**Differently Abled Artists II**

[missduffy59]

Nancy Ann, we really do have to be our own healthcare advocates! Kudos for making sure you were properly tested and diagnosed!

Paint18, I have never had to face that, but I would be scared! However, a friend of mine had that surgery and he is doing amazingly well and his pain is gone!

Sparky, I use small pliers to deal with paint tubes and I bought a jar opener from Good Grips that really helps with opening things like YES paste. I also use brushes with thicker handles.

I am figuring out ways to keep painting, a little at a time.

[RoadLessTaken]

I received an extremely distressing letter this weekend. It was from the practice administrator of the cardiology practice I "used" to go to.
Last week, when I received a letter telling me they were send my $106 dollar account to collections I swallowed my pride and told the letter writter what happened since I moved to Philly last summer.
I moved her to work with a specialist for a disorder which has kept me labled as disabled for 20 years. I wanted to return to work but on arrival to Philly, I was sick. Breathing was impossible and I told myself it was anxiety. I was given asthma treatments and told I had double pneumonia and had to sign out of the hospital knowing I could not handle the expense.
By January I was so sick, in so much pain, unable to breathe, unable to walk more than a few feet...... and with no family or friends around.
I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and immediatrely after, it was determined that the celiac affected my heart and lungs. Doctors explaining the complex situation weren't optimistic until I met a young cardiologist in March who told me about a medication protocol that was working for some..... and it worked for me.
And this weekend I received that letter telling me that they would work with my financial hardships but, for now, all my appointments were canceled and I would not be seen again or allowed access to the doctor without paying the $106 owed. Who puts the value of a human life at $106 dollars?
Who writes such a callous letter. Who says, "We'll let you see the doctor but then you won't be able to afford the meds?"
Who goes into the medical field and says "We don't care about you." Now I need the $106 to buy kleenex.
Sheila

[missduffy59]

((((Sheila)))) That just bites. Hang in there!

[Just Granny]

Hi everyone,
This is a great page, never thought about this type of information on WC...
I just retires a year ago last month, am I am going to be 74 in a couple of months. I did Adult Foster Care in my home for more than 32 years, had five people living with us around the clock, no time off and no vacations. Most were quite elderly, with many physical and mental disabilities, many were terminal. It was hard demanding work extreemly stressful and I had to work around my own health problems that cropped up from time to time. Am diabetic, have arthritis of hands and knees and feet, not as bad as it was years ago. However degenerative spine disease comes with age as I have now found out. Yhree years ago I had surgery on my spine in the neck area where they took out four vertabra and replaced them, I now have a four inch metal brace with 6 large screws into my spine holding it all together. That surgery went well and I was able to keep working very carefully, my husband did the hard stuff, but he isn't a great cook...lol so I did my share. Last year I had the surgery on my lower spine where some vertabra collapsed, this time was not so easy, also another metal brace in place(good thing I don't fly, would certainly set off some alarms going through xray...lol
Doctor sais the arthritis is now also in my spine so even though the surgery (spinal fusion and brace) did its job, there is pain , more so when I am tired, I walk with an uneven gait and often stumble on unlevel ground. Getting down to garden is slow but doable, getting back up is often the pitts and I say unlady like things about this old body.....
I was totally helpless for three months after surgery, could not get out of bed, dress myself, go to the bathroom or even turn over in bed without help, had to learn to walk all over again, it was a year before I could walk without pain. My daughter and grand daughter came to check on me often (they are both nurses)That period of time told me it was time to retire....so now I garden and paint and paint grin. I don't take any medications but I do take vitamins and watch what we eat carefully.Even allow myself a glazed doughnut now and then...
My doctor says I should have another 25 or more years left and so I want to paint until I take my last breath. With my four daughters in their 50's talking like they are old, I just tell them welcome to the club....13 grandkids in their 30's and 19 great grand kids 3 of them in high school, I'll be around to see the next generation and still painting,,, too stubborn for anything less....lol
All of us older one in this day and age have something special within us, espically artists we paint because we have to paint, we keep at it because we have to paint...in spite of our pain or health problems art keeps us alive, living in the real world and we are helping others too, giving them inspiration, and think of all those wonderful paintings we leave for the world after we are gone....who knows someday they may call US the old Masters....lol
Just Granny

[ArtSavesLives]

I just started on an immune suppressing drug for MS and Crohn's . . .
and I am asking prayers that the lump I found today is not a "lump" . . . .

[artyczar]

you have my prayers. can i ask what medication you are starting? i have ms, lupus and colitis. it's not remicade is it?

[sketchZ1ol]

hello
my sympathy/empathy to everyone posting here
i won't go into my details, but what i've concluded after much research is that digestion is very important to keep the body running - if you can't get the nutrients you need to maintain yourself or perhaps balance the condition then things get worse
food allergy/reaction has been largely dismissed by the docs i've seen,but there is a way to learn, and if your on the DL (disabled list) you've time on hand
- the process is tedious
- it's self-testing -- regular 'white coats' have mentioned it but behave like there's no supporting protocol ( they'll beat a malpractice lawsuit )
*talk to all your docs about this before so everything is crystal clear and supportive*
!!! if you are not close to a Hospital/ER, DO NOT DO THIS !!!
eat One ingredient, cooked or raw without any other ingredients and see what happens over several hours - your symptoms, gut behavior (bloat, expel, other)
note the reaction
if posssible, talk to the grower, grocery guy -
it's not about confrontation, it's eating healthy for you, and that info should go back to the buyers, and hopefully, they will work with Your input

a viewpoint i've approached, and it's been helpful

[ArtSavesLives]

Originally Posted by artyczar

you have my prayers. can i ask what medication you are starting? i have ms, lupus and colitis. it's not remicade is it?

