The Disabilities Act in the Workplace

August 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Republican candidates Ronald Reagan, left, and...
Image via Wikipedia

Having a disability or knowing someone you love with a disability can be a difficult situation to deal with. There are many obstacles and challenges to overcome when a loved one must operate their life with a handicap. In most cases though the handicap is an obstacle but does allow for the person to live a life of quality and sustenance. In keeping with that spirit of making sure that persons with handicaps receive the same treatment that everyone else receives the government has often stepped in to set up and then revise the Americans with Disabilities Act or the ADA as it is otherwise known. One of the more recent signings of this act was in 1990.

The president at that time George H. Bush signed into law the effect. The long title for this law was “An Act to Establish a clear and comprehensive prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability.” The shorter version of this act is known now as the ADA.

Basically what this law indicates is that a person with disabilities is not allowed to be discriminated against based on their handicap. So a person with a disability is not allowed to be fired or not hired to a job solely based on their physical disadvantage. However, if the sole function of the job is not in cooperation with abilities of the handicap person then there is basis to not be employed at that job. This is simply a way to keep employers honest about how they are hiring.

Those people in the handicap community are often discriminated against as there is stigma that they can’t do their jobs as effectively as those who are not handicapped. This of course is not correct and so the act has tried to make a much more comfortable work place for those people. The act also states that people who are physically limited should have handicap accessible equipment and access at work in order for them to be able to function in their environment. Things such as wheelchair ramps and handicap stalls were to be installed.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Care & Support, Disability Care, Other Tagged With: , , ,

Understanding Disability with an Online Healthcare Management Degree

August 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment
DISABLED PEOPLE JUST NEED TO FIND JESUS???
Image by the_moog via Flickr

Disability and Its Perceived Image in Society

Disability is a topic of discussion that many people who have experienced it in some way are very serious and passionate about. They understand the challenges disabled people face and have a heart to help in any way they can. There are many disability programs that educate the general public on the benefits available for disabled people. The programs provide general information detailing how to successfully care for a person who has challenges resulting from a physical injury or psychological incident leading to the inability to function normally.

Researching Disability Information Online

Patients and family members of disabled individuals can find an assortment of information online to help them as they cope with the disability. Many online portals, including medical facilities, universities, and online libraries, have a wealth of knowledge about disabilities. Information is usually broad, but a thorough research of the sites can help in getting more specific information about particular disabilities. Physicians and psychologists write some of the information on the sites. A person can find research papers about disability on these sites. Students who have earned an online healthcare management degree from schools that emphasize focus on medical ailments and conditions also provide content.

Educating and Helping Persons with Disabilities

Patients who have a disability issue are helped tremendously by  Educational materials and resources can help patients who have a disability issue. These sources can offer step-by-step ways to apply for benefits. Some sources focus on disability rights. It’s advantageous for the individual to stay abreast of any changes and developments in disability laws. If there are any changes in disability benefits, case workers who manages the file will send patients letters about the change. It’s in the best interest of patients to stay as knowledgeable as possible about the laws that affect them and the condition.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Care & Support, Disability Care Tagged With: , ,

Easy Steps for Dealing with the Wheelchair

August 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment
This is the internationally recognized symbol ...
Image via Wikipedia

One of the more difficult things to do when dealing with a newly disabled person in your life is finding a way to accommodate them in your home. When you first bought your home you never envisioned it would have to be equipped for your loved one who is now going to be using a wheelchair for the long term. But life changes and so does the circumstances.

Dealing with a wheelchair in the home is not only an emotional and mental adjustment but in order to do it right it is a financial adjustment as well. But sometimes it’s not easy to make all the adjustments necessary at one time so sometimes you have to improvise. A few simple steps can make your home wheelchair friendly and without hurting you too much in the pocket book.

Adding a rail to the bathroom can be a quick and painless fix. You can go to a local hardware store or a home medical supply store and find a metal rail which you could install in your home for under 30 dollars. All you will need is an electric drill. You can place a rail by the toilet and on the inside of the shower.

Moving products on shelves to a lower location is easy and doesn’t necessarily require any other tools. Simply removing useful items from the top of cabinets and putting them underneath counters or on counter tops can create a comfort for your disabled loved one by making everything they need in the home within reach.

