Self advocacy
The legal/insurance/medical system will drain you of your power. One way to reclaim it is through self advocacy. Everyone has a right to be treated fairly and ethically by all involved. Please review this information to help.
These are some of the reasons I needed to advocate for myself:
"If I help you, Ill have to help everyone" (director of my school program upon my request for accommodations)
“This is a great case….look at her….she’s vegetative” (My first Lawyer)
“You are not depressed enough, get back in there and try harder. I’m trying to help you” (An IME assessor)
"If you think you are fat and ugly, then you are. If you think you have a brain injury, then you do. Anybody could get you to believe anything even if it isn't real" (an IME assessor)
Also….
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A SLP shared my entire medical record with stranger
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Nurse who gave me IV meds without my consent
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Psychologist who purposely tried to upset me prior to an assessment
You need to TAKE ACTION-start small and dont give up trying to find solutions. Complain to professional colleges, the Ontario Human Rights Commission if you have to, (http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/about-commission/contact-us) any other relevant place in order to ensure you are heard, treated ethically and with respect. You need to build your concept of self and here are some ideas to do that:
To advocate for yourself, you have to believe in yourself. To believe in yourself practice these:
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Get to know yourself again…. Listen to yourself…..Get centred
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Meditation
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Mindfulness
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Gratitude
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Awareness
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Slowing down
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Appreciative inquiry
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Say to yourself I matter, I’m Important and I’m capable of great things
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Make a word cloud of positive things people have told you about yourself-www.wordart.com put it somewhere you will see it often!!
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Find the people who are really on your side, and stick with them
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Trust those who believe in you unconditionally
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Be proud
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State your situation with confidence: I have a brain injury
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Join an advocacy group or start your own
