Do i deserve Privacy and Independence if i have Epilepsy/Disability?

[niceguyVZ]

I live with my parents but i'm fed up. I'm currently looking for housing, they would not like that.

My question is, do i deserve to have Privacy and Independence?
I've seen many other people like me, including others that are even more disabled and they live independent in their own apartment or whatever.

So why not me?

 

[C0urt]

ask your self that question first, Why not you?

Keep going and be as honest as possible.
1)if i have a seizure while cooking, while i leave the stove on? Will I burn myself?
2) am I risk for drowning myself?
4) are there ways for people to keep track of me, can i keep track of myself?
3) can I pay my bills every month?


Keep going the list is unique for every person.
If you can find a good and positive answer for every question, and present it to them,
Some of the reasons you shouldn't will bother you, read some of the other peoples' horror stories on the forum look over them, and consider your questions and answers. Keep going and if you have a good list, then see if you can move out, even if just for a short while before you try something long term.

 

[niceguyVZ]

ask your self that question first, Why not you?

Keep going and be as honest as possible.
1)if i have a seizure while cooking, while i leave the stove on? Will I burn myself?
2) am I risk for drowning myself?
4) are there ways for people to keep track of me, can i keep track of myself?
3) can I pay my bills every month?


Keep going the list is unique for every person.
If you can find a good and positive answer for every question, and present it to them,
Some of the reasons you shouldn't will bother you, read some of the other peoples' horror stories on the forum look over them, and consider your questions and answers. Keep going and if you have a good list, then see if you can move out, even if just for a short while before you try something long term.

Then how come I see very disabled people with independence? For example one guy with extreme dystonia with all his body twisted and he lives in his own apartment. I'm sure he gets some help yeah but still independent. I would also get some help.

i'm going to answer the questions:
1)if i have a seizure while cooking, while i leave the stove on? Will I burn myself?
Well i dont' cook.

2)am I risk for drowning myself?
I don't go in the water. i dont even take bathtub baths. usually just showers.
3)are there ways for people to keep track of me, can i keep track of myself?
Yes i'm decently smart.

4) Yes and i would have help.


ALso i like to say I don't have tonic clonics/generalized seizures. I have the ones that just produce movement disorder.

and as for my other mental disability, i may not be that smart and i'm slow but with alittle help i can do ok.

 

[C0urt]

lots more questions to ask yourself than that

 

[CQ:)]

Niceguy,
I thought you were looking at moving into a group home late last year.

Other members would be able to help you further as I'm not American but I assume there must be support workers who can assist you with every day living & with paying bills if you aren't good with budgeting.

2)am I risk for drowning myself?
I don't go in the water. i dont even take bathtub baths. usually just showers.
.

I'm not trying to scare you but having a shower can be as dangerous as having a bath. I think there have been a few members who have had seizures in the shower & burnt themselves.
I've had partial seizures in the shower & 1 in the bath but thankfully I've never injured myself.

 

[Belinda5000]

I lived on my own up till about 2-4wks before I got married. I live with my mother up till I was 26. I had move back home once because of my sz's and later my sister lived with me shortly and she up and split.I refused to lose my independence.I was able to get around on MARTA PUBLIC transportation.I refused to sit at home and weight for my next seizure.

I've burnt myself cooking and my dh has found me after he has come home from work.
I've fallen out of the shower due to a sz busted my head open.
Im on SSDI and I won't give up .I've been there and know how hard it is to get a ride when you don't drive.

 

[Nakamova]

Do i deserve Privacy and Independence if i have Epilepsy/Disability?

I think people deserve privacy and independence regardless of what their health status is. There may be practical constraints (physical, geographical, social, financial). I think you've already made up your mind on this, but would like your parents to be supportive of your decision to move out. What are their objections or worries? Do you need their financial support -- or just their blessing -- in order to get your own place to live? Do you have someone like a caseworker who can advocate for you and help make the transition happen?

