26 replies to this topic

[St. Peter]

What does a young 20 year disable need to become independent?

[KayDub]

I was 22 when I got sick this summer and am still working my way towards independence. This is a pretty broad question, not all injuries are the same, not all living situations are the same just because of age, etc. What are some more details so we can help you out?

[goose]

Try talking with Harry3082. I think he lives alone. He may can give you some good advice .

[tsh3406]

I'd be happy to throw in my thoughts too....

Tim

[Vanessamaee]

Im turning 18 soon and will be going off to college. Im not living on my own yet, but I have stayed alone while parents went out of town and can contribute what Im doing to get ready to live on my own (: If you wanna talk just PM me

[Charlie-boi]

I live alone but all depends on your abilities realy

[brockit79]

A young disabe like myself (albeit I'm a young 30 something) needs the right equipment what ever that may be; to maximise potential this means getting an Occupational Therapist on your side. The only way you get anywhere is by asking them questions. There are loads of gadgets and machines available to assist just about anything. These things tend to cost a small fortune and in a lot of cases are cost prohibitive incurring the 'disability premium' :///
Broc

[Harry3082]

St. Peter Hello,
Vary Good Question !
Vary Hard to Answer !

I will try my Best for you. First you need to know or write down all the things your going to need help with if any! Make sure their going to be met!!!
Most importantly for Me was having a Few reliable people you know you can call for help if something unexpected happens! One person isnt a good idea. What if you can't reach them or their busy, further away then usually! I was lucky in that case, only living a few miles from the hospital I did my rehab in, I knew many nurses and aides that loved Me^ enough to drop everything and come help when I needed. That was almost 30 years ago.

Can you afford to live alone? You got to ask yourself and figure out your expenses!

No matter what this question varies person to person!

Will your Needs be Met?
Are you comfortable alone when still fairly a new injury?

WoW this Question Stumped Me !!
I think it can only be fully answered by the one asking it. I'd just jump out on your own and learn as you go, since were all different physically and mentally.
If at first you don't succeed you'll know what you need to try again, and Succeed!
I didn't do to bad the first time after rehab, and it was a a Good learning experience for Me.

If you have enough people to call in case something goes wrong that you need help with, just get out and learn the hard way is what worked Best for Me.

I'm going to be praying for you !
And I'm trusting you will be fine even if It doesn't go well. You'll have learned what is needed for the next time.
You will be Independant !!!


22 years in this apt alone, and I Never take being here tomorrow for granted!! Things happen!

[goose]

Good answer Harry3082...I knew you'd have some good advice (I gave you +). Having a large list of reliable help goes a long way toward peace of mind and combating urgent problems.

[Ratticis]

Kinda like asking "How much gas does a car hold?"

[Vanessamaee]

Kinda like asking "How much gas does a car hold?"

At first I thought this said "How much gas does a child have"... damn quick glances and cold medicine...

[Harry3082]

Kinda like asking "How much gas does a car hold?"

At first I thought this said "How much gas does a child have"... damn quick glances and cold medicine...

Well Said Vann !!!

[Lou05]

hey st peter i am also trying to be fully independent im 22 and i think our injuries might be similar send me a message maybe we can help each other.

[jcs0937]

I realize this is an older query but I just have to say something. Won't be popular. Every single person disabled or not, is the same person they were before their injury. I realize that yes, level of injury changes alot of factors. But for any para, what is the big issue on living alone? I was hurt in 1977. I was back on my own and going to college, 6 months after I was released from the hospital. I didn't have and still don't have all these gadgets to assist me. I learned how to live in the real world. To this day, the only way you can tell any difference in my house then any other is a ramp at the entries and 36 inch wide doors. No shower chair, I sit in the bath tub so I can bathe at anyone's house, as long as I can get to the tub. I cook, clean and fully independent in every way, and raised a child on my own. The questions about living alone should be the same questions anyone else, disabled or not has about living alone. As long as you are lucky enough to have your arms, use them.

[LeviM]

Jcs,
No one injury or person is the same. Also a person is only capable of doing as much as they have learned/been taught to do. Ones rehabilitation, or lack of rehabilitation, can impact ones ability to do a lot of things they "should" be able to do.

There's other factors such as strength of the arms, that can play a factor too. And what about spasms and pain? You might be able to transfer just fine with no spasms, but I know many have spasms that are capable of launching them out of their chair thus making transfers tricky and sometimes unsafe. I used to have them that strong so I know first hand how much harder things can be with the most basic tasks.

I don't think it's fair to judge other people's ability based on their injury level because there are so many other things that can influence it. I've got a C7/8 injury but there are higher level quads on this forum that can do things I only wish I could do. This isn't because I haven't tried hard enough or even learned properly, it's because I have other physical ailments that affect me as well.

