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Welcome to my thoughts and findings for women who have both and physical and speech impairment.
As a content coordinator, my mission is to encourage the personal expressions of members and to present ideas on a particular
topic.
To have a better understanding of the issues we need to identify and describe other disabilities that are similar
to those we are familiar with, such as Dystonia and Cerebral Palsy.
I have Spinocerebellar Ataxia, a disease that has symptoms similar to those two disabilites.
The National Ataxia Foundationand INTERNAF (International Network of Ataxia Friends) offer a wealth of information on these diseases. Click on the topic that interest
you. Ataxia is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system. The symptoms are clumsiness, difficulties with balance,
lack of coordination and slurring of speech.
This month's profile is on my friend, a middle aged woman, riddled
with ataxia, but who refuses to give up. She is married, with three children, all of whom finished college. She and husband
live in Florida.
Provide words of encouragement, strength to cope with each illness and despite hardships have
a positive attitude that things will get better.
Encourage women to participate positively in activities that will
yield a fruitful and positive lifestyle and a strong self esteem.
Inspire women having both a physical and speech
disabilities to strive for excellence despite their impairments
Share your disabilities experiences with others.
Voice
your feeling about living with two disabilities.
Establish new coping skills that will help improve the management
of disabilities or other related concerns your mind.
Society needs to establish a harmonious atmosphere so that
"physically challenged people" as well as "able bodied people" can interact with each other.
Seek out children
with disabilities as well as children that are in good health and who will have a positive influence on society in regards
to accepting people who are different. The negative views toward mentally and physically challenged people has to change and
that change must start at the grassroot level: With our children. This is the only way we can hope to improve atmosphere and
will foster positive interaction of future generations. It is through the positive efforts of all people, on a large scale,
that we will change the negative social views toward people with disabilities.
Exercise is good for us all. Everybody
benefits from exercising on a regular bases. Walking outdoors or on a treadmill, strength training , and riding a stationary
bike are my favorite forms of exercise.
An article in the May/June 2007 issue of AARP magazine recommends exercise,
particularly strength training. Strength training reduces the risk of heart disease and improve over all health benefits.
Strength training involves lifting weights, usually dumbbells at least three times a week.
An article in the November
2007 issue ofHealth magazine, was on stretching.Regular stretching increases one's flexibility. The article further
illustrated how to perform certain exercises that are stress relievers and good exercise that aids in physical flexibility.
Microsoft
web site lists several items that they recognize as assistive technology available on the market. Voice and speech recognition
programs for people who have speech disabilities.
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