When Chronically Ill People Are Assertive, Are We Not Taken Seriously?

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By Lisa Copen I had just received the third pink slip in two weeks from the lab that said my payment was passed due. Over three times I had called and my insurance company had assured me that the lab work was covered and that they would mail out a check that afternoon. This time, when I finally got a representative on the telephone, I was polite, but firm. I said that I wanted the problem taken care of immediately, and I wrote down her name and the supervisor's name. It was time to get even more assertive. When chronically ill people are assertive, is it not taken seriously? Is it assumed that we won't have the energy or stamina to fight all of the battles that we will face? When we do talk to someone in customer service, we are rarely … [Read more...]

Rest Ministries Hosting “Patients for a Moment Carnival” May 19th

Have you heard of Patients for a Moment Blog Carnival? Rest Ministries is the host for May 19th. . . so start thinking about submitting an entry. Each host chooses a topic & our question for you to answer in your blog is, "1 Thing. " "What 1 thing will you do this summer that is out of the ordinary, not typical of you, adventurous, or uplifting? --despite your illness!" For example, a couple of months ago my my sister, husb& & I went to CA Adventure at Disneyl& & for the first time since I've had rheumatoid arthritis (17 years) I got on a roller coaster that went upside down. California Screamin' was a blast. I was sore, using a wheelchair, getting sick, & even had thrush so bad I couldn't actually scream. But I decided on a whim to do … [Read more...]

New Symbol Needed For Invisible Disabilities?

The international symbol for disabilities is nearly always the wheelchair, but only a small percentage of people with a disability use a wheelchair on a daily basis. Laura Brydges hopes to change this & has a Facebook page set up to spread the word. (Must be Facebook member to see) She explains. . . What do you think of this symbol as an international symbol for hidden disabilities? It is meant to be used as an ID card carried by people with hidden disabilities. They can show it to identify themselves & their needs when they are having trouble coping or when they need help. The back of the card would be individualized, allowing them to state their specific disability, & what assistance they need. She says. . . Help this symbol be … [Read more...]

Resources for Kids with Disabilities or Illness

If you have a child who may need some special services, it's hard to know where to even start to figure out exactly who to turn to. Oftentimes, if you have a good pediatrician, he or she can narrow it down to a few resources that may be the most helpful at the current time. But as with any health situation, circumstances change, the condition may change & even your financial situation, which can cause you to go looking for new resources. Here is THE web site you need to know about: The Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities. There are thous&s of resources at this web site, as it truly is a clearing house of information. You will find all of the following, broken down according to which state you live in. educational … [Read more...]