Bri Atkins: Final Project

Overcoming Obstacles

Expanding Opportunities for the Physically Disabled  Through Media 



How would you respond to a middle-aged suicidal man pleading for a reason to live? While firmly grasping my hand in the back of the ambulance, he explained that his sister just survived cancer, but the treatment left her hands minimally functioning. Physically disabled people and their families may feel that they are alone and though their opportunities are limited. Living with constant pain and suffering can take a toll on the body both physically and mentally, but when people with disabilities are able to be in contact with others experiencing similar problems, their life battles become easier to face. The opportunities that 21st century digital media in the United States can create for the physically disabled gives them power to accomplish feats they never thought possible while improving their overall quality of life.

The picture shows the scars from surgery to
correct the damage from cancer on my left foot.
Photo Credit: Brianna Atkins

              There is no real way to determine how bad the pain will be from one day to the next. Some days the pain is so terrible that it is difficult to walk even a few steps. Neuroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer, has caused nerve damage to my left foot, stunting the growth and leaving it in a fixed position. The “majority of persons with disability find it difficult to overcome problems due to disability and therefore face innumerable barriers in achieving their life goals” (Pande & Tewari). When a person labels themself as disabled, they tend to embrace the idea that they cannot do certain things due to their impairment. In my life, I have made sure that I do not let my disability hold me back. Digital media, such as the internet, have been extremely inspirational by way of exposing me to others with similar problems. Those with a physical disability need to learn to see it as a challenge.  I feel great triumph when I accomplish physical tasks that seem menial to the average person. Running a mile is a great example. Not only can I run a mile, but I can do it with half the foot and strength of the average person.

The picture displays a paraplegic using a device to downhill ski.
Photo Credit

Adaptive sports play a key role in improving the quality of life for the physically disabled. At first I thought downhill skiing would be something I could never do. It seemed improbable that my weak, child-sized 13 foot would be able to support an entire ski by itself.  However, my motivation drastically changed when I met Dave. Dave, a ski instructor with the Challenged Athletes of West Virginia, is an amputee that uses a prosthetic leg to walk, but removes it to ski. It was through digital media that I found out about the adaptive sports program. Downhill skiing gave me the strength to expand and try slalom water skiing the next summer. Research provides evidence that when physically disabled people engage in sports their satisfaction in life significantly increases (Goktepe, Tan, Yavuz& Yazicioglu). For the disabled population, “developing a lifelong desire to be active can be a simple means for limiting illness and much of the morbidity associated with sedentary lifestyles often associated with disability” (Clayton & Wilson).

  

This picture shows an amputee slalom skiing.
Photo Credit

            Programs such as UCanSki2 make it possible for disabled people to enjoy the pleasures of water sports. The program creates “a therapeutic recreation that reduces depression and anxiety while improving well-being and quality of life” (UCanSki2). Through these types of programs, amputees and paraplegics are taught to water ski and wakeboard. Digital media serves as a search engine to find out information on these types of programs. Engaging in sports proves to reduce depression and anxiety by way of inclusion and strengthening self-esteem (Clayton & Wilson). Focusing on trying to get up on a water ski or wakeboard provides distraction from spending time dwelling on the things you are not able to do. The feeling of accomplishment after so much persistence adds a great amount of self worth and pride that boosts self-esteem.  

The picture displays a mountain that is used as a metaphor for the
battles people face.
Photo Credit: Brianna Atkins

    

            “The minor fall, the major lift/The baffled king composing Hallelujah,” sang Tanner with his voice echoing across Lake Champlain and ringing through the mountains. Surrounding us were at least a hundred other childhood cancer survivors softly singing the lyrics. I became connected with Camp Ta-Kum-Ta  through a simple internet search from my home in Florida. Through digital media, I found out about Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, Vermont’s camp for children with cancer, and it is truly an incredible place. “Each year Camp Ta-Kum-Ta tries to squeeze in as many life experiences and memories as possible into one magical week” (ww.takumta.org). As a middle girls cabin counselor, I watched a completely blind twelve-year old cancer survivor first came to camp feeling abandoned by her peers, and by the end of the camp week, I witnessed her feeling empowered enough to take on the task of climbing the challenging ropes course. Through the support and confidence radiating from fellow campers and staff, she left camp feeling as though she could complete any feat, which may have felt impossible to her previously.