Just my opinion.

[Ggerry123]

LeviM , well said especially in the beginning of this forum the person that started it was a c5 injury not a t9 huge difference and like you said everyones injury is different even the ones at the same level . To be independent living is different strokes for different folks!

Gerry

[Jacoblee1124]

i was 18 when i was injured and i lived with my dad until i was 22 then i was completly independent. im a para so i can drive and do alot of things im very mobile. just taking care of yourself in all aspects of your life is the first step to independence.next step is a accessiable house and thats the most exspensive part.once u get your house then you need transportation.also not cheap but not impossiable.it takes time for most so hang in there. and my injury is t9 so like others have said every ones injury and situation is different just never give up!

[St. Peter]

sorry guys for not responding for awhile but I'm thankful for all your advice..@jcs0937 I just immigrated here in the US ,so I had no one to turn to with experience who could have showed me the ropes.I had to relearn everything from quads I watch on youtube.I didn't go through that phase like rehab you have here before you were release into the real world.

[brockit79]

sorry guys for not responding for awhile but I'm thankful for all your advice..@jcs0937 I just immigrated here in the US ,so I had no one to turn to with experience who could have showed me the ropes.I had to relearn everything from quads I watch on youtube.I didn't go through that phase like rehab you have here before you were release into the real world.

How are you doing St.Pieter?

[St. Peter]

Never been more alive! I can cook now,clean the backyard using my reacher I bought from Quadtools.com,I'll be getting a ceiling lift to help me transfer indepently,and also I'm attending college (got my GED after having only 7 years of public education) will purse a career in engineering/industrial design.I'm planning to living alone one (hopefully soon),but money is still a factor.I'm thankful all my school books is been payed by the Vocational Rehab

Edited by St. Peter, 14 August 2012 - 04:31 AM.

[brockit79]

excellent show St Peter, the only way is up!

[Dries]

I think you should ask yourself what does independence mean to you. It doesn't necessarily have mean that you live alone and managing on your own. We are social beings and especially with a disability, one should not be left to dwell too much in your own thoughts. When I was 19 I went to college and stayed in my own apartment. It went well, but seeing that it was less than a year after my accident, being alone at that stage was the worst thing I could have done. I soon fell into depression, not because I couldn't manage on my own, but more so because I didn't have anyone close I could talk to on a daily basis. When I look back now, I was actually far from independent. Now, I live with a house full of people. I have a job, I cook meals, do laundry, fully integrated. I think being accepted and to have your own responsibilities within a family or group is what defines independence. If you feel that you support someone else and being supported by someone else at the same time and not just being supported from one side, you can say that you are independent.

[Dusted]

Being self-reliant and indepedant affords you freedom. Freedom to mak your own choices, decisions and to live the way you desire to. Or,at least something to strive for, Being aone is soething I was accustomed to and actually preferred before my accident and yearned for a year after coming out of my coma. Being idependant allows you to grow and mature. Being alone all the time is certainly depressing, expecially if you have come to discover that you thrive and feel alive amongst people. When are we getting together for a meet and greet?

[Baller95]

Big difference being independant for a para and quad!

[Doug]

Big difference being independant for a para and quad!

A huge one at that......I am a c5-6 that lives independantly but would kill for working fingers and triceps. Being independant would be hundreds of times easier with the use of my hands. But they don't, so I do as much as I can with what I have and make due. I'm still able to dress, transfer with my overhead lift, drive my van, cook awsome home made meals, cut my lawn with a remote control lawn mower my friends and I built, and make videos for other quads to help teach them how I adapted my home and tools to live on my own.

[Baller95]

Big difference being independant for a para and quad!

A huge one at that......I am a c5-6 that lives independantly but would kill for working fingers and triceps. Being independant would be hundreds of times easier with the use of my hands. But they don't, so I do as much as I can with what I have and make due. I'm still able to dress, transfer with my overhead lift, drive my van, cook awsome home made meals, cut my lawn with a remote control lawn mower my friends and I built, and make videos for other quads to help teach them how I adapted my home and tools to live on my own.

Wow that's amazing how much you can do independently!! Are your videos on youtube?

[Doug]

Big difference being independant for a para and quad!

A huge one at that......I am a c5-6 that lives independantly but would kill for working fingers and triceps. Being independant would be hundreds of times easier with the use of my hands. But they don't, so I do as much as I can with what I have and make due. I'm still able to dress, transfer with my overhead lift, drive my van, cook awsome home made meals, cut my lawn with a remote control lawn mower my friends and I built, and make videos for other quads to help teach them how I adapted my home and tools to live on my own.

Wow that's amazing how much you can do independently!! Are your videos on youtube?

Yes they are just look up doug10106 on youtube there are about 30 or so videos and more to come after I film my lawn mower and tools