Title: Re: [QUAD-L] Re: [Spinalcordinjury] Also new to group--thoughts and questions
Amelia
I went through some similar things back here a couple yrs ago when lookin 4 a school 2 attend. Was kinda not feeling the Community College or IUPUI for the fact I didn’t want 2 be 1 of few disabled people there. Not wanting 2 be looked at differently not wanting 2 be around so many that didn’t understand. I choose 2 go 2 Goodwill Industries where they had a sweat shop forgive me sheltered workshop 4 over 40yrs & some people been back there that long and still making the same $$$ pay rate they were in the 1960’s how can a person work at a job for 40 yrs and never get a raise or promotion? Yet they claim 2 be training people with disabilities 2 be ready 4 the real world workforce. Which I know is not 4 everybody. Oh enough of that venting 4give me I’m very passionate about some issues as this. Don’t get me wrong Goodwill Industries do a lot of good things. They were great 4 me in training, job placement at that time. And even now in helping me find funding 2 get more training. I start at the same Community College I shied away from a few yrs ago. I could’ve had the associates degree I’m going back 4 now. Stuntman told me that I’d need a degree being dis-abled it would take more than knowing the programs to get the good jobs. I had a good job that until the company got bought out was perfect. But I guess it was 2 soon for me just getting out the nursing home moving into my own apartment. I just wasn’t ready 2 be totally out in public yet. Catching the bus back & forth 2 school was enough everyday. I had 2transfer twice somedays. Then there were the days when the lifts didn’t work, non-accessible bus on route... Driver pass you by,on stop, driver didn’t know how 2 lock chair get an attitude with me. Others on bus pissed because they’ll miss there connecting bus or be l8 4 work. It took me a long time 2 get used 2 all this stuff. But Ivy Tech look out 4 me I’m on my way.
Houston
On 12/16/04 7:44 PM, "Dana Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Good advice and generally works better going to a community college. Since
> I was living with my mother after rehab, I was able to take a course free as
> my mother taught there. They did not have on line classes and all the
> schools were just getting into the computer labs and courses. My mother
> pulled a few strings and they let me record the class, write and study at
> home and the teacher came to the house for tests. Got an A, but what I was
> going thru mentally was close to a nervous breakdown! It was just a year
> after my accident and I was not doing well--and yes, nights were worse. The
> house was not w/c accessable except for a ramp built to get in the house. I
> could not answer or get to a phone, the tv or my room. Could get in the
> kitchen and living room but that was it. All I could do was "think" and my
> mind nearly went bonkers. I had 8 hours of nursing care a day, but for some
> reason thought my mother was the only one who could do BP. The agency
> nurses were not 'rehab' nurses.
> Looking back there were many things those nurses could have done to take the
> pressure off my mother, but I did what they said not to--use a family member
> for personal care! My mother taught college, was raising a pre-teen boy
> with little suport from hubby, making meals, laundry altho the nurses began
> to do my laundry, doing church things, running the house and then caring for
> me in the evenings. I was terrified to be left alone, even for 15-20
> minutes while my mother would pick up my half brother from school. I had
> anxiety attacks, the dry heaves and just "had" to be put to bed right at
> supper time and then all I could eat/drink was an egg milkshake. Oh, was
> going thru a divorce thru the first half of the year too and my son would
> come every other weekend so that was even more work for my mother. Some
> weekends I would go to my boyfriends place and give mom a break. She does
> not agree with "living together" but I'm sure she welcommed the break.
>
> One afternoon I felt like I needed to scream and something told me if I
> started I would not stop.
> Fortunately was able to get ahold of the doc at 5 o clock on a friday (!),
> he knew I was having problems and I guess he heard the need in my voice and
> ordered valium. It took every ounce of strength I had to wait until the
> valium was ready. 30 minutes later I felt perfectly normal! It helped but
> I still had a lot of problems being alone and still basically lived on egg
> milkshakes--some people call them
>
> Nights were still the worse. I was told that it takes 5-7 years to 'adjust'
> to being a quad--well I took every second of that and more! When mom
> finally found an apartment building for me move into, it was the begining of
> the begining! When it became time to leave the hospital and rehab I was
> convinced I was going to die. They said I pulled every trick in the
> book--whatever that was! BG!
> If a newbie wants to vent, go right ahead. Even tho it was 'only' 20 years
> ago, there was no computer, no lists, no connection to the outside world.
> Now there is and I think it is one of the most important things I think a
> newbie needs whether they realize it or not!
>
> My term paper for the year!
> take care,
>
> Dana and ?
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Cc: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2004 5:43 PM
> Subject: [QUAD-L] Re: [Spinalcordinjury] Also new to group--thoughts and
> questions
>
>
>>
>> In a message dated 14/12/2004 08:27:00 GMT Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> writes:
>>
>> Shane,
>>
>> Since my accident I have taken on-line courses only. My accident was last
>> year. However, sooner or later I will have to go to actual classes, which
>> I am
>> not looking foward to even though on-line courses seem to be more
>> demanding.
>> Before the accident I used to work full time and go to shcool part time.
>> Now,
>> I only go to school full time, but it seems I have less time to do
>> anything.
>> I guess it is because it takes me longer to do everything. Apart from
>> that,
>> my sleep schedule is way off. I tend to feel anxiety at night more than
>> during the day so it is difficult for me to sleep, unless I am dead
>> tired. I
>> wonder if anyone else feels that way and what they do about it.
>>
>> Well, I guess that is all for now. Thanks for your message!
>>
>> Amelia
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Amelia,
>>
>> Your email about being worried about started full time school sounds all
>> too
>> familiar. I was feeling the same a couple of years ago when I started
>> back
>> at college after my accident. This is when you need a good school
>> that'll
>> support you health wise, and if they do then you shouldn't have any
>> problem.
>> When I started my course I told them that I hardly slept during the night
>> so
>> daytime I was drowsy, and explained to them my worries and they were
>> fantastic. I guess as long as you are straight up and open with them
>> right from day
>> one you will have no worries!
>>
>> Keep us posted!
>>
>> love Smurf xxx
>>
>
>
