Question by neonmoon1010: Where can I get info on recreation for disabled?
I have sister paralyzed on one side. She has nothing to do and gets stressed very easily. Want to keep her busy.
My sister is paralyzed on one side also blind in one eye. She lives in Cortlandt Manor, Ny 10567. I am looking for things for her to do and keep her busy to help with stress and depression. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Best answer:

Answer by Bradley P
It depends in part on where you live. If you live out in the countryside or in a small town, you don’t have as many options. However, even in a mid-sized to larger town or city, you have to look for things to do.

First thing I would do though, is go back to the doctor and/or the hospital where your sister was treated. Ask them, if the doctor himself doesn’t know, ask nurses. Seriously, they would know more about both what your sister can do, and more importantly, about finding ways to work around her stress level–which is understandable especially if her injury is recent at all.

But yes, ask about “recreational programs for paraplegics,”, or hemi- or quadruplegics. Specifically, you want to ask about outings and activities *for* folks confined to a wheelchair by way of paralysis….it sounds rather dumb and obvious to put it that way, but the more specific you can be when you ask, the more likely you are to hit on useful information.

And if you are in a mid-sized or large town at all, you can start asking similar questions *at your local public library* or at the office of whoever manages your *parks and recreation* where you live. Anything in a mid-sized town or suburb on up is *going*, by law, to need to have programs and accomodations for folks confined to wheelchairs, and that is where you want to start looking, *even if* your sis has a little more mobility than that.

Hmm, let me give you some likely keyword-phrases I have encountered, and see if that doesn’t point you in the right direction. Remember to include quotes to search whole phrases instead of just *lists* of words:

“Department of Rehabilitation Services”
“_________ Park District” (fill in the blank with the name of your city, town or county)
“Recreation Services for Paraplegics” (something you’d ask about more with your doctors first)

And also remember….there are some activities, like reading, going to movies, perhaps going online to use a computer *adapted* to her level of mobility, that aren’t going to be as stressful because they aren’t going to ask *as much* of her body. So in the meantime it might also help to pick activities and social outings that *do not* emphasize her limitations and that do focus on what she *can* do.

All in all, you need to have her *focused* on her strengths, and *you* need to be the one doing the leg work, looking around, asking questions about more physical activities *adapted* to her mobility level.

Good Luck and I hope this helps! Sorry I couldn’t be more specific, but I don’t know where you live and *how many* resources are at your disposal.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

 

 

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