Dr Kelly Fleming

I am physically disabled and I have mental health issues. I know I’m not the only person in this situation.

But what happens when stress of daily life starts to take its toll? For someone who has only mental health issues, it can be devastating. It can cause depression or anxiety. It completely changes their abilities that also affects their physical energy and ability to function each day.

For me, it also means that it can cause flare up of my SJIA which can be extremely dangerous. I’m more at risk for seizures, my heart rate becomes dangerously low which can cause me to pass out and my oxygen levels drop.

This has led to many hospital visits which I prefer to avoid.

Over the years, my house has been set up with the proper medical devices and medications I need to avoid the emergency room. However, it also means that I require extra Attendant services to help me monitor my health.

My independence is limited.

I’m a very active person and this causes even more stress for me.

I don’t like to rely on others for things that I normally can do for myself

I spent two years during the pandemic in the psychiatric hospital set up virtually in my home as my attendants could not enter the physical hospital and it is not accessible for my disability needs.

I’m grateful for that as it taught me many tools to use to get through stressful situations and handle things rationally and realistically.

Requesting assistance for mental health is not a weakness, it’s a strength. Helping yourself become a better person and learning how to deal with daily issues that affect your mental health.

Learning about self-care and the importance of it, is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself.if

If you are also physically disabled and unable to access conventional methods of mental health assistance, please do not give up. Fight for your rights. Yes, it is emotionally exhausting but winning that fight for your rights to receive the care you need will pay off for years to come.

Please be aware of help line numbers in your area, most provide text access if you’re Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

As a result of the pandemic, agencies now have the ability to provide assistance via video conversation. Zoom and Microsoft Teams have captioning available as well as chat features for Deaf people to use.

If an agency says these were only available during the pandemic, don’t give up. Tell them, if it was available and legal during the pandemic, it is still binding today

They MUST provide you the access that you need as a disabled person.