TYPES OF IMPAIRMENTS
Types of Impairments: Visible or Invisible, Natural or Traumatic.
Pause for a moment and think about the difference that the type of impairment makes!
The type of impairment can have an influence on the nature of the challenges, because one impairment can have multiple challenges.
For example, if you lost a leg in an accident, you will have a mobility challenge because you need to learn to walk with a new leg. But you could also have a financial challenge, because the car must be repaired. And, you may have an emotional challenge because of the guilt you have if you were speeding. The list goes on, point is, you do not know what challenges a person is going to have. Some challenges are temporary, and some are permanent. Let us focus on the permanent challenges.
A natural amputation is that person’s reality since birth. They have a lifetime to explore the challenges! Chances are that they are the not the “new kid on the block”. They can educate the employees on what they can do and what they struggle with.
A traumatic amputation is the opposite in many respects! Physically the person also needs time to explore their new condition, because it is not something that comes with a manual. Remember it is new to them too! Any traumatic event may lead to depression! Depression is a classic example of how physical and mental challenges can be intertwined. For a colleague or a casual observer this relation will be a surprise. Depression may be the biggest challenge, much bigger than the physical impairment and it affects relationships!
Often the type of impairment can give new insight into the nature of the challenges. Learn more about the challenge from the person with the impairment andthe challenges for the people around them. We often forget about how other people are impacted, often they also need support! Parents, siblings, colleagues and friends must be prepared to be affected; it is part of the reality of our society.
Visible is obvious, but invisible can also have a profound effect on the challenges and how other people experience you. Most PwD want to share the implications of their challenges in a casual manner as part of a normal conversation. Especially if a challenge is invisible it cannot serve as a conversation starter, so all people can help to create such an opportunity.
An important point is not to make assumptions and not to gossip. The other person might also have made assumptions! Rather have the courage to talk to the person about the challenges. The challenges might be completely different from your initial perception and ironically, People with Disabilities are often more comfortable to talk about their challenges. In fact, they might value the opportunity because they did not initiate the conversation.
People with a Disability may also benefit from an opportunity to listen to what is important in a specific environment because they get an opportunity to think about their possible contribution in that area.
Pause for a moment and think about the difference that the type of impairment makes!
The type of impairment can have an influence on the nature of the challenges, because one impairment can have multiple challenges.
For example, if you lost a leg in an accident, you will have a mobility challenge because you need to learn to walk with a new leg. But you could also have a financial challenge, because the car must be repaired. And, you may have an emotional challenge because of the guilt you have if you were speeding. The list goes on, point is, you do not know what challenges a person is going to have. Some challenges are temporary, and some are permanent. Let us focus on the permanent challenges.
A natural amputation is that person’s reality since birth. They have a lifetime to explore the challenges! Chances are that they are the not the “new kid on the block”. They can educate the employees on what they can do and what they struggle with.
A traumatic amputation is the opposite in many respects! Physically the person also needs time to explore their new condition, because it is not something that comes with a manual. Remember it is new to them too! Any traumatic event may lead to depression! Depression is a classic example of how physical and mental challenges can be intertwined. For a colleague or a casual observer this relation will be a surprise. Depression may be the biggest challenge, much bigger than the physical impairment and it affects relationships!
Often the type of impairment can give new insight into the nature of the challenges. Learn more about the challenge from the person with the impairment andthe challenges for the people around them. We often forget about how other people are impacted, often they also need support! Parents, siblings, colleagues and friends must be prepared to be affected; it is part of the reality of our society.
Visible is obvious, but invisible can also have a profound effect on the challenges and how other people experience you. Most PwD want to share the implications of their challenges in a casual manner as part of a normal conversation. Especially if a challenge is invisible it cannot serve as a conversation starter, so all people can help to create such an opportunity.
An important point is not to make assumptions and not to gossip. The other person might also have made assumptions! Rather have the courage to talk to the person about the challenges. The challenges might be completely different from your initial perception and ironically, People with Disabilities are often more comfortable to talk about their challenges. In fact, they might value the opportunity because they did not initiate the conversation.
People with a Disability may also benefit from an opportunity to listen to what is important in a specific environment because they get an opportunity to think about their possible contribution in that area.