“‘Disabled’ is not a bad word.” I see this phrase pasted across social media with increasing frequency. As much as I appreciate people with disabilities sharing their perspectives, I have to admit, this particular arrangement of words makes my skin quiver. “Disabled” feels like a bad word. I was raised…
“Can you even have sex?” Scooting back on my massage table, I brace myself against the wall. Taken aback by the abrupt question, I consider my response. “Yes, I can.” The truth is I am embarrassed to admit I’ve had this conversation with a few men. Having a physical disability…
Depression, low self‐esteem, and their children’s limitations in mobility and communication can impact the parenting stress of mothers caring for sons or daughters with cerebral palsy, a study suggests. The findings call attention to the importance of watching for the emotional and cognitive well-being of parents — especially mothers…
Pediatricians often have to be the bearers of bad news, such as telling parents that their child has a disability. Doing so in a helpful and constructive way can be challenging, but doing a poor job can cause unnecessary distress for everyone involved. A newly published paper outlines a method,…
Dozens of films have focused on those with diseases or disabilities — and there’s no shortage of Hollywood productions about love and sex. But only a handful have ever really tried to combine these two themes. “Take a Look at This Heart” does the job with tenderness and finesse.
People with cerebral palsy generally are happy and satisfied with their lives despite the daily challenges they face, a recent study in Greece concluded. The study, “Sense of Coherence in People with Cerebral Palsy in Greece,” was published in the journal Psychology. Increasing evidence suggests that children…
A recent survey found that people with disabilities are engaging in job preparation and job search activities, and also are successfully negotiating barriers at work. The survey was sponsored, in part, by the Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability that strives to improve cognition, mobility and…
Disabled Canadians are nearly twice as likely to be victims of a violent crime than those without a disability, according to a Statistics Canada report. The agency arranged a survey in 2014 on how many crimes Canadians with disabilities experience. About 3.8 million Canadians aged 15 and older have cerebral palsy and other…
A while back, I saw a post on Reddit talking about feelings of frustration with a disability. The original poster discussed being frustrated with disability ― specifically limited abilities versus those of their able-bodied peers ― the general challenges that people with disabilities face every day that…
Parents of children with disabilities have a tough job, but also a rewarding one. You have a child filled with tremendous potential, but the challenges of their disabilities hold them back or cause obstacles. I believe that education is so important to both parent and child. Education…