Tips, strategies, approaches, attitudes and ways to support a person living with disability in particular brain injury
Damage to the brain, causes egocentricity. It is a common cognitive outcome after brain injury, and one that can be very difficult for family and others to cope with. If you are supporting people with brain injury it is more than likely you will come across egocentricity. In a Family Studies Project asking families about what kind of problems they had (conducted by the Research and Training Center on Brain Injury, at the State University of New York, Buffalo) , they found 61% of people with brain injury were reported as “... occasionally self centred”1 Egocentricity, is often described as “it’s all about me” because a person seems focussed on themselves when it's the brain injury talking. What does egocentricity look like? Egocentricity affects a person’s ability to notice things, to put themselves in another person’s position, which means they may not see the needs of others. This may cause a person to seem more self centred, selfish, not able to care…
Last week I heard a wonderful radio interview with Helen Sage, a mother, whose daughter Jane, has lived with brain injury for the past 13 years. As I listened it reminded me of so many aspects of understanding family life after brain injury: hope and grief, finding capacities and positive outcomes, ambiguous loss, and the concept of growing through trauma. All described, not in the language of a brain injury text book, but in a compelling and personal way. The interview centred on a new book “A Flower between the Cracks” written by Helen, about their family experience. (See the link to the interview at the end of this post, it's well worth a listen). I have immediately ordered the book, and hope to share more once I have read it. Meantime the interview with Helen was a poignant and enlightening discussion about the impact of brain injury. What did I learn listening to Helen? Brain injury happens to families It is…
Build on the CAN DO instead of focussing on the CAN’T DO. Great idea. Work from the strengths and abilities rather than problems a person has. Wonderful. What about when a person has a brain injury? Yup, seems a great way to work. What does it look like in action? How do I do it? If you are having these kinds of thoughts and questions, about supporting a person from a strengths approach, join me in the learning. If you already have an understanding – please share some of your insights with us. For most of us focusing on strengths, rather than solving problems, is not our natural way, yet we know it is a great way to enable people to achieve their best. Think about your own life. Who amongst us says “Well these are all my faults, I am going to make those really obvious and concentrate on them”? No! We usually work to hide our faults and shine up…
I was watching a news clip of Gabrielle Giffords presenting simply and powerfully to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Gun Violence on January 30th 2013. Her courage, determination and bravery are absolutely evident, and inspirational. I watch, and among many thoughts I think, this is why I do what I do, how amazing, how privileged to be even a small part of the life and support of people who teach so much about courage, resilience, perseverance and so much more. MUCH more. I think about the incredible support, particularly from her husband, that would have been with Gabrielle, get to this point. And of the many other stories I have shared from family, partners and friends supporting their family members through the many challenges and changes. So what can we, as supporters, learn from Gabrielle and her family to help us support people? Here are just a few thoughts that sprang to mind as I watched that news clip: Build on the…