December 3rd was International Day of People With Disabilities, an annual occasion designated to join together to support people with disability in our communities, and raise awareness of the importance of creating a future where people with disabilities experience equal opportunity and face no barriers in all aspects of their lives— whether it be going about their day-to-day lives with adequate accessibility in their communities, joining the workforce, or being able to showcase their abilities and reach their goals without facing barriers.
It is impossible to solve the world’s inequalities in a single day but awareness and a willingness to change attitudes or accessibility can make a more inclusive world for us all.
There is an increased mortality risk for adults aged 25-44 with a long-term disability (Lancet Nov22), so accessibility to health care, exercise and the outdoors could have a profound effect on life quality and expectancy.
At Walnut Grove studio we have level access, we offer seated Pilates, specialist classes for those following stroke or other disabilities that make a normal ‘gym’ seem like a daunting place to be.
Remember that not all disabilities are visible – we see and hear that phrase but what does it mean?
One of the most common invisible disabilities is neurodiversity. It is important to recognise neurodiversity. These people uniquely view the world, as their brains are wired differently from their able-bodied counterparts. Neurodiversity defines natural variations of the human brain which influence their cognitive and intellectual processes.
Examples of neurodiversity include:
- ADHD
- Autism
- Dyspraxia
- Dyslexia
- Dyscalculia
- Dysgraphia
- Tourette’s Syndrome
Cranial osteopathy can help some neurodiverse conditions and here is an example from a local parent Helen, who found cranial osteopathy to be helpful.
I have a daughter with severe autism which is a truly hidden disability along with cognitive impairment, sensory processing and mental health conditions. Supporting hidden disabilities as a parent and advocating for your child is a tricky obstacle course with education, compassion, conversation and professional support being key to the well-being of the individual.
My daughter received cranial osteopathy at Walnut Grove from 18 months onwards, although she is non-verbal and not able to tell me how she felt after the treatment, I could see that it helped her in several key areas. Sleep was greatly improved, constant teeth grinding stopped and she was less anxious and calmer after treatment. It was a relief as a parent to see my child more relaxed.
There are a variety of ways to help more physical disabilities using physiotherapy, osteopathy, acupuncture and a range of exercise approaches.
There are so many things that can help – an example would be Mirror box therapy for phantom limb pain, stroke or complex regional pain due to lack of function in a limb.
Let’s assume the loss of a left hand and chronic pain can sometimes arise from the brain’s lack of understanding of what that hand is doing and where it is in space. If you make a box with a mirror on one side and you put the stump of the left hand in the box so you can’t see it. You then look at the mirror with the image of the right hand which of course, looks like the left hand. Then you do some movements, maybe write with a pen, roll a ball etc… The brain is watching the left hand doing these activities even though there isn’t one. The brain then understands that the hand is functioning well and the pain reduces.
Sometimes treatments don’t need to be super high tech!!
If you need advice or guidance, give us a call at Walnut Grove – we will be able to point you in the right direction.
