Sarah Park
Bio
I have wrote a blog for many years and more recently realised how much I love to write. I would love to get my work out there and develop my skills further.
Stories (9/0)
Breaking Down Barriers: Overcoming the Patronising Attitudes Towards Disability
Patronising behaviour towards disabled individuals is unfortunately typical and can negatively impact their well-being and sense of autonomy. This behaviour can take many forms, including using a condescending tone of voice, assuming that a disabled person is helpless or incompetent, or treating them like a child.
By Sarah Park12 months ago in Pride
Breaking the Burnout Cycle: Why Women with ADHD are More Vulnerable to Burnout
ADHD burnout is a phenomenon experienced by individuals with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). People who experience ADHD burnout become overwhelmed and exhausted and experience declining functioning due to prolonged stress and demands. ADHD burnout can affect anyone with ADHD, regardless of gender. However, research has shown that women with ADHD are particularly vulnerable to burnout for various reasons, including societal expectations, hormonal fluctuations, and undiagnosed ADHD.
By Sarah Park12 months ago in Longevity
Trying to Fit in With a Disability
Throughout my life, there are times when I have felt like I didn't fit in due to having a physical disability. I was born with Spina Bifida and at the time of my birth, it was still very much the norm that disabled people, no matter their ability would go to special needs school. I was no different, I started my education in a special needs school even though my parents wanted me to be integrated into the mainstream education system. Special needs education was great for making me more independent, but I didn't fit in with the level of work we did. I was always much better than everyone else and so always felt different to my peers. When I went to a mainstream school, this wasn't much better in terms of fitting in, but for quite different reasons. I was different, there was no getting away from that. Living with a disability no matter how independent you are, you will often be seen differently than others without a disability and sometimes it was made massively noticeable through the actions of others. Due to my difference from my peers, there were many times where I felt excluded either intentionally or unintentionally from both my peers and the education system as a whole.
By Sarah Park3 years ago in Psyche
Access isn't just about buildings
The issue of Access is often a contentious one, if you talk to someone with a disability then there is always problems with not enough being done, yet if you talk to people in authority there are always excuses as to why more can not be done. I appreciate that there are times when it is not possible for there to be access to something be it the physical limitations of the person themselves (e.g. rock climbing) or through buildings being so old that they can't be adjusted enough to be fully accessible.
By Sarah Park3 years ago in Humans
Scuba Diving as a person with a disability
My life went a bit crazy for a while, but one thing to come from it was it gave me a new outlook on life. Life is for living so make the most of it whilst you've got it. This new outlook on life led to me taking up a new hobby, I had wanted to try Scuba Diving for several years after a try dive on a holiday in Tenerife. Little did I know at the time that the experience I had was nothing compared to the experience I was going to have. My previous experience was much about being made to feel disabled, being dragged around like a rag doll rather than being enabled to experience the freedom I learnt I was able to have. I truly feel free and equal to everyone else once I am in the water even though my technique is different to most other people.
By Sarah Park3 years ago in Longevity
Does the Equality Act help disabled people in Employment?
In 2010 the Equality Act replaced the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The Equality Act is to cover more areas of an individuals life not just employment like the Disability Discrimination Act did previously. One of my main concerns is how several different minority legislation's have been lumped into one and that this is meant to be sufficient, won't this make the current Act less flexible? limiting those who are seen as having a disability as not all individuals fit nicely into a category of impairment. So does the Equality Act work?
By Sarah Park3 years ago in Journal
Why writing helps me to help others
I have only recently come back to writing after a prolonged break as a result of the real-life issues I was going through. Writing helps me to share my views as well as become an outlet for me on an emotional and psychological level. I am a woman with a physical disability and as a person with a disability, it can often be a challenge to have a voice in society. Writing gives me a voice that allows me to share my experiences that will hopefully in turn help others.
By Sarah Park3 years ago in FYI
What are the effects that the Media has had on Disabled Peoples lives?
Disability in the media has always played an important role in shaping the lives of disabled people. For many years the only stories shown were that of sob stories and those who have achieved great things against the odds.
By Sarah Park3 years ago in FYI