What is a Physical Disability?

As promised, today's Blog is on physical disabilities. I hope any of the information I share today helps you in some way to understand what exactly a physical disability is. As always feel free to email me anytime and let me know what disabilities you would like me to focus on next weekend. barbgadway@live.com  Blessings and Love and I will see you all again on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. HUGS! ❤

A physical disability is a limitation on a person's physical functioning, mobility, dexterity or stamina. Other physical disabilities include impairments which limit other facets of daily living, such as respiratory disorders, blindness, epilepsy and sleep disorders.

Mobility impairment includes physical defects, including upper or lower limb loss or impairment, poor manual dexterity, and damage to one or more organs of the body. Disability in mobility can be a congenital or acquired problem, or a consequence of disease. People who have a broken skeletal structure also fall into this category.

Visual impairment is another type of physical impairment. There are hundreds of thousands of people who suffer greatly from minor to various serious vision injuries or impairments. These types of injuries can also result in severe problems or diseases such as blindness and ocular trauma. Some other types of vision impairment include scratched cornea, scratches on the sclera, diabetes-related eye conditions, dry eyes and corneal graft, macular degeneration in old age and retinal detachment.

Hearing loss is a partial or total inability to hear. Deaf and hard of hearing people have a rich culture and benefit from learning sign language for communication purposes.^{[citation needed]} People who are only partially deaf can sometimes make use of hearing aids to improve their hearing ability.

Physical impairment can also be attributed to disorders causing, among others, sleep deficiency, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, and seizures.

This great information was found on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_disability  please click on and find out even more invaluable information 😊

Physical disabilities

A physical disability is one that affects a person's mobility or dexterity. A person with a physical disability may need to use some sort of equipment for assistance with mobility. It also includes people who have lost limbs or who, because of the shape of their body, require slight adaptations to be made to enable them to participate fully in society.

Paraplegia and Quadriplegia are what many people first identify with a physical disability. Paraplegia results from injury to the spinal cord, occurring below the neck, while quadriplegia refers to damage to the spinal cord in the neck. Varying degrees of loss of limb and other mobility may result from either condition. Other forms of physical disability, such as polio (an acquired disease), cerebral palsy (damage to brain tissue during fetal stages) and some genetic conditions can result in loss of mobility.

Types of Physical Disabilities:
Paraplegia
Quadriplegia
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Hemiplegia
Cerebral palsy
Absent limb/reduced limb function
Dystrophy 

This great information was found on this link : https://www.neads.ca/en/about/projects/inclusion/guide/pwd_01.php   please click on the link and find out even more invaluable information.😊

What is physical disability?

A physical disability is the long-term loss or impairment of part of your body’s physical function. It can involve difficulties with walking and mobility, sitting and standing, use of your hands and arms, sight, hearing, speech, breathing, bladder control, muscle control, sleeping, fits and seizures or chronic tiredness. A physical disability may be genetic. It can also come about through something that happened before or during birth or later in life through an illness or injury. A physical disability may be obvious, such as loss of a limb, or less obvious, for example, epilepsy.

What causes physical disabilities?

There are many different causes of physical disabilities including:

• Amputation
• Accident or injury
• Acquired brain injury (ABI) and stroke
• Arthritis
• Cerebral palsy
• Epilepsy
• Genetic disorders
• Illnesses or substances a mother was exposed to during pregnancy
• Meningitis
• Motor Neurone Disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Muscular dystrophy
• Parkinson’s
• Polio
• Problems during birth
• Respiratory (lung) disorders such as COPD
• Spina bifida

This great information was found at this link : https://www.connecttosupport.org/s4s/WhereILive/Council?pageId=1968  please click on and find out even more invaluable information. 😊 

I hope any of today's information that I shared today enlightened or helped you in understanding more about physical disabilities. Peace and Love and Have a blessed morning/ afternoon/ evening and week! ❤

Have the Power of Patience!

