0 0 0 0 8B The Statement // Wednesday, November 3, 2010 PERSONALSTATEMENT COPING WITH TRAUM BANA CM NGE MYLi BY ANNA CLEMENTS have a mental disability. I acquired it four years ago in a car crash. It's a big deal. I could tell you the story of the crash, describe my 40-day hospital experience (only two weeks of which I remember) or the lengthy rehab that followed. I could describe the experi- ence of re-entering life and school with a traumatic brain injury, of adjusting to being on the other side of the spectrum in school - from advanced to remedi- al - and of the gains and losses I had because of the injury. I could talk about how slim my chances were of even surviving, let alone being able to function as a normal human being. I could talk about how a combination of my willpower and the love and help I received from others has gotten me this far. That story would likely touch your heart; more religious people have seen my story as proof that there is a higher power that loves and forgives us and wants us to survive - something I don't necessarily dispu it would be more produ on the present, on what this disability now, here what I think that you. non-disabled person sho It has been almost ex since the accident, w in October of my senio school. And thoughI remarkably well, I still the lasting effects on a short term memory is means that if I want to thing I have to write it d forgets things; I simply sistently, and so the de write things down must Other symptoms in stress threshold, frequ inability to deal with d a generally inconsistent functionality (I have "g and "bad brain days"). overwhelming to be a people at once, due to t a curse. Invisible disabilities require consistent awareness on the part of the person carrying them, constant judg- ment of when it is appropriate or neces- 0) U R Y\ A RS i\sary to disclose the problem. "Hello, my name is Anna and I have a disability" might seem like an absurd introduction, but sometimes I think that introducing myself that way would be easiest. It takes a while to learn how to inter- act with others after getting a traumatic te. But I think things that battle for my attention. My brain injury. Telling people I meet about ictive if I focus directional memory is virtually non- my injury early on can be better than life is like with existent; the other day I forgot my plan- waiting until I mess up in some way - at U of M, and ner with the room number of a class I showing them rather than telling them as a (probably) had been going to twice a week for more how broken I am. Then again, getting culd know. than three weeks and I walked into two to know people without them knowing actly four years wrong lecture halls looking for the about the brain injury can feel liberat- hich occurred class. That example was a bit extreme, ing, like a game to see how far I can go cr year of high without letting it I've recovered I would lke for people to fe f ree become apparent. I struggle with I usually do give daily basis: my to laugh at my ridiculous behavior, in and disclose my broken, which 'ccondition eventu- remember any- for my disability not to be the ele - ally, often in an own. Everyone attempt to explain do it more con- phant in the room" myself after I've tail in which I become sheepish be immaculate. over something I've clude -a lower- but the humiliation of routinely walk- said or done; I can blame the disabil- ent fatigue, an ing into wrong classrooms gets a bit tir- ity, rather than myself. It's a tug of war istractions and ing. On the other hand, there are always between my pride and my resistance to level of mental interesting tidbits of information to being labeled "disabled." ood brain days" pick up in wrong classrooms. It's all a In reality, there is no way I can know Sometimes it's matter of perspective, right? how others might respond after learn- round a lot of My mental disability is notoutwardly ing about my experience. Having a the diversity of apparent, which is both a blessing and faulty short-term memory can be pretty laughable at times, especially when it causes ridiculous repetitions or adven- tures getting lost and found. I would like for people to feel free to laugh at my ridiculous behavior, for my disabil- ity not to be the elephant in the room people are too polite to react to. Sometimes I think that acquiring the disability has made me into a more balanced, focused person. I have medi- cal evidence to reinforce and identify my struggles, and sometimes I think it must be difficult not having doctors around to tell you what your cognitive problems are. I don't want to be "nor- mal," but I do want my differences to be understood. I think that's how many people feel, regardless of race, gender, eye color, favorite type of music or dis- .ability. The moral of the story: drive safely. Be nice to the students who mistakenly walk into your lecture halfway through - they might have a disability. And don't be shocked when "normal" people disclose personal information identify- ing them as different. I can't speak for the entire disabled community; we all have our own prob- lems, including non-disabled students. It's just harder for those of us with dis- abilities to talk about certain problems; some issues require long explanations with lengthy background stories to be properly understood. Anna Clements is an LSA junior. BIPARTISANSHIP From Page 5B studying the sidewalk chalk grac- ing the Diag, there are still pro-life messages among the student-group advertisements, College Republican fliers are taped to the cement post- ing cylinders and students have been knocking on doors campaigning for Rick Snyder. "There are definitely conservative people here," Janisse said. "It seems like everyone at least is pretty sensible about why they hold the views that they hold, and besides some people shouting out on the Diag occasion- ally, it seems like people are at least respectful, even if they disagree." Koziara says that people are mostly just curious when finding out he's a Republican. "You get a lot of looks for wearing a Michigan Republicans shirt around campus, more so disbelief than any- thing else," he said.. "There's a little bit of prejudice here and there. I think that happens both ways, pri- marily directed at Republicans because this is a college campus. There's a lot more people who are willing nowadays, I think, to engage in conversation about it when they find out I'm a Republican ... which I think is really great, because they're open to new ideas." Still, Bertrand recognizes the lack of compromise and productive dis- course in the government and under- stands that it could create larger issues for Michigan residents if the legislators don't start working togeth- er for their constituents. "We're very divided. If you look at the Michigan state legislators, it's a complete deadlock and nothing gets done becauwse of it," she said. "That might be something Stewart was try- ing to foreshadow. Just saying, 'Look at what's going to happen."' The turnout at the rally shows that there's a large population frustrated by this division between liberals and conservatives. Still, this protest was surprisingly patriotic. There was no doubt of- the participants' love of America. They just want their country to work properly. "We're not the America that the media portrays us to be," Janisse said. "Even though it seems like we all dis- agree on alot of things, there's no rea- son we can't compromise to get things done, because we do it every day in small situations and large." LOREM IPSUM DOLOR SIT AMET. JOIN DAILY DESIGN. EMAIL DESIGN@MICHIGANDAILY.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION Want a free iPod V/Cre shuffle?LatWe on.5Ui versity Fill out the Daily's housing survey except Lquor for a chance to arete win. *off-campus residents only October 31 to www.mich iga nda ily:"oeber 4 com/housing-survey