#LiveOn Project

The #LiveOn Project is an anti-suicide campaign showing disabled folks, who may be struggling, that life is worth living. The project is a part of @CDRNYS.

[#LiveOn Project @Live_On_Project]

@kaleyroosen In fact, I can easily add this to the LiveOn website. If you have a therapist you love and has been Disability Affirmative, send me their name and I'll start a spreadsheet.

[#LiveOn Project @Live_On_Project]

@kaleyroosen YES! I think a list of disabled therapists or even a list of therapists that are disability affirmative that people could reference would be so helpful.

[#LiveOn Project @Live_On_Project]

If you have any further questions, please DM LiveOn or @kaleyroosen. Therapy is so important to the disability community and we need to sure that it's accessible to all of us!

[#LiveOn Project @Live_On_Project]

Thank you so much for joining us today for #MyAbleistTherapist. @kaleyroosen - your perspective on this was invaluable! Thank you so much for all you do

[#LiveOn Project @Live_On_Project]

Q8. It seems like it’s rare to find a therapist that identifies as being disabled like yourself. Is there any kind of network available that would allow someone to specifically seek out a disabled psychologist?
#MyAbleistTherapist @kaleyroosen

[#LiveOn Project @Live_On_Project]

@kaleyroosen Community is so important and the reason #LiveOn was created

[#LiveOn Project @Live_On_Project]

@kaleyroosen Would it be considered to give a copy of this book to your therapist? Half Joking- but a roster for every one that has read this would be so helpful in choosing a therapist #MyAbleistTherapist @kaleyroosen

[#LiveOn Project @Live_On_Project]

Q7. Q7. Society sends so many messages that says having a disability is a bad thing. Can you give us any tips for how to combat this in our day-to-day lives?
#LiveOn #MyAbleistTherapist @kaleyroosen

[Kaley Roosen @kaleyroosen]

A5: ...at it's core, it sees disability as not inherently bad and sees disabled people as capable of reaching their full potential for happiness and meaningfulness in life. There is a heavy focus on social factors that contribute to disability and access #MyAbleistTherapist

[#LiveOn Project @Live_On_Project]

Q6. Ableism and Stigma are really hard to process and look differently depending on your disability. How do you avoid internalizing ableism and stigma to the point that you believe it about yourself? #MyAbleistTherapist @Live_On_Project @kaleyroosen

[Kaley Roosen @kaleyroosen]

A5: It's a way of doing therapy that acknowledges disability as an important consideration in the therapeutic relationship. It neither over-inflates nor under-emphasizes the importance of disability & let's the client lead on how they define disability but...#MyAbleistTherapist

[Kaley Roosen @kaleyroosen]

A3: I have found that persons trained in rehab models of care to be particularly prone to trying to lessen the burden of disability but unfortunately this is one of the only practices that focuses on disability in psychology in traditional training programs. #MyAbleistTherapist

[Kaley Roosen @kaleyroosen]

A3: As a client, I would pay attention to how you feel when you interact with them. Are you feeling put down or patronized in any way? Do they give you space to share your feelings without making you feel like it is your fault or it makes a lot of sense? #MyAbleistTherapist

[Kaley Roosen @kaleyroosen]

A3: Do they know what ableism is? One of my first trainings as a new psychologist, I had to tell the Human Resources person what ableism was. #MyAbleistTherapist

[Kaley Roosen @kaleyroosen]

Also, talking to disabled people on what they need in your community. Hire disabled people! And offer more accommodations than just getting into the building. EX: offer large print materials. #MyAbleistTherapist

[Kaley Roosen @kaleyroosen]

Also, make space in your waiting room for mobility devices! And people with different bodies. Have large furniture without armrests for larger bodies. Have a spot for couple's therapy. Feeling like you are not an afterthought can make a huge difference. #MyAbleistTherapist

[#LiveOn Project @Live_On_Project]

Q5. Your bio says you do ‘disability affirmative Psychotherapy”- what is this? Because I feel like we all need this! #MyAbleistTherapist @kaleyroosen

[Kaley Roosen @kaleyroosen]

Start with adding accessibility information on their contact/website. It's such a burden to have to call all these offices and find out their not accessible. Can contribute to hopelessness #MyAbleistTherapist

[Kaley Roosen @kaleyroosen]

I remember recently noticing how stressed I was going on the subway. I realized looking around that other people didn't feel stressed for the space they took up and being "in the way". Being able to process with my therapist was very affirming & empowering. #MyAbleistTherapist