   

This image shows a double amputee

presumably after a tough workout. 

Photo Credit

Chronic pain and disability have shown to increase stress in life. “When our demands are perceived to exceed our ability to cope, we label ourselves as stressed and experience a negative emotional response” (Cohen). This negative response leads to many physical and psychological symptoms that can make dealing with a disability even more of a burden. The video “Stress: Portrait of a Killer” explains research on the caretakers of physically disabled children. It shows that chronic strain from stress on the body results in the increased shortening of chromosomes, leading to quickened signs of aging. Stress and the negative effects of disability can also be a leading factor in depression. Digital media can help counteract this depression and negative response by way of showing physically disabled people the many opportunities available to them. 



This displays a cancer survivor that is

just finishing treatment. The look on his face shows the

rough time he has been through.

Photo Credit: Brianna Atkins

High levels of stress are detrimental to the body. Stress, on top of a chronic disability, can leads to many comorbid diseases. The comorbidity of stress and physical disability results in an “increased risk for poor health, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and musculoskeletal limitations” (Clayton and Wilson). Cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, and cancer, the second leading cause of death in the United States, are commonly associated with chronic stress. Treating Chronic Pain highlights the subjectivity of pain. If a person dwells on pain and learns to live around the pity of others, there is a high likelihood symptoms will increase. The video recounts the story of a women suffering from chronic pain. Through attending a program targeting the management of chronic pain, the women’s symptoms drastically improve. The program has the focus of empowering people with chronic pain and it teaches them how to live around the disability. The program, found through digital media searches, proves that involvement in recreational activities gives motivation to the physically disabled while building confidence. 

Through friends we are able to cope with things never thought possible.
Photo Credit: Juliana Summers

Digital media plays a major role in connecting people with similar disabilities to show them that they are not alone. “Through others we become ourselves” (Vygotsky). Discovering a support system where you can meet others with similar life battles appears vital. Through connecting with Camp Ta-Kum-Ta and the adaptive sports programs, I have gained the strength to do anything I set my mind to. Modern technology opens many doors and opportunities to people via the internet. Disabled people are able to more easily connect through simple internet searches. It is not the challenge that determines who you will be, but what you make out of it that leads to the person you truly can be. 

Bibliography

"Camp Ta-Kum-Ta." Camp Ta-Kum-Ta. Web.

Clayton, G., Wilson, P. "Focused Review: Sports And Disability." Pm&R2.(n.d.): S46-S54. ScienceDirect. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.

Cohen, S. "Psychological Stress, Immunity, And Upper Respiratory Infections." Current Directions In Psychological Science 5.3 (1996): 86-90. PsycINFO. Web. 23 Mar. 2014

Goktepe, K., Tan, A., Yavuz, F., Yazicioglu, K. "Influence Of Adapted Sports On Quality Of Life And Life Satisfaction In Sport Participants And Non-Sport Participants With Physical Disabilities." Disability And Health Journal 5.4 (2012): 249-253. MEDLINE. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.

""Hallelujah" Lyrics." LEONARD COHEN LYRICS. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2014

"Killer Stress A National Geographic Special." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2014.

"Neuroblastoma Treatment (PDQ®)." - National Cancer Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2014.

Pande, N., and S. Tewari. "Understanding Coping With Distress Due To Physical Disability." Psychology And Developing Societies 23.2 (2011): 177-209. Scopus®. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.

"Resource: The Mind: Teaching Modules." Resource: The Mind: Teaching Modules. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2014.

"Saint Michael’s Fire and Rescue- Home." SAINT MICHAEL'S FIRE AND RESCUE. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.

"“Through Others We Become Ourselves.”." Goodreads. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.

"UCanSki2."UCanSki2. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.

"Welcome to the Challenged Athletes of West Virginia." Welcome to the Challenged Athletes of West Virginia. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.