Webcast Library

• Emergency Preparedness for Persons with Disabilities
  Speaker: Frank Levy (originally webcast 9-21-2011)
  If a hurricane or other disaster hits Houston, would you know what to do? People with medical needs or physical impairment have a special challenge when disaster strikes. The time to prepare is now! This webcast is a conversation between Roberta Diddel, a psychologist with a disability, and Frank Levy, Burueau Chief of the Houston Department of health & Human Services, who has many years of experience in working with emergency preparedness for the City of Houston. Together, Frank and Roberta talk about what the 211 community services will and won't do for folks with disabilities or health challenges, how to put together a plan for yourself (or someone else) in case of emergency, determine what goes into an emergency kit and be familiar with resources for accessing assistance in case of emergency. Most of all, this webinar will help you think through whom and how to ask for help, should you need it when the times comes.
  
  
• Matters of Life and Death: 5 Conversations to Have With Those You Love
  Speaker: Susan Lieberman, Ph.D. (originally webcast 7-28-2011)
  Managing matters of life and death requires us to understand what we want and know what our options are. Join our webinar with author Susan Lieberman as she poses five questions to spark conversation about how to prepare for serious illness, our own ultimate death or that of a parent, partner or loved one. Susan Lieberman, co-founder of the Y-Collaborative, guides attendees through five essential conversations, giving an opportunity to think through these matters, discover what we want and find ways to communicate our wishes with others.
  
  
• Taking Control of Your Healthcare
  Speaker: Dr. Jeffrey Kleisberg. (originally webcast 6-21-2011)
  Despite having the most expensive healthcare system in the world, the United States ranks 41st among industrialized countries in life expectancy. Incredibly, not only are we receiving only 50% of the healthcare we should, we are receiving unnecessary care to the tune of 0-700 billion a year! In other words, just because it's expensive doesn't mean it's better. This presentation will provide you with some of the information you need to participate in your healthcare which most experts agree is the best way to get the right care. Shared-decision making helps your healthcare provider focus on your care so you don't receive unnecessary life-endangering care.
  
  
• Mind Medicine: How Your Attitude Can Affect Your Health
  Speaker: Dr. Mike Klabor. (originally webcast 3-1-2011)
  Can your attitude really influence your physical health? Research in the new specialty of Positive Psychology shows that it can. But how? Studies show that how we think has a strong effect on our immune system and other physiological processes that affect overall health and well-being, our resistence to infection, our recovery from surgery, as well as how long we live. Dr. Klaybor discusses the influence of optimism and positive thinking on brain development, happiness and physical health, then shows how to harness this knowledge and use it in your every day life. We may not yet be able to eliminate medical conditions using Mind Medicine, but improving the quality and length of life is possible right now.
  
  
• The Impact of Disability on Relationships
  Speaker: Roberta M. Diddel, Ph.D. (originally webcast 1-25-2011)
  Whether you're providing care or receiving help from someone else, care giving and receiving puts a strain on the relationship. In this webcast, health psychologist Dr. Roberta Diddel discusses the unique psychological impact of the experience of needing help from others and also from being the one who provides assistance. Illness and disability have unique effects on relationships between care providers (even professional ones!) and those who depend on others for help. She will explore ways to improve communication between care giver and care receiver.
  
  
• Everything You Need to Know About Long-Term Disability
  Speaker: James Passamano, J.D (originally webcast 11-30-2010)
  Long term disability benefits are offered by some employers and provide a monthly cash benefit to those employees who become unable to work due to serious medical condition. Disability benefits may also be available through Social Security. It is important to have a strong application if you hope to obtain benefits. A denial of benefits can be appealed, but often takes many months or even years. You will not want to miss this opportunity to learn from attorney James Passamano how to file a strong application and what the legal standards are for review on appeal.
  
  
• Employment, Disability & Our Legal Rights
  Speaker: Joe Bontke (originally webcast 9-20-2010)
  When you, a family member or client becomes ill or disabled, it may necessitate changes at work. So what should you do then? The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, and the American with Disabilities Act Amendment Act (ADAA) made some significant changes in the way the ADA, the Rehabilitation ACt of 1973, and other disabilities rights laws should be interpreted and enforced. In addition, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides protections for employees who need to leave work to care for one's own or a family member's medical condition.
  
  
• Self-Care for Care Givers
  Speaker: Robert Pennington, Ph.D. (originally webcast 6-22-2010)
  Most caregivers didn't volunteer - they got drafted.  Because a family member became ill, they became the one who took increasing responsibilities for another who no longer could. Psychologist Dr. Robert Pennington, who spent 30 years with a spouse diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, offers an hour of inspiration and practical suggestions on how to care for yourself - while you care for those you love.
  
  
• What the Healthcare Bill Means for You
  Speaker: Attorney Beth Sufian (originally webcast 5-20-2010)
  After over a year of heated debate, the congress has passed the healthcare reform bill.  What does that mean for you?  No matter who you are, a patient with medical challenges, a family member, or a professional who advises clients, you need to know what will change and what won't.  Attorney Beth Sufian discusses the basic changes covered in the act and answers questions.
  
  
• Accommodation for Kids at School - Understanding the Law
  Speaker: Attorney Jacqui Brennan (originally webcast 4-27-2010)
  For children with disabling medical conditions, the medical obstacles are tough, but equally challenging is the quest to access a good education. This webinar will provide practical advice for successfully getting your school to make accommodations for your child's special needs.  Designed for parents and foster parents of children with disabilities, as well as the professionals working with them, attorney Jacquie Brennan will discuss Section 504  of the Rehabilitation Act and education law in the IDEA that govern the rights of children with disabilities.   She presents basic information, and then answers questions.
  
  
• Overcoming the Social Challenges of Illness and Disability
  Speaker, psychologist Roberta Diddel (originally webcast 1-27-2010)
  Illness and disability result in many losses; and one of the most poignant is the loss of our social self.  For patients, care givers and other family members, social life changes.  We can't do the things we used to do, so we lose the relationships associated with those activities.  People disappear from our lives, because they can't or aren't willing to face the difficulties with us.   Our experiences separate us from others, creating a sense of alienation.  We feel forced to "put on a good face", and don't know how to get past that feeling of inauthenticity.   Social situations become awkward, and sometimes we just don't know how to respond. Dr. Roberta Diddel covers common aspects of the social challenges of disabling medical conditions and discusses how to re-build a meaningful social life and social identity.