RE: Speech on Invisible Disabilities

[Guest guest]

Excellent, Carol...and areas that DO need much illumination. God bless

you for sharing...the very personal sometimes hits home far better than

statistics and impersonal data. I am VERY proud of you!

Much Love & Many Hugs....

Tess

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Tess. <<<<grin>>>>

Tons of love back to you,

Carol

RE: [ ] Speech on Invisible Disabilities

Excellent, Carol...and areas that DO need much illumination. God bless

you for sharing...the very personal sometimes hits home far better than

statistics and impersonal data. I am VERY proud of you!

Much Love & Many Hugs....

Tess

[Guest guest]

Carol,

Glad to hear that you were able to give your speech last night even

though you weren't feeling great. I hope you are managing better today.

I like the ideas you discussed. Every little bit one does to raise

awareness helps. Did you get any feedback from anyone? Did they seem to

understand?

RE: [ ] Speech on Invisible Disabilities

> Hi All,

>

> I got through my speech OK last night. It was a bummer because I had

to go

> first. Yikes! I felt a little weird from the med the dr gave me for

my

> abdominal pain (an anitcholergenic), just not as animated as I

normally am.

> Last night was my speech on invisible disabilities. It was hard to

discuss

> details of my RA - much harder than I thought it would be. But I

covered

> three areas where I feel people with invisible disabilities get

hassled:

> using handicapped parking spaces, using wheelchairs and electric

carts, and

> by coworkers (when they end up with more sick time, flextime, or

> accessibility devices). I suggested that if someone uses a

handicapped spot

> and has a placard or plate they most likely have a very good reason

it. I

> told them not to rush to judgment, and even better to smile warmly to

the

> person, and if they look like they need a hand with their groceries or

bags

> to offer one. I offered similar advice for the wheelchair section.

For the

> coworkers, I mentioned reasons someone with a chronic disease might

miss

> more work, giving an example of how my immune system is weakened by

the

> medications I take. I told them to consider befriending the person

who

> others might resent because of their special treatment.

>

> I felt very vulnerable talking about all this to these people, but

hopefully

> the next time they encounter one of the situations I discussed, they

will be

> more compassionate and understanding.

>

> What do you think about the areas I covered?

>

> Love to all,

>

> Carol

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I didn't really get any feedback after my speech. I think after 3 hours of

speeches, we were just anxious to go home.

I'm still having pain in my left upper quadrant. I'm taking stuff to relax

my bowel, but it's helping very minimally. Hopefully it will clear up on it

's own soon.

Love and hugs,

Carol

Re: [ ] Speech on Invisible Disabilities

Carol,

Glad to hear that you were able to give your speech last night even

though you weren't feeling great. I hope you are managing better today.

I like the ideas you discussed. Every little bit one does to raise

awareness helps. Did you get any feedback from anyone? Did they seem to

understand?

RE: [ ] Speech on Invisible Disabilities

> Hi All,

>

> I got through my speech OK last night. It was a bummer because I had

to go

> first. Yikes! I felt a little weird from the med the dr gave me for

my

> abdominal pain (an anitcholergenic), just not as animated as I

normally am.

> Last night was my speech on invisible disabilities. It was hard to

discuss

> details of my RA - much harder than I thought it would be. But I

covered

> three areas where I feel people with invisible disabilities get

hassled:

> using handicapped parking spaces, using wheelchairs and electric

carts, and

> by coworkers (when they end up with more sick time, flextime, or

> accessibility devices). I suggested that if someone uses a

handicapped spot

> and has a placard or plate they most likely have a very good reason

it. I

> told them not to rush to judgment, and even better to smile warmly to

the

> person, and if they look like they need a hand with their groceries or

bags

> to offer one. I offered similar advice for the wheelchair section.

For the

> coworkers, I mentioned reasons someone with a chronic disease might

miss

> more work, giving an example of how my immune system is weakened by

the

> medications I take. I told them to consider befriending the person

who

> others might resent because of their special treatment.

>

> I felt very vulnerable talking about all this to these people, but

hopefully

> the next time they encounter one of the situations I discussed, they

will be

> more compassionate and understanding.

>

> What do you think about the areas I covered?

>

> Love to all,

>

> Carol