Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live my friend. I am happy to have you around my table. Thank you. Yesterday I published the article, Brain Injury Recovery — Dependence or Independence? In that article I encouraged the inclusion and participation of brain injury survivors in professional brain injury conferences to encourage independence. Inclusion and participation in professional brain injury conferences to encourage and empower independence. Independence to cultivate hope. In today’s article, I would like to share that article with you in video format. I create video presentations of my articles to make the information available to individuals who learn through listening and watching.
In that article I encouraged the inclusion and participation of brain injury survivors in professional brain injury conferences to encourage independence. Independence to cultivate hope in the lives of individuals living with brain injuries.
Below is an excerpt from the article:
“Whatever the motivation for not including brain injury survivors in the planning, participation and presentation at the conference, the end result was disenfranchisement. Disenfranchisement from the process and the discussion to provide excellent service provision for brain injury survivors. A disenfranchisement of those working with in the brain injury industry. MD.’s, Ph. D.’s, JD’s and service providers. Professionals who could benefit from the voices of individuals living with brain injuries. A disenfranchisement from having a voice that needs to be heard.
A disenfranchisement due to a lack of interest to include the voice of brain injury survivors at professional conferences. A disenfranchisement for not including brain injury survivors to present in the program format of professional brain injury conferences. As a result of the lack of inclusion at these professional brain injury conferences brain injury survivors feel exploited. Like cattle to be bought and sold on the open market, having no choice or say so in the matter.
A disenfranchisement that results in a system that seems to promote ongoing dependencies. Dependencies that slowly drain financial resources. Dependencies on a prescribed agendas. Dependencies upon providers through MD’s, Ph. D’s, JD.’s, other professionals and services. Dependencies upon symptom treatment. Dependencies upon drug regimen’s and treatment modalities. Dependencies upon programs, that do not produce long-term solutions. Dependencies upon paying fees to receive services. Dependencies upon compliance to continue to receive services.
Dependencies that do not encourage and empower lasting hope.
Recently, I was speaking with a friend. He made a profound statement, “There is no money in independence”. As I thought about his statement I realized there is also no money in encouraging self-efficacy or self-advocacy. But then I realized, there was a better way.
Something to Consider
Consequently, as I spoke about in my article, Equality, Inclusion and Brain Injury Recovery; for many years African-American individuals were told to sit at the back of the bus. African-American individuals were led to believe that they were inferior. Such behavior continued until one day a woman by the name of Rosa Parks said no more. She took a bold move and sat in the front of the bus. What she decided to do changed things forever. In my estimation, brain injury survivors have been told to sit in the back of the bus for too long. By being told to sit in the back of the bus survivors voices have been ignored.
Like Rosa Park’s action to move to the front of the bus was heard, brain injury survivors need to take their seat at the front of the bus. The brain injury industry say’s that we are the experts, but in practice minimize, marginalize, dismiss and discount our voice. The brain injury industry says that “it is about us, with us”, but in reality the brain injury industry makes, “it about us, without us”. To professionals reading this article and for conference committees, “make it about us, with us”. Include our “voice” in your planning and at your upcoming conferences.
Brain injury survivors are being told that “it is about us, with us”, but in reality the brain injury industry makes, “it about us, without us”. To professionals reading this article, “make it about us, with us”. Let us, together; encourage self-efficacy and self-advocacy
We have the Power to Encourage Long Term Solutions
Involve brain injury survivors in the planning and preparation of your brain injury professional conferences. Have brain injury survivors present and lead workshops at your professional brain injury conferences. Because many individuals who are living with brain injuries are living on fixed incomes, pay for their expenses to attend your conferences. Involve brain injury survivors in your service provision. Invest in individuals living with brain injuries, instead of only using brain injury survivors to promote your agenda(s) and pad your bottom line (s). We are worth your investment, as we pay your salaries.
Invest in the lives of brain injury survivors, beyond your programs. Give brain injury survivors the dignity and respect that you want from us. We are more than a paycheck to you. Make it about us, with us” by including our voice (s) at your conferences. No longer keep us at the back of the bus. Invite us to sit in the front of the bus. Invite us to join the conversation. Embrace our value, significance and what we can bring to the discussion. What WE can accomplish, as you seek to succeed; through your practice (s) and service provision (s).
Together We Can Encourage and Empower Lasting Hope”
To listen to and watch the presentation of the article. you may click on this link: Brain Injury Recovery — Dependence or Independence? Video Presentation
To read the complete article from which this video presentation is made, you may click on this link: Brain Injury Recovery — Dependence or Independence?
You have my permission to share my articles and or video presentations with anyone you believe could benefit, however please attribute me as being the author of the article (s) video presentation (s), and provide a link back to the article (s) on Second Chance to Live. In the event that you have questions, please send those questions to me. All questions are good questions. Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you. Copyright 2007-2016.
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