of International Development & Relief Foundation (IRDF) and Pesahwar Medical College. The project involved establishment of a Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health Center for these displaced persons. The project began in August 2009. Equipment was purchased and staff was hired. A reporting system was put in place and services started by end of August. These included services for expecting ladies and their newborn children, as well as children in general. A general medical outpatient clinic was also functional. Laboratory and pharmacy services were added alongside and by end of September home visits of Lady Health Workers had also started.

The greatest contribution of this project, I believe, is the provision of maternity services to the IDPs when there were none available inside or outside the camp. The free laboratory services provided by the center are also the only facility for the IDP population in the area. Since the arrival of IDPs in the region, drug prices in the market had risen due to high demand, and in this time, provision of free drugs to the needy by our MNCH center was of extreme importance.

Near the end of 2009, the IDP population had started decreasing and our project team decided to open up the services for local population with minimal user fees. From a sustainability point of view, the continuation of this center as a permanent facility is ideal. Since the locality of Jalalah until this time, lacked a well equipped maternal and child health service, the establishment of this center has been a significant contribution in improving the health care of this community. The general medical clinic is also now open to the natives of Jalalah and surrounding region and benefiting the host community as well.

It has been a satisfying experience helping those in great need. The war is not over though, and I hope to see a peaceful Pakistan someday.

PHOTOS:

1: A child in Jalalah IDP camp, trying to cool himself by bathing under a hand pump on a hot summer day.
2: Children of displaced families in a play area inside the IDP camp, trying to entertain themselves.

3: A doctor attending to a young boy in the MNCH Center of Jalalah.

4: A happy mother, after delivering her baby in the MNCH Center under supervision of qualified staff.
5: Polio vaccination drops being given to a baby at the MNCH Center.

6: Medical assistants registering patients in the waiting area next to the medical clinic.
7: IDPs being given vocational training at a center inside the Jalalah camp.

(download)

Filed under Pakistan Personal Stories Refugee Camp

0 Comments

2/6/10

I am Accessible - Beyond Limits: "As a woman with a disability, I have experienced challenges with physical accessibility. Over the years I have found that the challenge really lies within attitudes — mine, and those of other people. "

Article By Liz Van Reenen

I am Accessible - Beyond Limits. What does that truly mean? Is it about wheelchairs and moving office furniture? Most people when they think of "accessibility" think of it in terms of the physical realm. Is the building accessible? Are there elevators? Is the convention going to be accessible for the deaf? Will they have interpreters? Is the bus accessible and equipped with a ramp?

As a woman with a disability, I have experienced challenges with physical accessibility. Over the years I have found that the challenge really lies within attitudes — mine, and those of other people.

Accessibility is an attitude. It is a return to that childlike spirit within all of us that knows no fear. It is about embracing wholeness and letting this shine through beyond physical limitations. It is about honoring ourselves and others as equal members of society, regardless of outer appearance or ability.

I challenge you to think of accessibility in a new way, that will enhance your life and how you live it every day.

Ask yourself: am I accessible to the great opportunities that life has to offer me today? Am I open to the endless possibilities that I have in my life? Or do I trot through life like a horse with blinders on, never veering from the path. Never chasing the carrot.

Am I living from an accessible place within? Or do I have walls that prevent life from freely flowing through me and manifesting my highest and most perfect good? And not only MY highest good, but the highest good for all whom I interact with on a daily basis.

How can you become more accessible to your own personal power today?

What do you need to be open to, to manifest what you want in your life?

About the Author:

Liz van Reenen envisions a world with people in it who are accessible. Accessible people are people who recognize their own power and use it daily in their own journeys, to overcome obstacles and realize their dreams.

Vision Statement:

To live in a society that believes disability is a state of mind, not a physical condition.

Mission Statement:
To create an “accessible” society through disability sensitivity training.

To learn more about Liz visit her website at www.accessiblebeyondlimits.com

Email: liz@accessiblebeyondlimits.com

Filed under Personal Stories Wheel Chair attitude towards disabled

0 Comments

2/4/10

A Warrior on a Wheelchair- living with Friedrich's Ataxia

Article by Asad Rafi

asad.rafi@gmail.com

In a wheelchair since 20, it has not stopped him becoming a Motivational Speaker. Asad suffers from a disease known as Friedrich's Ataxia, a genetic disease and causes progressive damage to the nervous system. Ataxia is very common in the West and about 80 to 90 percent of the people having it end up being in wheelchairs. Eventually he was transferred into a wheelchair and he was told that may never be able to walk again.

