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| Virtual Ability, Inc. 2021 Mental Health Symposium Mental Health in Trying Times |
Friday April 16, 2021 is Virtual Ability, Inc.'s Mental Health Symposium. This year the theme is “Mental Health in Trying Times.”
Please view Virtual Ability's page for the event at Virtual Ability, Inc. - YouTube.
You can attend “live” in Second Life or watch the live stream on Virtual Ability, Inc.'s YouTube site.
We hope you can attend!
We’ve all heard the stories about yo-yo dieting: the weight comes off then goes right back on. We know of people who have quit smoking or drinking… numerous times. The inability to maintain goals once achieved may seem inevitable, but there are individuals who have long-term success. How do they do it?
Of course part of the answer is that they have adopted lifestyle changes that support the goal. But there is more going on.
A review of factors associated with long-term weight loss maintenance revealed that those who managed to keep their goal weight had certain personality traits, such as an internal locus of control, and that the goal had intrinsic value.
Weight loss maintainers were more likely to engage with long-term self help groups and have face-to-face or web-based interventions. They had relatively low levels of depression. And most important, they were self-confident in their ability to lose weight, and they were satisfied with their results.
What does this mean for those of us with other types of lifestyle modification goals?
We all need to add increased confidence in our own abilities and increased satisfaction with the strategies we are using to support goal achievement to our actual lifestyle change goal. While not usually considered as part of goal setting, self-confidence and satisfaction are necessary for maintenance of lifestyle change results.
While not everyone with disabilities is able to drive a car, some can do so if they have the appropriate training and tools.
The process for adaptive driving begins with a clinical evaluation by an occupational therapist (OT). This is usually done following a referral by a neurologist or other physician. An occupational therapist qualified to perform driving evaluations often has had professional training to become a Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS). The OT/CDRS will check your current driving skills and your physical capability. The assessment will include your vision, reaction time, cognition, muscle strength in core, arms and legs, and range of motion. If any areas of weakness are identified, the CDRS may refer you to another specialist, such as a physical therapist (PT), ophthalmologist, or speech-language therapist.
The instructors in an adaptive driving training program will help you find the best adaptive equipment for your car, and guide you in practicing to use it. The CDRS will make other suggestions to help you learn to drive safely, based on your individual driving habits and needs.
Then it is time to get your own auto modified. The CDRS will write up the specific equipment that works best for you. These adaptive tools are best installed by a National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association certified mechanic.
Unfortunately, insurance generally does not pay for adaptive auto equipment nor for the necessary evaluation and training. However, some car manufacturers offer rebates on the purchase of adaptive equipment to be added to their vehicles.
If you do not feel safe driving, or if you never thought you would be able to make use of that important independence tool called a car, consider finding out more about driver rehabilitation and adaptive driving. Many great options are available.
And away you go!
The month of March has been designated as Brain Injury Awareness Month. One purpose of this special time is to increase awareness of how to prevent traumatic brain injury (TBI). Another purpose is to promote strategies which can improve the quality of life for persons living with TBI and their families.
TBIs
are damage to the nerve tissue in the brain. They are caused by an impact or
force to the head or body, or by a penetrating injury to the head. They are a major cause of death and disability in the US each year.
If
the person with the head injury survives they may recover quickly or they may
face effects that can last the remainder of their lives. They may have
impaired movement, damaged vision, hearing or speech, problems with cognition
and memory, or personality changes or depression. These issues will affect
their family members as well as the person with the TBI.
Falls
can cause TBIs and other serious injuries, and are a common concern among the
elderly. Falls are the second leading cause of TBI-related deaths. The
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has created the STEADI (Stopping Elderly
Accidents, Deaths & Injuries) program with materials for older persons
to explain how to help prevent falls and decrease fall risks.
On
Thursday, March 25, at 1pm SLT (Pacific time), Namaara MacMoragh of the Brain Energy Support Team will present on brain injury recovery and daily life in
the Meeting Room on Healthinfo Island. You are welcome to join us for this
session in Second Life here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/206/73/22.
You
may also want to visit the Healthinfo Island poster exhibit “Brain Injury
Awareness Month” here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/99/37/26.
For more information on brain injuries, including school
sports concussions, please see: https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/basics/index.html.
