Disability Awareness Understanding and Caring For America’s Veteran’s

Competency Participants will have an understanding of job development and placement issues for persons with a disability Participants will have an understanding of how to identify and refer individuals needing professional help. Participants will have an understanding of job development and placement issues for persons with a disability Participants will have an understanding of how to identify and refer individuals needing professional help.

Statistics 51.2 million have a disability (18% of population) 1.6 million troops deployed 2008, 1.6 million troops deployed 2008, Projected 700,000 will see the VA 51.2 million have a disability (18% of population) 1.6 million troops deployed 2008, 1.6 million troops deployed 2008, Projected 700,000 will see the VA

Statistics In past wars for every person killed, 2.6 were injured. Due to improved techniques in the field, this war has been 1 killed for every 16 injured. Traumatic brain injury is viewed as the silent injury in this war. In past wars for every person killed, 2.6 were injured. Due to improved techniques in the field, this war has been 1 killed for every 16 injured. Traumatic brain injury is viewed as the silent injury in this war.

Coping with a Disability ~ Denial and Isolation ~ Anger ~ Anger ~ Depression ~ Depression ~ Acceptance ~ Acceptance ~ Hope ~ Hope This cycle can be repeated several times ~ Denial and Isolation ~ Anger ~ Anger ~ Depression ~ Depression ~ Acceptance ~ Acceptance ~ Hope ~ Hope This cycle can be repeated several times

Artificial limbs ~ 1031 amputations as of 2/08 ~ High tech prosthetics ~ High tech prosthetics ~ Most have several prosthesis ~ Most have several prosthesis ~ Many in demand by ~ Many in demand by employers employers

Blind or Visually Impaired ~ Individuals who are blind are much more capable than most people think ~ May be associated with other issues ~ May be associated with other issues ~ JAN a good resource ~ JAN a good resource

Deaf or Hearing Impaired Persons who are born deaf are said to have the most difficult disability because of the barriers of communication ~ Numbers of hearing impaired is rising quickly ~Number one VA claim ~Number one VA claim ~ Things to avoid ~ Things to avoid

Mental or Emotional Disorders Anxiety Disorders ~ Panic Disorder ~ Obsessive-compulsive Disorder ~ Obsessive-compulsive Disorder ~ Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ~ Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ~ Other Mental Disorders ~ Other Mental Disorders ~ May have more than one ~ May have more than one

Conditions Requiring a Wheelchair ~ There are many reasons and a wide range of abilities among people who use wheelchairs ~ Environment is the barrier ~ Environment is the barrier ~ Know protocol ~ Know protocol

Traumatic Brain Injury ~ 5,503 treated as of 1/08 ~ Estimates of over 10% have unidentified TBI ~ Estimates of over 10% have unidentified TBI ~ Many have extreme ~ Many have extreme fatigue fatigue ~ No common symptoms ~ No common symptoms

GENERAL GUIDELINES ~ Don’t be patronizing or condescending ~ Don’t feel pressured to do the right thing ~ When in doubt – Ask ~ Communicate directly with the person

~ Don’t pity, fear or ignore or that they are courageous or “special” ~ Do not describe a person by their disability ~ Do not bring up a “story” of someone with the same disability Continued