Tag: Culture

I Have No Idea

Working through an idea is human nature, right? I must dedicate “resources” to an issue in order to fairly appreciate and understand it. But coming to a workable solution isn’t always a possibility.

I was presented a very intriguing premise yesterday while listening to VeganFreakRadio, show #58, Gary Francione Returns to VFR. I’ve recently become quite attuned and extremely interested in his views on veganism and animal rights. Which would seem–after hearing and reading his thoughts–they are merely different terms used to describe the same thing. Abolitionism. 

Usually I’m a little hesitant about viewing issues as having such contrasting positions. There are almost always “shades of grey.” With that said some issues ARE that “cut and dry.” You’re either are a racist, sexist or homophobe, or you’re not. And speciesism–according to Gary, at least–would fall in such a category.

He spoke about many an issue I care deeply about, but one especially caught my ear. His notion on companion animals or “pets,” if you will. Continue reading I Have No Idea

First visit

Q: Could you describe your first visit to a public setting after your accident including any cultural challenges you may have faced?

A: I guess my very first visit to a public setting was to a movie with my community support worker sometime in April-May ’97. It was a brand new theatre, so wheelchair accessibility was looked after. As far as entrance ramps and seating were concerned. Though I do recall having to duck behind nearby office supply store for a bathroom related issue after the movie, once we left the theatre and were awaiting the chariot ride back to hell. So accessibility was an issue. Figures… Continue reading First visit

Adjustment and culture

Q: Could you describe how you and your family members, friends, etc. adjusted to your return to the home environment and how the family culture may have changed?

A: After such a nightmarish (for lack of a worse word, I feel somewhat restrained to remain polite) hospital stay, for me at least my return home and the any adjustment that had to be made was a smooth one. To be fair, I suspect not rushing my return helped quite a bit. 2 or 3 months before I was eventually discharged I was able to go home every weekend. So my return wasn’t hard on my family with respect to me not being there one day and being there the next. My family and support staff had run through the drill a bunch of times well before I actually came home. And I’d imagine that greatly helped with the transition for them, as well as myself. Continue reading Adjustment and culture

Health care culture and interaction

Q: Could you describe your perception of the hospital culture including your interaction with specific professionals at that time and how you adjusted?

A: The culture was desperately overworked. And greatly understaffed. Specialized members at any hospital I was at, whether the doctors or therapy personnel were few and far between. I only saw my neurologist, the physician overseeing my case once in the five months I was at one hospital.

Which left nursing staff as my primary exposure to professionals. Tired and cranky are two words that immediately spring to mind. But in defense of a few members of the attending staff, they understood my visible signs of frustration and did their best to try and rectify it. But rarely did it help. You can only do so much with what you have to work with. And sadly I wasn’t in any position to “adjust,” so to speak. I was just left to wait. Continue reading Health care culture and interaction