Disability AwarenessDisability AwarenessDisability AwarenessDisability Awareness

Understanding and CaringUnderstanding and CaringFor America’s Veteran’s For America’s Veteran’s

CompetencyCompetency

Participants will have an understanding Participants will have an understanding of job development and placement of job development and placement issues for persons with a disabilityissues for persons with a disability

Participants will have an understanding Participants will have an understanding of how to identify and refer individuals of how to identify and refer individuals needing professional help. needing professional help.

Participants will have an understanding Participants will have an understanding of job development and placement of job development and placement issues for persons with a disabilityissues for persons with a disability

Participants will have an understanding Participants will have an understanding of how to identify and refer individuals of how to identify and refer individuals needing professional help. needing professional help.

StatisticsStatistics

51.2 million have a disability 51.2 million have a disability (18% of population)(18% of population)

1.6 million troops deployed 2008, 1.6 million troops deployed 2008,

Projected 700,000 will see the VAProjected 700,000 will see the VA

51.2 million have a disability 51.2 million have a disability (18% of population)(18% of population)

1.6 million troops deployed 2008, 1.6 million troops deployed 2008,

Projected 700,000 will see the VAProjected 700,000 will see the VA

StatisticsStatistics

In past wars for every person killed, In past wars for every person killed, 2.6 were injured. Due to improved 2.6 were injured. Due to improved techniques in the field, this war has techniques in the field, this war has been 1 killed for every 16 injured.been 1 killed for every 16 injured.

Traumatic brain injury is viewed as Traumatic brain injury is viewed as the silent injury in this war.the silent injury in this war.

In past wars for every person killed, In past wars for every person killed, 2.6 were injured. Due to improved 2.6 were injured. Due to improved techniques in the field, this war has techniques in the field, this war has been 1 killed for every 16 injured.been 1 killed for every 16 injured.

Traumatic brain injury is viewed as Traumatic brain injury is viewed as the silent injury in this war.the silent injury in this war.

Coping with a DisabilityCoping with a DisabilityCoping with a DisabilityCoping with a Disability

~ Denial and Isolation~ Denial and Isolation

~ Anger~ Anger

~ Depression~ Depression

~ Acceptance~ Acceptance

~ Hope~ Hope

This cycle can be repeated several This cycle can be repeated several timestimes

~ Denial and Isolation~ Denial and Isolation

~ Anger~ Anger

~ Depression~ Depression

~ Acceptance~ Acceptance

~ Hope~ Hope

This cycle can be repeated several This cycle can be repeated several timestimes

Artificial limbsArtificial limbsArtificial limbsArtificial limbs

~ 1031 amputations as of 2/08~ 1031 amputations as of 2/08

~ High tech prosthetics~ High tech prosthetics

~ Most have several prosthesis~ Most have several prosthesis

~ Many in demand by~ Many in demand by

employersemployers

Blind or Visually ImpairedBlind or Visually ImpairedBlind or Visually ImpairedBlind or Visually Impaired

~ Individuals who are blind are much ~ Individuals who are blind are much more capable than most people more capable than most people thinkthink

~ May be associated with other ~ May be associated with other issuesissues

~ JAN a good resource~ JAN a good resource

Deaf or Hearing ImpairedDeaf or Hearing ImpairedDeaf or Hearing ImpairedDeaf or Hearing Impaired

Persons who are born deaf are said to have Persons who are born deaf are said to have the most difficult disability because of the the most difficult disability because of the barriers of communicationbarriers of communication

~ Numbers of hearing ~ Numbers of hearing impaired is rising quicklyimpaired is rising quickly ~Number one VA ~Number one VA claimclaim ~ Things to avoid~ Things to avoid

Mental or Emotional Mental or Emotional DisordersDisorders

Anxiety DisordersAnxiety Disorders~ Panic Disorder~ Panic Disorder ~ Obsessive-compulsive Disorder~ Obsessive-compulsive Disorder ~ Post Traumatic Stress Disorder~ Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ~ Other Mental Disorders~ Other Mental Disorders ~ May have more than one ~ May have more than one

Conditions Requiring a Conditions Requiring a WheelchairWheelchair

Conditions Requiring a Conditions Requiring a WheelchairWheelchair

~ ~ There are many reasons and There are many reasons and a wide range of abilities a wide range of abilities among people who use among people who use wheelchairswheelchairs

~ Environment is the barrier~ Environment is the barrier

~ Know protocol ~ Know protocol

Traumatic Brain InjuryTraumatic Brain Injury

~ 5,503 treated as of 1/08~ 5,503 treated as of 1/08

~ Estimates of over 10% ~ Estimates of over 10% have unidentified TBI have unidentified TBI

~ Many have extreme~ Many have extreme

fatiguefatigue

~ No common ~ No common symptomssymptoms

GENERAL GUIDELINESGENERAL GUIDELINES

~ Don’t be patronizing or condescending~ Don’t be patronizing or condescending

~ Don’t feel pressured to do the right thing~ Don’t feel pressured to do the right thing

~ When in doubt – ~ When in doubt – AskAsk

~ Communicate ~ Communicate directly directly with the with the personperson

GENERAL GUIDELINESGENERAL GUIDELINES

~ Don’t pity, fear or ignore or ~ Don’t pity, fear or ignore or that that they are courageous or they are courageous or ““specialspecial””

~ Do not describe a ~ Do not describe a person by person by their their disabilitydisability~ Do not bring up a “story” of ~ Do not bring up a “story” of

someone with the same someone with the same disabilitydisability

Continued