disability – Hello Doctor

Need motivation? Let these disabled personalities inspire you!

January 27th, 2020 by Content Editor

Are you down in the dumps and in need of some serious motivation? You’re not alone. Even well-known celebs experience this. Here’s what worked for them – it may just inspire you too!

RJ. Mitte

This award-winning actor was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, a condition that affects movement and speech. As a teenager, he started taking acting classes to meet new people. In the process, he landed a major role as R.J. in the TV series Breaking Bad. He’s since become an advocate for actors living with disabilities. When you have a disability, people think you are weak. They think they can prey on you. I say, ‘You can never use excuses because they always run out.‘

Susan Boyle

Growing up, this 2009 Britain’s Got Talent contestant was bullied and called “Susie Simple” for being different. Susan Boyle was misdiagnosed with brain damage as a child, but later it was found that she had Asperger’s – a condition that affects social interaction and communication skills. She didn’t let it hold her back though. “I was slightly brain damaged at birth, and I want people like me to see that they shouldn’t let a disability get in the way. I want to raise awareness – I want to turn my disability into ability.”

Philippa Johnson

“Don’t allow anyone to put a limit on your dreams”, said Phillippa Johnson, South African para-dressage rider. This para equestrian rider suffered two serious accidents, but that didn’t stop her from taking the reins-literally. Philippa Johnson was in a tragic car accident in 1988 that left her right arm and leg disabled. Once she finally started competing again, she suffered another accident and broke her back. Nevertheless, she strived to get back on the saddle and learnt to ride again, going on to train in Europe, despite her injuries. In 2008, she made history by winning South Africa’s first equestrian gold medal.

Lebohang Monyatsi

“I intend on making people see that we are capable of doing other things. We have other abilities beyond sports activities and office work. I wanted to embark on this from a young age but couldn’t because of lack of opportunities for people with disabilities in the entertainment industry”, said Lebohang Monyatsi in an interview.

After representing South African in the Miss Wheelchair World pageant in 2017 and having also taken part in the South African Wheelchair Basketball league, Lebohang has since become an advocate for disability inclusion and accessible opportunities for all. Having suffered from post-polio syndrome which left her wheelchair-bound, she educates local communities about disabilities and aims to instil a culture where everyone feels included. “I stopped struggling when I started seeing my flaws as something beautiful which makes me different from the rest of the World.”

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How this blind woman overcame her struggle

August 8th, 2019 by Content Editor

Some vision problems can develop even before you’re born. In these cases, parts of the eyes don’t develop the way they should, and because of this, the brain can’t process the information that the eyes send. The optic nerve is what is responsible for sending pictures from your eyes to your brain. If this nerve doesn’t develop correctly, the brain won’t receive the messages needed for your vision.

Blindness

Blindness can also be inherited, meaning that the problem gets passed down to a child from the parents. Age, eye diseases, chronic diseases, like diabetes, and accidents to the eye can also cause you to lose your vision.

A different way of seeing

As much as vision is what most are born with, many don’t get to see the world the way we all do. Blind South African motivational speaker and author Lois Strachan found extraordinary ways of seeing without the use of her eyes.

As a result of Type 1 diabetes, Strachan lost her sight at the age of 21. That situation however, didn’t stop her from living her life.

After her sixth laser surgery operation, she lost her eyesight. She could’ve easily been a victim of the disability but one of the first things she did when she got her strength back was to join a rock band.

Faced with many emotions before taking control of her life; she later moved into her own home, found a job, had her first guide dog and self-published her own children’s book series. Using technology helped her do more and live a normal life just like anyone else. Being blind didn’t deter her from finding something to do. She soldiered on.

She takes pride in her accomplishments and hopes to conquer more in the future.

Good to know

Should you or a loved one turn blind, or if you were born without eyesight, it doesn’t mean you’re living a meaningless life. You are no different from anyone else, and you can still achieve the desires of your heart. There are many tools and programs available to assist the blind. With the right support structure and hard work, one can overcome anything.

References:

5 things to make your workplace better for the disabled

May 2nd, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

An inclusive workplace means equality, non-discrimination, fairness, respect and dignity. This should be a standardised part of any organisation’s every-day goals and behaviour.

Every workplace environment should have a welcoming culture where everyone feels valued.