The good news was the lump wasn't a "lump."

I am on Imuran. Bot the MS specialist and my gastroenterologist were supportive of its use. I used Remicade back in 2003 when I developed Crohns symptoms in my ileal j-pouch before takedown. Worked like a charm, but we are trying to avoid using it again.

[rmcbuckeye]

Is being deaf one of this disability? Just curious.

[BluZebra5510]

Hello, everyone.

First, I must say that I tip my hat to all of you with painful, progressive disabilities.

I ran an art gallery for people with disabilities for several years. I would be running one now if I had the money to open my own. When I do will I invite you all to exhibit at my gallery.

I don't live with anything like what I have read here. I am visually impaired and have albinism. When I was 3 I was in a fire so I have burn scars. They didn't set my leg properly so I was left with a limp and some nerve damage. Now throw in some anxiety and depression from a lifetime of abuse.

Small stuff. Still, it effects my life every day.

Someone mentioned teachers not getting that there are things you can't do. I remember getting bad marks because I wasn't doing the work assigned. That's because I couldn't see what was on the blackboard and they didn't give a hoot.

As for art, I haven't read the original thread but have any of you checked out these resources?
The National Arts and Disability Center
http://nadc.ucla.edu/index.cfm

The Other Film Festival
http://www.otherfilmfestival.com/

Art Beyond Sight (for blind and VI)
http://www.youtube.com/user/artbeyondsight

The Gallery of Diversified Art
http://anitadallar.wordpress.com/amazing-people/

This is new. For self bossers.
http://entrepreneurswithdisabilities.org/

This page for self bossers with disabilities. Includes a link to a Yahoo group.
http://www.diversityworld.com/Disability/selfempl.htm

Anyway, Just thought I'd throw my 2 cents in.

[BluZebra5510]

Having given my introduction I would like to start a discussion; or maybe it's just a tirade.

As an artist with a disability I of course am always looking for opportunities to show and sell my art.

A lot of what I have found over the years are exhibits where highly talented professional grade artists are shown along side of 5 year olds.

The 5 year olds aren't even that talented. They just happen to have a disability.

The non-disabled curators lump us all together. It's as if they are saying if you have a disability you are a child to be cared for. You can never grow up. We will treat you the same way we treat all children. We will also treat you as if you had a developmental disability, whether you do or not.

I resent this. I will not allow myself to be treated as if I were a DD 5 year old nor will I allow my art to be shown with such. I call these "Poor Thing" art shows. I have walked out of several.

I have encountered people who think that all art by disabled people is therapeutic art; that because in their eyes we are children of lesser gods and our art can never make the grade. Their views are reinforced when they see shows like these.

The gallery I worked for was VSA. Many people with disabilities resent that organization anyway, which is why they changed their name. But they have gone more toward a condescending attitude, and now cater almost exclusively to children, leaving all of us grown up pros out in the cold.

I am not just talking about VSA. There is an attitude out there abut us that as artists we need to work to change.

O.K. I have vented. It's just frustrating. If anyone has ever patted you on the head or spoken to you in monosyllables you know what I mean.

[artyczar]

BZ:

i know EXACTLY what you are talking about!

i can't say i resent it so much though because i'm not sure what can be done about it. what can these organizations do? well... i guess they COULD get tougher, or create shows with tougher guidelines and separate the DDs from the physically disabled? i'm not sure what they can do. but i guess i've just accepted being left out in the cold.

i actually never mention my ms to anyone. it's nowhere on my promotional materials and my my main gallery only knew about it when i had an attack and had to explain the wheelchair. my galleries out of state don't even know because i didn't want to be pitted in with the disabled community for this very reason you are discussing.

i have mentioned this once when i sat on a panel for a juried show for DD artists for the california arts council and the nadc because i thought it was great that they had their own contest. it sure made it easier to judge within that context. perhaps it is the context of the entries they get on the other exhibitions? it probably ranges from really amateur to barely acceptable, then there are one or 2 real professionals in the mix. what can be done?

i don't blame the vsa. don't they HAVE to be all inclusive? they are not a private organization after all. perhaps the answer IS a private organization?

[paint18]

Originally Posted by rmcbuckeye

Is being deaf one of this disability? Just curious.

Rachel, I would think that being deaf would be a disability. Just my opinion.

[BluZebra5510]

Originally Posted by rmcbuckeye

Is being deaf one of this disability? Just curious.

Deafness is considered a disability.

[BluZebra5510]

Originally Posted by artyczar

BZ:

i don't blame the vsa. don't they HAVE to be all inclusive? they are not a private organization after all. perhaps the answer IS a private organization?

That's what I mean. They were inclusive but now they're not. They are not about becoming professional; they are about getting kids into arts programs, which is a just and noble cause. I am sure they will all go to Heaven.

I won't say much more about them because I don't want this to turn into a discussion about them.

I think it has a lot to do with funding. Most organizations get funding by serving disabled children.

As for the shows, some of which are juried, I am not just talking about DD people. I have nothing against them. I am talking about those whose art would not be taken seriously in any other context. That person could be deaf, using a wheelchair or have a mental illness. They will produce something visual and someone says, "this person has a disability so we will put them in a show."

O.K. Fine. Have a show for people who struggle with emotional issues. The show will say, "This is my world. This is what I deal with." Have a show for children with autism. Whatever. Just don't lump us all together. Have a theme that says something other than, "Look at these poor courageous disabled people. Aren't they sad?"

As an example: I knew a woman who sang in churches. She was (and most likely still is) blind. She sounded like mating frogs but people fawned ove her. Ethel Merman, move over.

O.K. End of my tirade. I will leave it alone.