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word I do hope. —Psalm 130:5

With love and patience, nothing is impossible. Daisaku Ikeda

Why is it that patience evaporates when we are late for a critical engagement and are caught in a traffic jam? Or we rush to the “10 items or less” line at the store, only to find someone in front of us with 16 items!

Being forced to wait ratchets up the stress and shortens our fuse. When that happens, we not only fail to be patient but we undercut the Spirit’s work in our lives.

Patience is not just a virtue, it’s a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22)—which means that demonstrations of impatience reveal the sour fruit of our fallen hearts rather than the sweetness of Jesus in our lives. Since God is a patient God, when we abandon patience we miss the opportunity to show our world the glory of God through our lives.

Bursts of impatience only demonstrate that we are more concerned with our own agendas than the needs and struggles of others. So let’s all take a deep breath and turn our focus away from ourselves by patiently loving others instead of ourselves in the midst of stress.

Patience gives us the privilege of sharing the refreshing fruit of God with others.

Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. —Isaiah 40:31

Today my beloved friends, I encourage you to pray for the patience to endure times of trial, to keep anticipating, keep hoping, keep believing. And lastly,  pray for patience to be patient. Be a Blessing- Have the Power of Patience! 😊❤

What are Mental Health Disabilities?

Blessings and HUGS! Today dear friends I am focusing on mental health disability and what this diagnosis means. Tomorrow I will concentrate on physical disabilities. Mental health disability is something I witness each day with my son that was diagnosed with Schizophrenia and Autism.  So it is near and dear to my heart and me, and I want to learn all I can about why he thinks and does as he does. I hope the information that I am sharing today helps you in some way in understanding just what exactly does it mean to have a mental health disability.  As always, feel free to email me at barbgadway@live.com anytime.  Much LOVE ❤

Mental Health Conditions

A mental illness is a condition that affects a person's thinking, feeling or mood. Such conditions may affect someone's ability to relate to others and function each day. Each person will have different experiences, even people with the same diagnosis.

Recovery, including meaningful roles in social life, school and work, is possible, especially when you start treatment early and play a strong role in your own recovery process.

A mental health condition isn’t the result of one event. Research suggests multiple, linking causes. Genetics, environment and lifestyle influence whether someone develops a mental health condition. A stressful job or home life makes some people more susceptible, as do traumatic life events like being the victim of a crime. Biochemical processes and circuits and basic brain structure may play a role, too.

Recovery and Wellness

One in 5 adults experiences a mental health condition every year. One in 17 lives with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. In addition to a person's directly experiencing a mental illness, family, friends and communities are also affected.

Half of mental health conditions begin by age 14, and 75% of mental health conditions develop by age 24. The normal personality and behavior changes of adolescence may mimic or mask symptoms of a mental health condition. Early engagement and support are crucial to improving outcomes and increasing the promise of recovery. 

https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions

Click on the link above to earn more. It gives you great information on each individual mental illness or disability.😊

What is mental illness?

A mental illness is a disease that causes mild to severe disturbances in thought and/or behavior, resulting in an inability to cope with life’s ordinary demands and routines. 

There are more than 200 classified forms of mental illness. Some of the more common disorders are depression, bipolar disorder, dementia, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders.  Symptoms may include changes in mood, personality, personal habits and/or social withdrawal.

Mental health problems may be related to excessive stress due to a particular situation or series of events. As with cancer, diabetes and heart disease, mental illnesses are often physical as well as emotional and psychological. Mental illnesses may be caused by a reaction to environmental stresses, genetic factors, biochemical imbalances, or a combination of these. With proper care and treatment many individuals learn to cope or recover from a mental illness or emotional disorder.

