CREATED TO RAISE AWARENESS, CELEBRATE ACHIEVEMENTS
AND TAKE ACTION FOR EQUALITY OF PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES
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TRAUMA

According to the Dictionary.com trauma means: "a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident.". This means that trauma is an injury to your body. Trauma is one of the main causes of physical disabilities. Many injuries  to our skeletal, muscular or nervous system happen when we are in accidents or hurt ourselves. For example, car accidents are one of the big causes of trauma relate physical disabilities because often people sustain injuries to neck, head or limbs. Sometimes our bodies recover from these injuries or injuries are repaired by surgery. In many cases this is not possible. Injuries become permanent and result in physical disabilities. When a person is injured and becomes physically disabled he or she needs to learn how to live with this disability. Often, this means changing lifestyle. For example, homes for people who are disabled  need space for a wheelchair to access.

There are several types of injuries that can result in physical disabilities:

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI)
Traumatic brain injury is often caused by accidents . Unfortunately, it can also be caused by abuse. This happens in many young children. For example, if the baby who does not want to stop crying is shaken it can have a 'shaken baby syndrome". This is a type of traumatic brain injury that will stay for life. In addition, wars and conflict are often a cause for TBI. Bullets and landmines can cause damage to the brain. Also, being hit in the head by a heavy object or even a fist can cause brain trauma. Finally, many brain injuries can happen when people do not wear safety gear. For example riding a bike or a motorcycle without helmets may increase risk of brain injury if there is a fall.Therefore, people should wear safety gear, even if they do not think they look cool!
SPINAL CORD INJURY
 The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that passes messages from your brain to your body. If this message path is damaged, messages from the brain will not reach other body parts, so they may not work properly or they may stop working at all. The spinal cord is found inside our spine which has bones to protect it.  Accidents are one of the main causes of spinal cord injuries. When the spinal cord is injured paralysis may happen. Paralysis means that the body part has no function.

LOSS OF BODY PART
(AMPUTATION)
Unfortunately, in the world of work and everyday life accidents happen. Sometimes they result in loss of a body part which is also called amputation. This happens when a piece of body is completely  severed. For example, a hand or a foot may be caught in the machine severing it from the body. Sometimes amputation is done by surgery because of diseases. For example if the limb has cancer that cannot be removed and could spread a doctor may decide to amputate. Living without a body part is challenging, but many people today can use assistive devices to help. For example, artificial limbs are made to help replace arms and legs. Prevention is the best way to deal with accidental loss of body part. Therefore following the safety rules at the work place  and being careful around machines may prevent an amputation.

CREDITS:
"Amputation." Wikipedia. 27 Feb 2008. 29 Feb 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amputation>.

Dictionary.com. 22 Mar 2008 <http://dictionary.reference.com/>.

"Physical Disabilities ." Definitions of Disability Commonly Used By Schools . 20 Mar 2008 <http://www.geocities.com/aneecp/distypes.htm>.

"Spinal Cord Injuries." Spinal Cord Injuries . 20 Mar 2008 <http://www.spinal-cord.org/?gclid=CMLIxZzR348CFUtyOAodRDBq7w>.

"The Spinal Cord." Neurosience for kids. 20 Mar 2008 <http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/spinal.html>.

Wong, Antonio. Personal Interview. 12 Jan 2008.

"Traumatic Brain Injury." MayoClinic.com. 08 feb 2008. Mayo Clinic. 11 Mar 2008 <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/traumatic-brain-injury/DS00552>.