Though social distancing may be necessary to combat coronavirus transmission, it should not be done at the cost of isolating people with disabilities who may become isolated and depressed due to this process. Isolation could result in depression as well as additional problems.
Helping disabled people support coordination Melbourne requires changing one’s perceptions and approaches. Knowing how you can best assist can be challenging; here are a few strategies you can employ for making an impactful contribution:
Spend Time With Them
Millions of disabled people worldwide want meaningful lives as members of their communities, yet many need assistance in order to do this successfully. It is crucial that they develop meaningful relationships to keep themselves happy and optimistic while also avoiding isolation which poses increased risks of depression and heart disease.
One way to help is by encouraging them to spend more time outdoors, such as an afternoon at the park or even just relaxing in their own backyard if safe. They should also consider joining a disability support group as it’s an excellent way to meet similar individuals and make new friendships.
Assuring people with disabilities that it’s normal to experience depression and bad days is vitally important; this does not equate to weakness or bravery on their part; honesty with them about having down days is always best.
Encourage Them To Go Out
Disabled people face numerous personal and social obstacles that must be addressed on both fronts. Some can be addressed with education or training programs; other issues require the dedicated effort and support from their communities.
Even though some may feel awkward around disabled individuals, it is essential that we make the effort and stop avoiding them. Anxiety about patronizing them or saying the wrong thing needn’t be an obstacle; that doesn’t have to be the case!
Spending time with disabled people is a wonderful way to make them feel included and improve their mood. Try meeting with them regularly and discussing topics such as work, music or happy memories from the past. Or join a disability support group so they can meet others facing similar struggles – helping them realize they’re not alone and potentially altering how they view themselves.
Tell Them Your Story
Disabled people often receive harsh treatment from society, which can damage their self-esteem, confidence and performance at work as well as contribute to depression.
Finding a local support system can be essential, whether that means turning to national organizations that focus on disability or local independent living centers for assistance. Reaching out to the United Way office could also prove useful; contact them and they’ll give you a list of resources that might aid your search for help.
Being disabled requires learning new skills, adapting your lifestyle and relearning things that most of us take for granted – an experience which can be extremely difficult. Setting realistic goals and setting a pace to meet them are vital, rather than trying to rush or overaggressively push yourself. Engaging in activities you enjoy or creating new ones which support mental wellbeing will help you adapt better when faced with obstacles in life.
Change Perceptions In Society
Disabled people still face many forms of discrimination. These can include architectural, attitudinal and technological obstacles like narrow doorways or inaccessible polling stations.
Disabilities can often be misunderstood and stigmatised. Therefore, it is essential to be conscious of how you speak about disabled people and challenge any negative assumptions when you notice them.
Lewandowski describes our society’s common approach to disability as one that needs medical intervention to fix, which she refers to as the “medical model.” This can create a stigmatizing impression.
This approach breeds more pity than respect for disabled people’s abilities. Instead, we should think about creating more positive representations of disability in our culture; one way might be including disabled people in sports and activities to show they’re no different from non-disabled peers.