Sharing your life with others as a caregiver or support staff is a blessing and an amazing opportunity for personal growth as well. I have been doing this type of work my entire life and truly each one of the individuals I have had the privilege of meeting and working with have definately improved my life for the better.
Many times our lifestyles and cultural backgrounds differ in many ways but once you are able to spend time with, share experiences with the person, understand their manner of communication and build trust with them amazing similarities surface and you learn from each other.
Life has often been challenging for many of the people I have taken care of for their entire life, and others unpredictable circumstances have caused major changes in their lives as adults.
I have spent many hours within the community assisting people who use wheelchairs, who use walkers or have vision or hearing difficulties as well as those with autism or intellectual or developmental disabilities.
The community can often be difficult for those with differences to navigate and feel comfortable or confident functioning in.
Even with the many accommodations and upgrades that have now been added there are still are many “road blocks” that have been overlooked in the overall design of things that will often end up being a huge problem for someone who functions differently then the majority of the population.
Many times other individuals in the community are the problem.
Handicap vans need room to drop a ramp to EXIT and ENTER accessible spaces. If someone parks beside the van in the lined off “ramp space” The person in the wheelchair is not able to get into the van when they return. They must find the person and ask them to move or wait until that person finishes their appointment or errand and returns!
As a caregiver I have found some locations where employees have been extremely helpful offering assistance eager to engage in conversation with the person I am supporting and other location that have been very dismissive and seem to be uncomfortable interacting with those with a different level of ability then the majority of the population.
We need to find a way to leave positive feedback for the places that are easily accessed by those with disabilities and even better feedback for those who are welcoming, friendly and enjoy interacting and giving positive customer service to everyone including those with different abilities.
Please if you are a person who has. grown up and had very little exposure to or experience communicating with people with differences please say hello to and treat all people with equal respect and value. No-one wants to be treated differently, dismissed or laughed at for their differences.
I once had someone dismiss my concerns by stating that it was simply a lifestyle difference.
There are no lifestyle differences that cannot be improved upon.
CHOOSE KINDNESS,
CHOOSE RESPECT FOR DIFFERENCES,
CHOOSE TO SEE LIKENESS INSTEAD OF DIFFERENCE,
NEVER LAUGH OR DISMISS SOMEONE FOR THEIR DIFFERENCES
At any moment our lives could change drastically.
What was once easily accessible to us may no longer be accessible. Our ability to freely communicate feelings or needs to others may no longer be possible.
The lifestyle that you once enjoyed could change in an instant.
I pray people one day realize that things that they might find humorous today may not be very funny if they are ever forced to endure what others are enduring on a daily basis.
With Respect, Hope, Joy and Love, Carmela
Carmela Snelbaker 