Authors’ Perspectives on the Concept of Being Different
The authors of the article “On Being a Cripple” and the essay “The Boy Nobody Knew” use examples of two people with multiple sclerosis to elaborate on the meaning of being different. Mairs (2019) underlines that being different, a disabled person, as she calls it, means having an everyday life with extraordinary conditions. She experiences individual struggles as other people do, though hers are mostly related to the disease and her image in society. Mairs (2019) says, “After all, finish adjusting to life, and MS is simply a fact of my life” (p. 80).
Being different requires people to make unique adjustments to make it more convenient. However, to some extent, every person needs to cope with various circumstances that define their existence. Ringgold (n.d) states that being different means the need to be accepted and supported by people around to fit into society. People with various conditions often have limited contact with society due to specific features of behavior or appearance. They need to be acknowledged and appreciated to construct a positive self-image.
Creating a Just Culture: Clinicians’ Role in Supporting Diverse Patients
Clinicians can promote an environment that creates a just culture for patients who are seen as different. They can assist patients with social skills and develop their self-confidence. It can be achieved by teaching them to adjust to living with their condition, communicate with people around them, and accept themselves. It can help construct a positive self-image, reduce stress, and help focus on everyday activities. People who are seen as different can often distance themselves from society due to insecurities. Clinicians need to teach them to cope with the disease and adjust to the changes it brings into their lives.
Advocacy in Healthcare: Recognizing and Valuing the Patient’s Perspective
Advocacy is a primary tool that helps healthcare professionals and society acknowledge a patient’s perspective. It promotes equality, individual rights, and needs and preserves human dignity. It plays a crucial role in teaching people how to interact with people who are seen as different. It ensures they get the best treatment and receive all the assistance they need without feeling humiliated due to their health features.
References
Mairs, N. (2019). On being a cripple. In J. Oberlander, M. Buchbinder, L. R. Churchill, S. E. Estroff, N. M. P. King, B. F. Saunders, R. P. Strauss & R. L. Walker (eds.), The social medicine reader, Volume II, Third Edition (71-81). Duke University Press.
Ringgold, F. (n.d). The boy nobody knew.