Living with a disability caused y an accident comes with many challenges. For most individuals in this situation, it can be clear to others that you are physically injured. What about disabling injuries that cannot be seen? Some residents in Florida and elsewhere are unfortunately suffering from a traumatic brain injury. While some of the symptoms associated with this serious injury can be noticeable, for the most part, victims suffer silently.
Most physical injuries are noticeable. Individuals might have to get around using a wheelchair or crutches and there are often accessories needed that people can easily associate with a disabling. Thus, brain injury suffers are not often seen as a person living with a disability because they often look just like anyone else. Despite that, these victims frequently suffer a wide range of long-term symptoms, making it challenging or even impossible to go back to his or her normal life.
A serious brain injury often means that a victim has to re-learn how to do things and adapt to their new lifestyle. This can be emotional, difficult and lengthy, causing many pitfalls and obstacles in the recovery process. In most cases, a TBI victim will require physical, mental and emotional rehabilitation. During the lengthy recovery process, a victim will unlikely be able to live a normal life or maintain a job.
Being unable to work can be very problematic for brain injury victims seeking to overcome this injury and live with the resulting disability. Thus, brain injury sufferers should note that they could have the opportunity to receive benefits. The Social Security Administration has programs available for those living with disabilities. Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income could help brain injury victims obtain the financial resources they need to cover medical bills and their cost of living.
Source: Disabilityhorizons.com, “Unseen disability: living with a brain injury,” Ashley Ruskiewicz, Jan. 25, 2016