If you are going to make adjustments then you might need to accommodate for the stairs. If your loved one used to occupy a bedroom upstairs then you might want to do your best and swap rooms in order to keep them on the level floor. This can be a big sacrifice for everyone involved but it can make the ease of living with a wheelchair improve. A few simple adjustments and you can make a tough situation much more manageable and comfortable for your loved one.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Care & Support, Disability Care, Rehab Tagged With: , , ,

Transitioning into Long Term Care

August 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

When you have spent a very good amount of time taking care of a loved one who is disabled, it can be very difficult to transition out of that role. One of the big reasons for that transitioning is when your loved one is put in a long term care facility. This happens because it makes the best sense for their quality of life long term to be in a place where there is long term care but the adjustment for you and the loved one can be very difficult.

One of the hardest things to transition out of is the routine. That’s why when a loved one is put into long term care there is a tendency to make promises that are difficult to accomplish. For instance, you might tell your loved one that you will be sure to visit everyday but what happens is the function of your life changes and it becomes difficult to get out to see them everyday.

Do not feel guilty about this. There is no shame in letting your life take a new form and finding that there are new things to fill your day. You gave a long time to the care and comfort of someone else and now it is time to make your own life and no one, not even your loved one in question, should fault you for that.

The goal is to not make unrealistic expectations with your loved one. It would be hard for someone to visit every single day unless they are at a retirement age. You are best making the reasonable goal of visiting once or twice a week with another once or twice a week phone call. It’s easier to live up to a reasonable plan and make that loved one happy, rather than try and live up to an unrealistic plan only to disappoint. If you are direct and honest your loved one with at the very least have to respect your honesty. It’s a difficult transition for both of you but it’s clearly for the best and that’s all that matters.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Care & Support, Medication, Rehab Tagged With: , , ,

Benefits and Drawbacks of Rebif

August 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Modern drug ampoules
Image via Wikipedia

The world of medicine gets better and more helpful every day. If you are someone who is dealing with a disability you can take comfort in knowing that modern medicine is making advances every day for you to deal with the symptoms of your disability. For those diseases that are medically caused they are working tirelessly to get you closer to a cure of at the very least a way to manage your disease.

One of these drugs used is a drug called Rebif. This is a drug used to treat multiple sclerosis. The main ingredient in Rebif is a drug called interferon. This drug has been known to be helpful in the reduction of multiple sclerosis relapses. This is great for sufferers of this dreaded disease. One of the reasons that interferon is so helpful in preventing these relapses is because interferon has anti inflammatory properties in them.

Now if you suffer from multiple sclerosis or know someone who does then you also know that one of the things that happens in an ms sufferer is that the blood brain barrier breaks down this affects their ability to control muscle movements. The reason why rebif is so good is it helps against the break downs of this blood brain barrier.

If you or someone you know are going to be taking Rebif then you should be aware that there are more than a few side effects to the medication. The first is simply flu like symptoms. This is a rather easy thing to navigate. However there are some things that you need to watch out for. If you are taking a blood test then you may see that there is a poor liver function. This is a hazard of taking Rebif.

Another thing you might find out is that there are cell abnormalities. This is common. But then if you are experiencing serious side effects you will see depression and perhaps liver failure. Rebif can certainly help you but it should come with a very frank and honest discussion with your doctor before taking it.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Care & Support, Equipments, Medication Tagged With: , ,

The Benefits of Humira

August 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Humira
Image by lyzadanger via Flickr

The miracles of modern medicine continue as the treatment of disabling diseases grow and improve. If you are dealing with a disabling disease or perhaps are the care giver for a loved one with a disability or a disabling disease you can take comfort in knowing that science is working tirelessly to get the best treatment available to you to help combat the illnesses that plague you. One such drug used in the fight against Rheumatoid Arthritis is Humira.

If you are not familiar with Rheumatoid Arthritis you should know that it’s a debilitating disease. It’s an inflammatory disease that can affect your tissues as well as your joints. This can be incredibly painful and debilitating to anyone who is unlucky enough to be afflicted with such pain. While it can affect people of all ages as well as young adults, it most often begins to affect people between the ages of 40 and 50. Those affected can lose ability in motor function and mobility. This can be one of the hardest diseases.

Humira is amongst the best drugs on the market for the fight against this crippling disease. The reason why Humira works is because it has something in it called a TNF receptor. This helps curb the inflammatory properties of the several diseases it is designed to fight. Other diseases that it fights are Crohn’s Disease, Plaque Psoriasis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Humira comes in the form of syringes or pens and is preloaded so that you do not have to draw the medicine out. The medicine is to be taking subcutaneously, which means through the skin. The only noticeable draw back to this medication is that since TNF is an agent that suppresses the immune system that if a new infection were to arise, the immune system may not be equipped to fight off the new infection. This could be deadly if the infection is true enough.

Being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis is a very difficult disease but with the help of drugs like Humira can make it easier to deal with.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Care & Support, Medication Tagged With: , ,
Newer Posts »