Copingwithdisability.com

copingwithdisability.com original articles list and featured posts

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed.  Thanks for visiting!

this is a list of original articles and future posts on the site

• some rarely discussed tips on managing stress »
• the importance of giving
  
• happy Memorial Day and thoughts on the disabled in the military
• the ban r word campaign
• dealing with staring - part of Blogging Against Disablism Day »
• Blogging Against Disablism Day  post 2 - the importance of communication  in fighting discrimination
• Using a clip on microphone with Dragon NaturallySpeaking
• dealing with my second disability
• rating and describing pain can be difficult
• entrepreneurship and the disability community
• the role art has played in my life
• my families experience with disability and illness
• the disabled community should not be isolated
• having a disability is just one aspect of my life
• Improving the accuracy of Dragon NaturallySpeaking
• Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9

feature posts

• New York Times Letters To The Editor Discuss Editorial Supporting Nationwide Adoption Of Electronic Health Records
• Personal Power: Should you Focus on your Strengths
• BBC - Health - Conditions - Coping skills 
• Coping with roadblocks reduces stress - MayoClinic.com
• Serenity: Strive to achieve it I talk about how I view my disability and about how I have dealt with losing someone I loved very much.
  
• Hope springs eternal
• Learn to profit from setbacks -
• 'So many people ... fall through the cracks' - CNN.com
  
• Discovery Health :: Rallying the Troops Inside Our Bodies part two of my comments
• MedlinePlus: Talk Therapy Proves Effective for Terminal Cancer Patients

e-mail Rudy Sims at Info@copingwithdisability.com

Black AIDS Institute HIV/AIDS Card Could Help Stop The Spread Of The Disease In The Community, Columnist Says

Link: Black AIDS Institute HIV/AIDS Card Could Help Stop The Spread Of The Disease In The Community, Columnist Says.

The Black AIDS Institute "may have come up with a strategy that could make a difference" and "help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS" in the black community, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell writes. As part of BAI's "Test 1 Million" initiative, the institute has developed a card that certifies that an individual has been tested for HIV in the last six months.

that's an interesting idea

American Physical Therapy Association Applauds Sen Baucus For Standing Up Against Therapy Cap

Link: American Physical Therapy Association Applauds Sen Baucus For Standing Up Against Therapy Cap.

"Physical therapists thank Senator Baucus for his strong leadership in fighting an arbitrary financial limit on therapy services that do not account for the patients' clinical needs," said APTA President R Scott Ward, PT, PhD. "This arbitrary limit would have the greatest impact on those patients who need the care the most to recover and rehabilitate from injuries, impairments, and disabilities." Ward added, "Congress has long recognized that the therapy caps are bad policy. In the past, moratoriums have been passed or an exceptions process could be utilized by those patients requiring additional services. In failing to pass legislation to assure that beneficiaries continue to get the therapy care they need, Congress has placed the health of many seniors and persons with disabilities in jeopardy."

I agree therapy is very important

Digg - Green tea protects against heart disease: study

Link: Digg - Green tea protects against heart disease: study.

I love green tea I'm very glad it has a lot of health benefits :-)

“Disability Dolls”: A Blessing or a Curse? « Livin’ in an ableist world

Link: “Disability Dolls”: A Blessing or a Curse? « Livin’ in an ableist world.

some rarely discussed tips on managing stress

Stress can be very debilitating at times especially if you have an illness and/or disability

I was in severe chronic pain for 10 years due to complications from an operation I had in 1996 and I found that stress exacerbated the pain tremendously so finding ways to manage my stress  was very important for me

there are many ways to manage stress

Relaxation techniques - Relaxation techniques that reduce stress - google search

Exercising - Exercises that reduce stress - google search

But I think having the right attitude can effectively reduce stress as well

I found that having patience and understanding with people and events is very important in managing my stress

Being patient with people and events is one way you can effectively adjusts your attitude while it can be difficult at times I find that people have been very appreciative of my patience and that is not only helped reduce my stress but the gratitude for being patient I receive makes me feel good

Being understanding is also a very important attitude adjustment you can make to reduce your stress it requires that you try to put yourself in the other person's shoes when they do something that annoys you or causes you problems I believe strongly that people have an intense desire to be understood.  And if you make the effort to understand the reasons behind a person's actions even when it's difficult it will be greatly appreciative and may diffuse the situation for everyone involved.

Reducing stress with your attitude is not about having a positive attitude per se it's about learning how to effectively deal with situations that can cause you unnecessary stress

New York Times Letters To The Editor Discuss Editorial Supporting Nationwide Adoption Of Electronic Health Records

Link: New York Times Letters To The Editor Discuss Editorial Supporting Nationwide Adoption Of Electronic Health Records.

The New York Times on Monday published several letters to the editor responding to a June 24 editorial about the need for nationwide adoption of electronic health records.

I think electronic health records are a great idea I know that there are privacy concerns.  I usually  agree with the privacy advocates about issues like this however I think in this case the benefits outweigh the risks I think electronic health records will help save lives

Anxiety Linked With A Higher Risk For Certain Chronic Conditions

Link: Anxiety Linked With A Higher Risk For Certain Chronic Conditions.

As an everyday emotion, anxiety can be a good thing, prompting us to take extra precautions. But when anxiety persists, it can undermine our physical health. Evidence suggests that people with anxiety disorders are at greater risk for some chronic medical conditions.

keeping stress to a reasonable level is extremely important in effectively dealing with a disability or health condition stress can definitely exacerbate any health problem I'm currently working on an article about how I attempt to manage my stress.  I will post it soon.

The Fashion Time Blog » Blog Archive » The Fashion World may finally embrace Disabled Models

Link: The Fashion Time Blog » Blog Archive » The Fashion World may finally embrace Disabled Models.

We at The Fashion Time, feel that the world of fashion has been a too exclusive, segregated club in the past, and needs for the future,  to embrace a more holistic concept of beauty, one that is found in models of all sizes, shapes, and colors

I agree totally the fashion world can do a great deal to raise the awareness of disabilities and disabled people and help fight the stereotypes that disabled people are asexual and not attractive. I hope the fashion world does more to include models with disabilities in the future.

Kaiser Family Foundation Essay Discusses Public Willingness To Shift From Employer-Based Health Care System; CDC Examines Percentage Of Uninsured U.S.

Link: Kaiser Family Foundation Essay Discusses Public Willingness To Shift From Employer-Based Health Care System; CDC Examines Percentage Of Uninsured U.S..

the essay, Kaiser Family Foundation President and CEO Drew Altman explores a factor that has not received much attention but that will be important for the success of any proposal to move away from the current employer-based health care system: public willingness to accept such a change.

I think everybody agrees there needs to be a change in the health care system we just can't seem to agree on how to do it.

Facebook Concepts Indicate Brains Of Alzheimer's Patients Aren't As Networked, Stanford Study Shows

Link: Facebook Concepts Indicate Brains Of Alzheimer's Patients Aren't As Networked, Stanford Study Shows.

Facebook. Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine used concepts borrowed from the popular social networking site to analyze the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. They found that patients' brains were less well-connected than the brains of people without the disorder.

wow that's interesting! This study brings together two of my favorite subjects technology and science