Using the walker

Being diagnosed of Friedrich’s Ataxia effectively ended my chances of going for higher studies abroad. I decided not to pursue with my studies anymore, as the disease was gradually making it more difficult for me to walk. After doing my A-levels at KGS I decided to give up my studies and concentrate on things that interested me. By this time I had stopped wearing a brace for my back and was now in the process of walking with a walker. The walker provided me assistance and prevented me from falling down in the beginning. With the passage of time it apparently got more tough for me to use the walker and I was beginning to fall down a lot

Symptoms of Ataxia

I was again examined by the doctor to find out the reason for my falling frequently. I had been told that I had Friedrich’s Ataxia before and was told that my lower muscles were weakening and I got the shocking news that I would be transferred into a wheelchair. With that also came the news that I might not be able to walk again. Friedrich’s ataxia was a genetic disease and it caused progressive damage to the nervous system. It had a number of symptoms involved including loss of hearing, speech problem, etc. By the grace of God I have not had these symptoms effect me too much. There are slight traces of some of these symptoms which is natural but on the whole I have lived a problem free life. Things are very different these days compared to the old times. There has been so much progress in medicine and there is so much research going on in the field of ataxia, which makes me so optimistic about this disease being curable in the near future.

Getting started at IBM

I would also like to talk about the time spent in IBM over 15 years which was definitely memorable and very enjoyable time. I had started by doing computer courses and went on to work for them. After completing my A-levels I had joined IBM as I was interested in computers. IBM being one of the most successful computer companies in modern times. As the then Managing Director of IBM was a good friend of my father, he offered me a job and I joined the finance department in IBM. I had been diagnosed of Friedrich’s Ataxia before joining IBM and I used to use a walker for walking. I remember taking rounds of the building using my walker and it felt great.

My transfer into a wheelchair happened while I was in IBM, due to my legs getting weak and making it impossible for me to walk. Let me say that the entire staff and employees of IBM were extremely caring and gave me all their support and courage. They made sure that my seat had a lot of space to maneuver and all my work was done on the computer. I did not need to do any running around for my work which made it very comfortable for me.

I made a lot of great friends a IBM. At one point and time we were five to six friends all working together in the finance department. It was one of the most enjoyable and memorable time I ever had. We used to joke, laugh, tease one another and also used to do our work at the same time. We were extremely lucky to have some extremely understanding managers who would also used to joke with us and engage in some interesting conversation with us today. The atmosphere used to be so entertaining and exciting.

A.F. FERGUSON

A.F. Ferguson which was an audit company and was headed by my father at that time used to do the audit of IBM. Their team compromised of some young boys who were extremely friendly with me. I remember when their team came over for the audit of IBM, we had a ball of a time, used to go for lunch and joke all the time. There were a couple of female auditors with whom I became friends and have kept in touch with them to this day. One of them is among my best friends and her name is Aana. She is married now and lives in England. I always try to meet her when I go to England.

Very wheelchair friendly Washrooms

For me the only apprehension in the new building was the washroom. I remember at Avari Plaza there being a single washroom which was at quite a distance from our department. So indeed it was quite a struggle for me to get to the washroom and there were not wheelchair friendly. What Zubair, my manager went on to do is what makes him so special and caring. While the building was being made he had my wheelchair taken to the new premises for measurements, so that the washroom being made could accommodate my wheelchair. When the building was ready and I went to check the washroom, I discovered that every floor had got washrooms. When I went to the 12th floor I found out that a separate washroom had been made for me and totally wheelchair friendly. There were rods fitted on each side to help me hold onto something while getting out of the wheelchair.

Having a Positive Attitude in Life

In the beginning this wheelchair felt like a prison for me because it confined me from where I wanted to go and prevented me from what I wanted to do. Like they say it is not the problems that determine your state it is your attitude towards it. If you can stay cheerful when confronted with a problem half the problem is automatically solved. It is also very imperative to have a positive attitude in life when faced with an obstacle in life like I was. Here I would say that being the only child of my parents definitely made life tougher for me in the beginning. The reason for that all the attention and focus being on me, which made me feel awkward and nervous at times. Of course there was the advantage of enjoying life to the fullest on my own and the immense freedom I had of being on my own was huge. It meant that being the only child gave me a lot of confidence as to how to live your life alone for the future.

Photos:

1: Days at Karachi Grammar School 2: Days when working at IBM 3: Being Touristy in London 4: Giving a motivational Talk