By Margaret Moore, PRC-Saltillo Blogger
As a now-twenty-five-year-old with no cognitive impairments, I communicate with all of my medical providers myself and even monitor the exchanges between my insurance company and my assistive technology suppliers independently. There are specific steps that I take to ensure that I can efficiently and comprehensively take charge of my own medical care and other affairs while using AAC.
Before I go to my medical appointments, I program my Accent 1000 with the questions and comments that I know I will need to discuss there—information and inquiries about symptoms, progress, and concerns. Programming them in advance saves time during the visits and leaves more time to type in responses that the conversations with the doctors and therapists spontaneously inspire.
When I arrive at the appointments, I am able to check myself in, approaching the receptionist desk in my motorized wheelchair and having my Accent speak my name and who I’m there to see. I have gotten smart with this—realizing that I have to give the same information at appointments that occur regularly, such as my weekly therapy sessions, I programmed a few keys with statements like “Hi! I’m Margaret Moore checking in for O. T.” and a simple “Thank you” for when the check-in process is complete.
I have definitely encountered a large amount of people throughout the years who don’t really understand that my disability does not impede my capability to advocate for myself, but I am fortunate that the staff at all of the facilities in which I get treated recognize and respect my independence and take me seriously. By continuing to show people how I handle my own affairs, I can teach people how I can, should, and would like to be treated just like any other adult. I encourage others to find ways to do so as well.
Communicators In Action - advocacy, aac, communication, disability, language, prc-saltillo, medical