Hope and happiness

There is a question I get asked routinely. People want to know if there was a pill that I could take to make my disability disappear, would I take it? The answer is no, and yes. You see, there are two disabilities I am affected by. Cerebral Palsy was diagnosed when I was a year and a half. I use a wheelchair for mobility. The diagnosis of depression came much later. I would take the pill only if it got rid of my psychiatric illness. The physical one is much easier to live with.

Physically, I’ve never known anything different than being in my chair and all that comes with it. Currently, I have caregivers to help me dress, cook, and provide transportation. While using a regular wheelchair doesn’t seem to affect me much, I would find life easier if I had an electric wheelchair. Although the price of an electric wheelchair varies depending on many factors, maybe I will be able to afford one and make the switch someday. It’s also worth mentioning that my caregivers help me with many other needs, so I’m pretty content with how things are going. As a person with a physical disability, I have been Ms. Wheelchair Kansas, had two amazing service dogs, and been able to advocate for myself and others about issues that affect my life. I am comfortable with my physical disability. I see it as part of who I am.

That’s all that matters. Also, such caregivers are not limited to the United States or the United Kingdom. Governments and loved ones are always available to help you, no matter where you live. In Australia, for example, there are institutions like Care For Family that have been providing high-quality, private, in-home care services for people with disabilities since 2014.since 2014. With the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), they might even be able to provide these life-changing services to an even greater number of children, young people, and adults with disabilities across New South Wales.

So, if you feel you are not able to manage many things on your own, ask for help. There are other service providers who might assist you with your travel and comfort. Disability doesn’t mean the end of your travel adventure. You can still go out with your family members in wheelchair accessible vans or cars for your road trips or vacation. In a nutshell, instead of regretting things, it is better to enjoy every moment of life. As time has gone on, there has become more of a push to get disabled people the access they need, whether that is in a shop or a building. It is crucial that they are able to go places they need to go without being stopped due to limited accessibility. I can’t tell you how upsetting it is to be worried about not knowing if the building you are going into will have the right access for you. Everyone should see this as a concern.

My psychiatric disability is different. It affects my interactions with people and how I get along in the world. Even though it is also part of who I am, I find myself fighting it often. Sometimes it wins.

I started seeking counseling in college. I saw a counselor once a week and was active in a support group. That did me a lot of good. I moved to Lawrence in 1994 to work at my first job. I went several years without counseling and did not do well. I did not have the skills I needed to get along with others, and my world came crashing down. I lost my job and felt alone and confused.

Eventually, I went to Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center. I started to see my therapist once a week and he helped me to work through issues and gain the skills that I needed to interact with other people effectively.

George keeps me grounded. Being able to talk to him objectively every week has given me insight into the issues I deal with, and a greater understanding as to why I think and feel the way that I do. Individual counseling has challenged my thinking and made me see that I am a good person and I deserve good things to happen to me.

Through Bert Nash, I also work with a case manager who specializes in employment. Ashlee has helped me to gain confidence that I can hold a job again, and at this time I am very close to being employed. My life is getting better because of the services that I receive. Until there is a magic pill that I can take to get rid of my disability, I will continue to utilize the services at Bert Nash. Those services may not “cure” me, but they will help me to live with my situation and find hope and happiness along the way. That is all I can ask for.

--Lorraine Cannistra 

Lorraine is former Miss Wheelchair Kansas and a member of Groovability, a wheelchair dance company.