In Adults, Young Adults and Adolscents:

• Confused thinking
• Prolonged depression (sadness or irritability)
• Feelings of extreme highs and lows
• Excessive fears, worries and anxieties
• Social withdrawal
• Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Strong feelings of anger
• Strange thoughts (delusions)
• Seeing or hearing things that aren't there (hallucinations)
• Growing inability to cope with daily problems and activities
• Suicidal thoughts
• Numerous unexplained physical ailments
• Substance use

In Older Children and Pre-Adolescents:

• Substance use
• Inability to cope with problems and daily activities
• Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
• Excessive complaints of physical ailments
• Changes in ability to manage responsibilities - at home and/or at school
• Defiance of authority, truancy, theft, and/or vandalism
• Intense fear
• Prolonged negative mood, often accompanied by poor appetite or thoughts of death
• Frequent outbursts of anger

In Younger Children:

• Changes in school performance
• Poor grades despite strong efforts
• Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
• Excessive worry or anxiety (i.e. refusing to go to bed or school)
• Hyperactivity
• Persistent nightmares
• Persistent disobedience or aggression
• Frequent temper tantrums

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/recognizing-warning-signs

Click on the link above to learn more great information. 😊

I hope this information today has enlightened and helped you out in some way. Have a blessed rest of your day/afternoon/evening! ❤

Have a Heart Filled with Joy!

 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. —John 15:11

“Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.” 

― Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

The apostle Paul urged the Christians in Philippi to pursue joy in their relationship with Christ. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4). Instead of a life cluttered with anxiety, he urged them to pray about everything and let God’s peace guard their hearts and minds in Christ (vv. 6–7). 

Looking at our everyday tasks and responsibilities, we see that not all of them are enjoyable. But we can ask, “How can this spark joy in God’s heart and in my own?” A change in why we do things can bring a transformation in the way we feel about them.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true . . . noble . . . right . . . pure . . . lovely . . . admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (v. 8).

Paul’s parting words are food for thought and a recipe for joy.

The overflowing joy of knowing Christ’s presence in our lives was one of the themes of Jesus’ final teaching with His disciples the night before He died on the cross. He told them of His extravagant love for them—that He loved them as the Father loved Him (John 15:9). After sharing what this eternal relationship looks like, Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (v.11).

What a promise! Through Jesus Christ our hearts can be filled with joy—real joy!

Lord, You have chosen me and redeemed me, crowned me with love and compassion. I can do nothing less than overflow with joy at Your great love for me, for those I love, and for the world. Amen!

Today my dear friends, I encourage you to remember that No matter our circumstances or season of life, we can be examples of His love through the life we lead and the words we say. There is joy in knowing and living for the Lord and telling others about Him. Today, Be a Blessing - Have a Heart Filled with Joy! 😊❤

What Exactly Does it Mean to Have a Disability?

Blessings and HUGS dear friends! I have been sharing Blogs on various disabilities over the last couple of months but today I thought, what if someone doesn't exactly know what does having a disability means. Today my Blog is focusing on that particular question and topic. Hopefully, something I share today will enlighten you in some way and help you to understand what having a disability means. I also wanted to share that after going to a Urologist, my kidneys are not my problem, I have some major back issues and he suggested I go to my primary care doctor to prescribe me to go to a back specialist to see what is going on. I wanted to update you all on what is going on with me healthwise exactly. As soon as I know more, I will let y'all know. Have an awesome rest of your day/afternoon/evening and I hope this Blog enlightens you today in some way. 😊❤

So......... 'What exactly does it mean to have a disability?' 

What Do We Mean by the Term "Disability"?

"Disability" includes a wide range of conditions. A few examples:

• paralysis
• blindness or visual disability
• deafness or hard of hearing
• developmental disability
• learning disabilities
• psychiatric disabilities and mental health conditions
• epilepsy
• chemical sensitivity
• head injuries
• cerebral palsy
• HIV/AIDS
• and many others

Disability impacts people's lives in a wide variety of ways, and the level of impact can range from minimal to extensive

In some cases, a person's disability is a minor inconvenience, something that is controlled through medication, or requires some simple adaptations. In other cases, a person's disability plays a major role in their lives, impacting their ability to earn a living, to participate in activities in the community, and to do many of the things that many non-disabled people take for granted in their daily lives.

