322 chapter 15: Support for caregivers
Together we help our children and ourselves
In a poor community in Bangalore, India, several
families of disabled children and adults have
formed a support group. They meet once a
week to talk and to make plans to promote
and demand services in the community for
persons with disabilities. They also own and
operate several auto-rickshaws (3-wheel
motorcycle taxis) to take children with
disabilities to and from school.
Learn to support each other in the group
Often, people who are always assisting others are too busy to think about their own
feelings. Or they think they have no right to feel upset, or that only the woman with
a disability should feel upset. Even when people know each other well, it may take
time to feel comfortable talking about feelings, experiences, and the challenges of
being a caregiver.
It is easier for some people to speak in a group than it is for others. But speaking
is not the only way people can express their thoughts and feelings. Try different
activities, such as singing songs, creating poems, or telling stories to help each
person participate in a way that feels comfortable for them. Some people may best
express themselves by drawing or painting pictures.
Why should we share
our troubles with the
whole neighborhood?
Omar, who can help us
better than our friends?
We all take care of
someone who has a
disability, so we must
have some of the same
problems.
A Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities 2007