by Lorelei Cohen

Created on: September 13, 2010   Last Updated: September 14, 2010

Finding love, work and identity while coping with a disability can be difficult, but not impossible. When you become disabled your life, and your lifestyle change, but you keep living. Being disabled does not mean that life comes to a stop. Disability whether it is in a mental, or physical form, simply changes how a person will acquire their goals.

A disabled person has the same wants and needs as everyone else in society. They want to have a sufficient enough income to be able to enjoy their life. They want friends to laugh and play with and someone to love. They want to be a viable member of their community and they want the respect of those that they interact with. These are simply basic human needs, and being disabled does not make these necessities of life go away, it simply alters how we will be able to acquire them. 

Each person is special, and in their own right, has something of value that they are able to offer to others. When you are disabled it is your knowledge, experience, creativity, kindness, time, or even your ability to be patient that are personal qualities which can be used to help you find love, work, and a personal identity for yourself. Everyone has something that they are able to give. You just have to discover what your unique talents are and then find a means for you to make these desirable qualities work in your favor.

Take the time to discover the resources for disabled persons that available within your community, or at the State, Provincial, or Federal Government level. Most communities offer special educational, social, and work related opportunities for the disabled. These programs can open doors that you may not even know exist. It will also allow you to communicate with other individuals in the same position as yourself. By joining into a community of your peers, you will be able to learn from their experiences, and they in return can learn from yours.  

Be honest in your assessment of your disability. Acknowledge your handicaps but also know your areas of strength. This will enable you to find areas of employment, or social activity, in which you are most likely to be successful. You may not participate or contribute as often, or to the degree that others may be able to, but you will be able to contribute to the best of your abilities. Instead of working a full time, eight hour a day job, you may only work a sedentary job for a four hour shift once a week. Perhaps you will acquire a home based job or learn to

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