NOTE:
Please copy and paste into Google Translate to listen if needed.
Balance Awareness Week is coming to an end, but that
doesn't mean the work is over.
I know that the Vestibular Disorders Association - or VEDA
- www.vestibular.org - will continue to work to -
"answer questions
and provide education and emotional support...
connect patients with medical specialists through our provider directory
of clinics that specialize in diagnosing and treating vestibular disorders, and
advocate on behalf of all who are impacted by vestibular disorders."
Though not officially part of BAW, I also know that COVD
- the College of Vision Development - www.covd.org - is working to provide info
to everyone about functional vision problems.
Their mission -
"Improving
lives by advancing excellence in optometric vision therapy and rehabilitation
through education and board certification.
and
Vision
To drive progress
through clinical excellence and research in developmental vision care,
optometric vision therapy, and rehabilitation. This will result in wider
adoption of optometric vision therapy and increased recognition of its integral
role in enhancing learning, productivity, and overall quality of life."
Personally, I will continue to share my story, share info
on Facebook from VEDA, and about functional vision problems and vision therapy. I am also going to try to facilitate a
connection between COVD and VEDA - I know from the feedback I get that I am not
the only person with vestibular AND vision disorders. Vision and balance, vision and the vestibular
system are so intricately connected, and those who are suffering need to be
able to get answers!
If people get the answers they need, they are in a better
position to figure out what will help.
I've written about my own treatment plan, which includes Feldenkrais
Therapy - FT, and Vision Therapy - VT, as well as following my migraine diet,
and getting adequate rest. Putting
effort into these two therapies (with the help of my wonderful therapists), I
work every day to make more progress. I
am constantly learning: If I try to do this, what will happen? If I want to do this, how do I plan? What's my visual stamina like today? How do I accept real limitations? How do I still have some real quality of
life?
Above are some of the questions I ask myself regularly,
and the answers vary quite a bit, depending on what I'm considering (what level
of challenge), how I'm feeling - which isn't the same every single day. The constants for me are that I WILL keep
working, though the pace, the level of challenge isn't always the same, and
I'll keep learning. I'm grateful that I
got my answers, and found wonderful people to work with, but as my friend Glenn
said, it shouldn't take so long. Which
is one reason awareness is important - patients and doctors need to keep
working and learning together. It was
good news that the House of Representatives officially recognized Balance
Awareness Week, but invisible disorders don't go away when the week is over, so
progress needs to continue.
