I have, on so many occasions, experienced joy and gratitude while sitting around a table having coffee with a group of individuals who have acquired brain injury. This opportunity to listen and facilitate the connection between these individuals has moved me at times and it was not just that they inspired me with their resilience or strength, I have felt gratitude for their willingness to allow me to sit and listen, a relative outsider, with the common understanding that I just “don’t get it”.
By allowing me to listen and fully appreciate the everyday communication barriers that my clients experience, I have been able to to better connect, genuinely connect, with my clients and build rapport through more effective communication with them. I may not be able to experience first hand the frustrations that arise from living with an invisible disability, however I can shift my style, advocate and educate those around my clients; help to pave a road that is lined with compassion and respect.
This article (below) that I stumbled upon today is, in my opinion, an accurate description of what ABI survivors report. It is a great read for those who have a desire to communicate more effectively with a friend, family member or client that lives with a brain injury.