Disabilities are often not apparent

Learning disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis are just a few of the many disabilities that are often "hidden". Never presume that someone doesn't have a disability just because it is not readily apparent.

Disability is a natural part of the human existence

There has been a major shift in our society's view of disability. Disability used to be seen as an aberration, something that had to be "fixed" before a person could fully participate in their community. A more progressive view is that disability is simply part of a person's identity, not something to be fixed, and that people with disabilities have the same right as anyone else to full participation in society.

This manual considers only long-term disability

Oftentimes when people are injured (such as a broken leg) they temporarily leave work "on disability" and return when they are fully recovered. However, this manual is not intended to apply to people whose disability is extremely temporary. This material focuses people whose disability has ongoing, possibly life-long, impact.

Legal definitions vary considerably

A person may be considered "disabled" under the Americans with Disabilities Act but not by their state's vocational rehabilitation agency. Also, particular conditions specify the criteria that a person must meet in order to have that condition. For example, not all people who wear glasses have a visual disability. The following are some important legal definitions of "disability":

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): a physical or developmental disability that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; a record of such an disability; or being regarded as having such an disability.

Social Security: The inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental disabilities which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.

Rehabilitation Act: The term "individual with a disability" means any individual who:

• has a physical or mental disability which for such individual constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment and
• can benefit in terms of an employment outcome from vocational rehabilitation services.

Under WIA regulations, people with disabilities are defined using the ADA definition. On a practical level, this means that there will be people who utilize One-Stop services who are considered to have a disability, but do not meet the more restrictive definition under the Rehabilitation Act, and therefore are not eligible for services from Vocational Rehabilitation as a One-Stop partner.

http://www.serviceandinclusion.org/index.php?page=disability

The information above was listed at the link I just shared above. Please click on the link and check out all the invaluable information it shares. ❤

So, what does the term ‘disability’ mean exactly?

It is estimated that there are over 5 million disabled people of working age in the UK plus a further 5 million disabled people over state pension age, but the term ‘disabled’ means different things to different people. The range and breadth of impairments that we all come across in our everyday lives is substantial; some are obvious, most are not. So what is the legal definition of ‘disability’?

The Equality Act 2010 definition of disability is:‘A person has a disability for the purpose of this Act if he or she has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.’ The terms used in this definition can be ambiguous, so it’s important to clarify them:

What are ‘long-term adverse effects’?‘Long-term adverse effect’ means that it must have lasted, or be expected to last, twelve months or more, or be expected to last the rest of a person’s life.

What is ‘substantial’?Something more than minor or trivial - it does not have to be severe.

What are ‘normal day to day activities’?Activities carried out by most people on a fairly regular and frequent basis. This does not include activities which are normal only for a particular person, or group of people, i.e. playing a musical instrument, sport or work.

What is an ‘impairment’?

An impairment affects the ability of a person to carry out normal day-to-day activities.  A disability can arise from a wide range of impairments which can be:

• sensory impairments, such as those affecting sight or hearing;

• impairments with fluctuating or recurring effects such as rheumatoid arthritis, myalgic encephalitis (ME)/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, depression and epilepsy;

• progressive, such as motor neurone disease, muscular dystrophy, forms of dementia and lupus (SLE);

• organ specific, including respiratory conditions, such as asthma, and cardiovascular diseases, including thrombosis, stroke andheart disease;

• developmental, such as autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), dyslexia and dyspraxia;

• learning difficulties;

• mental health conditions and mental illnesses, such as depression, schizophrenia, eating disorders, bipolar affective disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, as well as personality disorders and some self-harming behaviour;

• produced by injury to the body or brain.

