Disability works

[RogerCMerriman]

headway.org.uk/news/nationa...

And

bbc.co.uk/news/business-389...

BBC is doing a week of stuff about folks with disability who work. And issues around that.

[swedishblue]

Hi Roger, that is really interesting. I've been trying to look it up on the BBC website to see which channel (radio or tv) the episode with Fiona's sah is on, but alas it's nowhere to be found. Will it be incorporated in to the general news do you think?

[Julesgettingthere in reply to swedishblue]

Found the following:

The main day of output is Wednesday 22 February when reports will appear across all BBC News output including Radio 4’s Today Programme, the News at Six and Ten on BBC One, BBC News Channel, BBC World News, and BBC Online.

Jules

x

[swedishblue in reply to Julesgettingthere]

well done Jules and thanks very much x

[Julesgettingthere in reply to swedishblue]

Hey Sweedish - i found it all by myself, so so proud !

Jules

x

[swedishblue in reply to Julesgettingthere]

haha...you did well!

[Julesgettingthere]

Ditto Roger i cant find it....

Jules

x

[barny1]

I hope this doesn't only focus on people whom worked prior to their BI but also those have never worked due to a childhood/adolescent BI and may like/want to but find there's little support.

I take issue with the popular phrase used 'returning to work' because it presumes you were an adult when you had a BI and implies that you had worked prior to your BI.

[Julesgettingthere in reply to barny1]

Hello Barny, Jules here,

Gosh, that must be so hard - is that you ?

What first comes to mind as i think about that situation is there might be something amazing you might produce if given the right support/guidance/opportunity. An untapped thing. Rare.

What were your thoughts on working for yourself Barry ? I have no idea of your situation, other than i think you have a Bi when you were young - hope i havent offended you or anyone reading this.

My situation is different, mine was when i was 44. But trying to get the right support for my cognitive problems has been difficult/absent untill relatively recently - i am now 51 i think.

With best of intentions Barry

Jules

x

[barny1 in reply to Julesgettingthere]

Hi Jules

Yes that is my current situation unfortunately there isn't much help, I've managed to do voluntary work, but would like to be moving on with my life. I'm under the care of a neurologist with rehabilitation specialism whom I saw with a view to getting help and advice work/career-wise as I'm not motivated or inspired to do anything, I hoped I'd get some vocational therapy/advice but all they've been able to do is refer me to an independent charity as they no longer provide vocational help on the NHS in Salford. And as far as I understand most vocational support is oriented towards those who've been working and would be returning to work after a BI, so I feel let down by the service. It seems they don't feel helping people to live as normal a life as possible by working after BI is a priority.

I had my BI very young at 14, so it messed up my personal development. People think that given I'm intelligent enough I should be able to help myself, but I've found intelligence doesn't always translate into action and nobody but me can grasp that. I don't know if working for myself would be the solution, although it gives me more freedom to respect issues such as fatigue, I also have motivational problems and managing myself is hard enough in itself, but worth considering if all else fails.

[RogerCMerriman in reply to barny1]

I do always feel for folks and their parents who, have a life changing event when young.

Both party quite naturally wounded about the person they might have been, where as for folks where it happened middle aged in many ways it's easier to adjust, and frankly it's easier to keep a job than get a job.

[barny1 in reply to RogerCMerriman]

Thanks Rog!

[Julesgettingthere in reply to barny1]

Hello Barry, Jules here.

Forgive the hour - i dont sleep (as you probably already know from my previous posts.

Wanted to jot this down for you now whilst its still in the old grey matter - hopefully you might read it in the daylight hours.

Before, though - if anyone is up an around right now, i am around for a chat.

Barry, I dont know the answer to much anymore but i do have my own experiences to share - they might help.

I am still finding it really odd in my recovery how little help there actually has been to help me retain/build up on my cognitive areas which would otherwise have helped me to retain employment. All the right words were said but as the months turned into years and still no proper cognitive retaining i did and do still wonder if i might have kept my previous job had the help been given to me before now.

( I had to eventually stand down from my position and now work just from home a few hours a week on' basic' tasks.

The reason i am telling you this is Im wondering if it is as you say in your post or is it that the NHS just dont help people to start work OR to retain work when they have had a Bi - ie it isnt their remit.

I know the NHS help with the recovery stages to ensure people can live at home safely/with a quality of life - but i wonder what the policy is on helping them to get a job/retain a job after a Bi.

I wonder if this is left to the patient to go private ?

I was talking to someone recently about an organisation called Momentum and i think this is what they offer/do. I am considering it at the moment.

I appreciate the NHS help improve cognitive impairment with those with really serious issues - but to me keeping my previous job, and now retaining this one is extremely important to my quality of life/feeling of usefulness.

Am i missing the point here ?

well meaning Jules

x

[barny1 in reply to Julesgettingthere]

That's interesting about Momentum, I've found their site momentumuk.org.uk. Unfortunately, they don't have a centre near me as I'm based in the Northwest. But it seems as though they have work training programmes and such.

Yes, I think you're right about that, getting people back into work after BI isn't a priority for the NHS, consequently people become dependent on others who may have to cut-back on their work to care. Apparently this saves money. I was told by my neuro-rehab specialist that they used to provide vocational help on the NHS but this was discontinued many years ago probably around 2010. Yes, the only way to go is private or rely on the goodwill of charities for brain injuries after acute hospital care has dried up. Money is not the issue, I just have so many doubts and would like professional input by recommendation of the people in charge of my care, I don't want to go it alone but I may have to.

About cognitive training, the best cognitive training is that which you do on your own, whether it's to write, play music, study, read, dance, paint, draw, knit, sing, play games, etc. It's important to be structured about it and do it regularly and combine it with a healthy lifestyle to see the best results. You honestly don't need someone else to train you on aspects of your cognition, there are many free brain-training games available over the internet nowadays. The only thing that is beneficial about seeing a professional like a neuropsychologist is that they can test your abilities to identify areas that are deficient and need to be worked on. I don't know about your personal circumstances but even going for a walk regularly has been shown to improve cognition, but the best results are always a combination of lifestyle and cognitive training.

[Rufietufie in reply to Julesgettingthere]

Hi Jules,

Have you written anywhere about the recent support you have received for your cognitive challenges? You imply that it has changed you life in positive ways!

Best. Ian

[bexx87 in reply to barny1]

I have my TBI at the start of adolescent and my mum put me into college when I was 16 2 and half years after my BI, school thought I was doomed, college didn't, I didn't realise I had to work after college but Im now 16 years after my BI (10 years of my career spent in college) and work are supportive when it comes to things like my short term memory ect but there are times that work get too much and I get overwhelmed and stressed and my anger comes out if something has annoyed me but I tell people that I work and I have a BI they are shocked and there are times (like now) where I cant be bother to do anything and idk why its really frustrating

[barny1 in reply to bexx87]

Do you think if your mum didn't already do, you'd have gone to college? I went to college then went to uni, but it wasn't my decision, left alone I don't think I would've gone, I have trouble initiating things.

[bexx87 in reply to barny1]

I don't think I would have gone as I had no idea what the options where, when I left college I had no idea that I had to sign on but my ex guided me to that stage but I think its wrong that my mum wants to take all the credit for getting where I am today, when she did 1 little thing my ex deserves more credit than she does as he helped me more than she did

[swedishblue]

Did anyone catch Fiona's story of returning to work with her disability? I'm scanning BBC sites manically trying to locate her but there's no mention of her. I'm very interested to learn how she is managing.