“People with Disabilities Face Unique Grief, Loss Issues”
Written by Jo Lambert.
It is not generally understood or addressed by our society that people with disabilities experience more grief and loss on an almost daily basis than the general public.
Much of the grief and loss for the person with a disability is the same as that for the person without a disability. However, the person with a disability has the added dynamic of a daily reminder—the disability itself. . . .
Read at Access Press,
Originally from Life After Loss by Kathy Sherer, Ph.D. (From the University of Texas, Counseling and Mental Health Center). Updated in 2005
3 Comments
1. Margaret McPhersun replies at 25th June 2007, :
I agree that the range and depth of grief frequented by a person with a disability often is missed by able bodied individuals until the unfortunate day they meet a chronic disabling problem of their own. I have had MS for some time though diagnosed 3 years ago. My life is very different now than it was when I was more functional. With each exaccerbation or loss comes grief and isolation. It is very hard to let people know how difficult it is to live with the losses and with the knowledge that this is a progressive illness. Kind of like living with one foot here in the today and the other foot preparing for the needs that tomorrow may bring. I am glad I stumbled across the article, nice to know someone “gets” it.
2. Hannah replies at 4th October 2007, :
I agree with everything both of you said. A friend of mine who is a teacher got a call during the day asking her who put the book “Don’t Feel Sorry For Paul” on the 6th grade reading list. She told the person that since she taught 6th grade, she put those books on there. He told her that he was Paul and was honored that people were still reading his book! I was amazed that he called the school and everything!!
3. Sharon VonBlohn replies at 1st July 2010, :
I waited two years for a disability hearing after being denied and living on next to nothing, praying to survive. I have now been on disability for two years and in the aforementioned four years have been receiving healing from acupuncture. Now I cannot even get an interview for a ministry position, praying for any ministry that God would call me to serve. I hear the pain and frustration and grieving others are going through as they come to face their limitations head-on and then still be the person God created them to be.
I have been told perhaps several of the problems of me not even have an opportunity to have an interview are: My age, my gender and my disability. How much resilience can those of us who work with our limitations/disabilities muster when we even allow ourselves to consider what drawbacks may be existing for us? How can we keep serving the Lord and our brothers and sisters in the world when no one will give us a chance to serve?
Yes, Vocational Rehabilitation has faith in me in helping me find a career that I can do since I have limitations for hope to be able to sustain fulltime work with a ticket to work off Disability. I am doing more physical activity now than I was able to do when my children were growing up.
I just share prayers for all people who are striving to not let their disability control their lives, and also pray for those who have never been in our situation and who grow tired of those of us with “chronic” illness/disability and turn a deaf ear or want someone “healthy” or “reliable” to do the job? God has given me a miracle of healing through my acupuncturist and I hope to be able to serve God until the day I die in ministry which makes me thrive and grow in faith and as an individual. There is definitely life after loss, but it is difficult when there seems to be too much of a mountain to climb to be able to live that life.
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