An exhaustive list of conditions that qualify as impairments for the purposes of the law has not been created as lists often go out of date quickly with medical advancements.  It is important to remember that not all impairments are readily identifiable. While some impairments, particularly visible ones, are easy to identify, there are many which are not so immediately obvious.  

Points to note:

• the definition of disability is broad, and you may be surprised how many people might be considered ‘disabled’ under the Act. It is not just physical conditions, such as blindness or wheelchair use, but many hidden conditions, like learning disabilities, stress and depression that class a person as ‘disabled’. 

• the Equality Act also protects people with a range of conditions often not traditionally thought of as ‘impairments’. For example, people undergoing kidney dialysis, or who have dyslexia, Crohn’s Disease or speech impairment.

• people with severe facial or bodily disfigurement (not including tattoos or body piercings) are protected by the Act without the need to demonstrate any effect on ability to carry out normal day to day activities, provided it is long term or recurring.  Examples of disfigurements include scars, birthmarks, limb or postural deformation (including restricted bodily development), or diseases of the skin.

• The Act states that a person who has cancer, HIV infection or multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disabled person. This means that the person is protected by the Act effectively from the point of diagnosis.

http://www.compassdisability.org.uk/index.php?page=so-what-does-the-term-disability-mean-exactly

The information above was listed at the link I just shared above. Please click on the link and check out all the invaluable information it shares. ❤

Bear Good Fruit!

For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone. Audrey Hepburn
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season. Psalm 1:3

Just as a bountiful harvest depends on a source of clean water, the quality of the “fruit” in our life—our words, actions, and attitude—depends on our spiritual nourishment. The psalmist describes this in Psalm 1: The person “whose delight is in the law of the Lord . . . is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season” (vv. 1–3). And Paul writes in Galatians 5 that those who walk in step with the Spirit are marked by “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (vv. 22–23).

Sometimes our perspective on our circumstances turns sour, or our actions and words become persistently unkind. There is no good fruit, and we must realize that we haven’t spent time being quiet before the words of our God. But when the rhythm of our days is rooted in reliance on Him, we bear good fruit. Patience and gentleness characterize our interactions with others; it’s easier to choose gratitude over complaint.

The God who has revealed Himself to us is our source of strength, wisdom, joy, understanding, and peace (Ps. 119:28, 98, 111, 144, 165). As we steep our souls in the words that point us to Him, the work of God’s Spirit will be evident in our lives.

Today my beloved friends I encourage you that a smile has such a fascinating effect on our brain chemistry. Researchers have found that “when we smile it releases brain chemicals called endorphins which have an actual physiological relaxing effect.” Not only can a smile diffuse a tense situation, but it can also diffuse tension within us. Our emotions affect us as well as others. The Bible teaches us to “get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another” (Eph. 4:31–32). Be a Blessing today and everyday- Bear Good Fruit! 😊❤

Dementia Information & Facts

Blessings dear friends! Today I am going to share a few more websites and excerpts from them on information and facts about Dementia. As always feel free to email me anytime at barbgadway@live.com. I send love and hugs to each one of you and I will see you all again on Saturday. Have a marvelous Monday and rest of your week! I hope the information I share today enlightens and helps you in understanding even more what Dementia is all about. 😊❤

We’re all forgetful at times, regardless of our age and mental health. However, as we age, our risk of dementia increases, and by the age of 85 almost 35-percent of those in your age group with be afflicted with this degenerative disorder that causes gradually and worsening memory loss and mental skills.

If a loved shows the following ten early warning signs of dementia, book an appointment to see a doctor immediately…

1. Memory Loss

Mild cognitive impairment (or as doctors refer to it, MCI) explains memory loss that is more pronounced than typical age-related forgetfulness.  MCI will cause an inability to recall short term memory (or recent events) such as what you did yesterday or last week. However, suddenly a strong ability to remember specific from the past will occur.