According to The World Health Organization, about 15% of the world’s population live with some form of disability. An inclusive working environment starts with management firstly, making a commitment to hire people with disabilities and secondly, ensuring a comfortable working environment

Educate yourself

Usually, workplaces aren’t designed for people with disabilities. Some cubicles in a work station can’t accommodate a wheelchair. This can make it quite difficult for those living with a disability as they aren’t able to use a computer. When you hire employees with disabilities, focus on the challenges they would normally face on a day-to-day basis.

Educate the staff

The next step is to relay the message of inclusion to the existing staff. Employees will need to learn about sensitivity, awareness, and empathy. This can be done through teambuilding sessions, seminars and conferences.

Get a great office design

At the end of the day, your office space needs to accommodate everyone. Hire a professional or get your office assessed so you have a better understanding of your office needs. This will help make the workplace more accessible to everyone.

A parking space that’s easily accessible to employees living with a disability is a great way to start. If your office has stairs, a ramp would be ideal for those with a wheelchair.

Get the right equipment

Other equipment that can help improve accessibility in the workplace include:

Height-adjustable desks.
Adjustable monitors.
Easily accessible plug sockets.
Cable management to reduce hazards
Wheelchair friendly toilets

Get an assistive technology programme

Many companies depend on computerised technology to get the job done. In this case, people with disabilities may need assistive technology to support them in the workplace. This could include specialised computer software, colour-coded keyboards, screen reader and magnifier, assistive listening devices, refreshable braille displayers and more.

Create an Assistive Technology programme in the company that will benefit the employee based on their needs to ensure they’re able to perform tasks with ease and maintain or improve their independence.

The company will have to provide the employees with relevant training to benefit from the assistive technology, so they can learn, communicate and function better and feel comfortable and included.

References:

How you can help gran and gramps

April 23rd, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Frail care is 24-hour specialised care or service for the elderly, those that need extra physical and medical help or senior citizens. These nursing homes or accommodations assist you with getting in and out of bed, taking care of your hygiene, taking medication and feeding yourself (if necessary).

Essentially, a frail care home is where you go to get help when you’re not really able to help yourself in your everyday living routines. This is of course, a natural occurrence stemming from ageing, where often, mental incapability or frailty can leave you in a state of need.

Help at hand
First, identify your most important needs and the type of environment you’d want to settle in. Get a medical check-up before you start researching spaces. Your doctor’s input will be invaluable.

Types of accommodation

Apartment or flat
Convalescences (rehabilitation)
Cottages/houses for rent
Cottages/houses for sale
Dementia/Alzheimer’s care
Frail care
Mid-care

Considering a nursing home can be a daunting task and an emotional rollercoaster as you contemplate moving to a new environment. It’s important to understand the difference between frail care and medical care. Frail care falls under the category of social welfare responsibility. The medical care is under a medical scheme cover which covers the short-term recovery of an event, like an accident or stroke. Long-term accommodation is not likely to be covered by a medical scheme, so be sure to get all the information from your scheme before you start looking for a place.

How much will this cost? Frail care prices vary. Prices start from about R5 000 and can go up to (more than) R25 000 a month. Some may include a caregiver or nurse on site; this depends on the quality of care and services on offer and the facility itself. A private home versus a state home is going to differ in the type of services, quality and resources they can offer.

General offers in facilities:

Daily meals.
A comfortable living environment.
Administering of medication.
Cleaning services and laundry.
Therapy and overall health and wellbeing services (exercises etc.)
24-hour nursing care.
24-hour security.
Transport to shopping and doctor’s appointments.
Hair care.
Support services (medical services).
Medical waste and infection control regulations.

Do you qualify for frail care? If you’re 60 years and older (senior citizens), you’re eligible to be placed in a home or accommodation across the country.

You have rights too:

Have reasonable access to assistance.
Have visitors.
Be informed about residential changes and plans regarding the facility.
Keep your personal belongings.
Be given a 30-day notice of planned transfer or discharge.
Access to recreational activities.
The right to be treated with respect and care at all times.

Keep these documents handy:

ID document and funeral policies (if available).
Application form from the home or accommodation.
Your medical report.
Social worker report (if required).

References

Don’t let a disability disrupt your holiday

November 23rd, 2016 by The Hello Doctor Team

There are hordes of people everywhere and interminably long queues. The weather is sweltering and the family have descended in their droves. The festive season is stressful enough without needing special requirements due to your disabilities, but there are ways to ease the burden this year.

Continue reading “Don’t let a disability disrupt your holiday”