 

[notime]

Are your seizures treated? If not how often do they occur? All of this plays into factors, and I understand that you need out and I actually recommend it. I would if I had money, but I don't and I can't get a stable job since I can't drive... For me, I guess I'll have to get a GED and then walk to community college for two years then finally I can probably pack my bags, take out student loans and move to another state to transfer to a 4 year university.

am I risk for drowning myself?

Are you willing to protect yourself? You can take every caution that you can think of. You could look for housing with a shower, and use it instead. If you must use a bathtub then consider these options. Does your bath tub have glass doors? Mine does with a mirror, but my father refuses to change it so I take showers only at night when they're around, and try to make it as fast as possible. You should try to get polycarbonate or some plastic that doesn't crack. What about the drain? There is a plug which you could remove, so if you were to fall you wouldn't hit it and it'll make water stay in the tub. Then there is the faucet, you need something thin so you don't injure yourself on it.. You also have to consider, what if it burns too hot? Then you can turn down the hot water heater or put a device that limits it on it.


In my opinion, if you even have a seizure once a week to once a month then it shouldn't be bad for you to live in your own housing. You also have to consider having carpets in most areas; I know people go as far as saying it should be in the kitchen and bathroom but I wouldn't do that... It would be ruined in matter of days for me. Are there a lot of people around? Is there a hospital close? Will you be able to call 911 quick enough ? If you can protect sharp edges, and other things with what I recommended. Of course, you need stable transportation to do your job so you can have a stable job. Can you do this? If so I don't see any reason why you would not be able to live alone.

I know this sounds dumb.. To be honest, I am not going to make everything baby proof just so I can live alone. I lived with my parents my entire life, and even now I've been seizure free for months. I am not going to wear a helmet, or take other paranoid security cautions. If something happens to me, or if I die that's fine long as I get to live life, but that's just me.

 

[valeriedl]

I see nothing wrong with living on your own and having some independence. When I'm out with people I'm pretty much treated like a child. They don't want to let me out of their sight in a store, not even to walk down a separate aisle. If they do let me roam by myself I get phone calls on my cell just to check in with me.

At home I have a good bit of independence. I live with my husband but I stay at home a lot by myself when he goes to work or to the store.

Something I would consider about living home first is how often do you have seizure? If they are quite often and bad then that is a major factor.

Here are some of the things that I consider first about these things:

1)if i have a seizure while cooking, while I leave the stove on? Will I burn myself?
I know you said that you don't cook but what exactly do you consider cooking?
I don't like to use the stove or oven when I'm alone, just the toaster and microwave. I was making waffles in the waffle iron (don't know if you consider that cooking?) once when I had a seizure. Luckily my husband was home because he smelt it burning. Also during seizure's I like to do things over and over again. I could put a piece of bread in the toaster and just keep toasting it over and over again which could cause the bread to start burning.

2) am I risk for drowning myself?
I will take baths but only if there is someone there to check on me quite often but in general I only take showers too. I've had many seizures in the shower that I've fallen out of the shower, luckily my husband has been home during these. Do you use a washcloth? If you do and drop it during a seizure it could fall on the drain and stop the water from flowing down which could cause the bathtub to fill up. I take showers when I'm alone but I do not use a wash cloth.

3) are there ways for people to keep track of me, can I keep track of myself?
Have someone give you a call once a day just to check in on you, someone always does that with me when my husband is at work. Even though you are smart you may not be smart during a seizure - I know I'm not!

4) can I pay my bills every month?
Can you afford to pay your bills, it's not easy sometimes. I consider groceries and household needs like toilet paper, soap, medicine and things like that a bill too. If you don't drive do you have someone who can get you to the store to get things that you need. If you can then that shouldn't be a problem.

Take some serious thought about all of this. Depending what your answers are should be the yes or no question. I know I couldn't live on my own. It wouldn't have to be my parents that I'd have to live with but I'd need a room mate.