2. Declining Motor Function

Difficulty with coordination and motor functions will occur as the condition progresses and can take years, but occurs when you lose the physical ability to perform routine tasks (i.e., go to the washroom, drive to your grocery store, operate the stove) and need 24-hour care for your own safety.

3. Disorientation

Problems with disorientation, for example getting lost on a routine trip to the same doctor’s office you’ve been going to for years is an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia. For instance, an individual with Alzheimer’s disease suffers death of the nerve cells very gradually, over a period of years, which causes them to struggle with thinking, decision-making and memory, which makes is confusing and scary, and often causes them to withdrawal from normal  day-to-day life.

4. Behavioral Changes

Personality changes that may include the opposite manners or personality traits—for example, becoming cranky when you were always easy going, becoming blissful when you were always a curmudgeon, or just being inappropriate in public can signify the onset of Dementia.

5. Paranoia

Among the behavioral and psychiatric symptoms of  Alzheimer’s, paranoia is one of the most disturbing. Behavior that’s characterized as paranoid and suspicious (particularly of others in cases where the patient has the aid of a caregiver or lives in a facility) may spur from feelings that they are losing control.

Patients with Alzheimer’s can become so delusional and suspicious of those around them that they become accusatory and charge caregivers, doctors, and co-residents of theft, infidelity, and lying. As a caregiver or relative, these accusations can be extremely hurtful, which is why it’s vital to keep in mind that the disease is causing this action.

http://www.activebeat.co/your-health/the-10-common-symptoms-of-dementia/?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=AB_GGL_US_DESK-SearchMarketing&utm_content=g_c_177531507811&cus_widget=kwd-318235162&utm_term=dementia%20facts&cus_teaser=

Please click on the above link to find out more early warning signs and find out more invaluable information. 😊

What is Dementia? A Few Things You May Not Know

1. Dementia is not a disease itself. Dementia is the umbrella term used to describe a set of symptoms that include memory loss, cognitive decline and changes in behavior. There are some forms of dementia that can be reversed if they are treated properly and early on, while others are progressive with symptoms worsening over time.
2. Dementia affects more than just the elderly. First, dementia is not a normal part of the aging process. While it’s true that seniors are generally most affected by dementia, it’s possible for younger people to have it, too. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that there are around 200,000 people under age 65 who have younger-onset Alzheimer’s.
3. Alzheimer’s disease is just one form of dementia. It’s not uncommon to use the terms Alzheimer’s disease and dementia to describe the same symptoms, but in fact, Alzheimer’s is simply one form of dementia. Other forms of dementia include vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementias, and less common forms like Parkinson’s disease dementia, Huntington’s disease, Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, and dementia from traumatic brain injuries.
4. Early diagnosis can improve quality of life. It can be difficult to diagnosis dementia early on due to the fact that symptoms are often mild and go unnoticed. In fact, some studies have estimated that some people had been experiencing symptoms for as long as five years before being diagnosed. If you suspect you or a loved one have begun to display some of the most common warning signs of dementia, it’s vital to visit the doctor as soon as possible for a dementia test. Some medications can be prescribed that can help ease and slow the progression of the symptoms.
5. More research on dementia is needed. To better understand dementia, more research and funding is desperately needed. There’s still very little research regarding dementia risk factors, as well as for the development of new, more effective treatments to reduce symptoms or to slow or stop the disease. Diagnostic studies are also needed to help find better ways to accurately diagnose forms of dementia like Alzheimer’s disease in the early stages. The Alzheimer’s Association is always looking for more participants to get involved in clinical trials to help find better treatments and possible ways to prevent and cure Alzheimer’s disease.
6. http://www.ascseniorcare.com/5-interesting-facts-dementia/
7. Please click on the above link to find out even more invaluable information about Dementia. 😊 
   
                  I hope that the information I have shared these last few days has helped you in some way in understanding what Dementia is all about. Have a great, blessed Monday and rest of your week! I will see you all again on Saturday! Much love ❤👱