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Paul Berger & Stephanie Mensh's
Stroke Survivor
News & Attitude
For YOU
October 2006
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~~~<<~~ IN THIS ISSUE ~~>>~~~
October is National Disability Employment
Awareness Month
1. NEWS: Research on Stroke Recovery & Rehabilitation
2. PAUL’S SURVIVORS TIPS: Successful Job Interviews with Stroke & Aphasia
3. STEPHANIE'S CAREGIVERS TIP: Supporting the Survivor's Job Search
4. PAUL'S FAVORITES: A Close Shave with One Hand
5. NEWS: Paul's hobbies featured in NSA's Stroke Smart
6..WHAT'S NEW on StrokeSurvivor.com: Conquer Stroke Tool Kit
7. Stroke Reading Problems? Free Read-aloud Software
8. Subscribe
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Please forward this newsletter to your friends and
colleagues who would benefit from these tips.
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1. NEWS: Research on Stroke Recovery & Rehabilitation: Can you count to 2 trillion dollars?
The cost of treating stroke will exceed two trillion dollars over the next 40 years, according to researchers from the University of Michigan. This staggering amount includes the cost of hospital care, rehabilitation, outpatient visits, nursing home care, drugs, informal caregiving, and lost wages.
The loss of income among people ages 45 to 64 years and informal caregiving account for about half of the total costs identified in the study, according to Reuters Health.
Results were published in a recent issue of the prestigious journal, "Neurology," available online, click here.
For additional resources to help you find information on medical, health, rehabilitation, recovery, self-empowerment, and more, we have collected our favorite links, click here.
2. PAUL’S TIPS FOR SURVIVORS: Successful Job Interviews with Stroke & Aphasia
How will you celebrate October -- National Disability
Employment Awareness Month?
In the 20 years since my stroke, I have lost...and found many jobs, part time, full time, and self-employment. I have aphasia (problems with my speech) and only use one hand. Going on interviews is a challenge. Sometimes I went with a job counselor, but I was more successful going alone.
My key to success was coming prepared with 3 items:
(1) A 3-ring binder, containing:
* Resume listing skills and experience
* Letters of recommendation from prior employers
* Letters from rehabilitation professionals
* Samples of work from prior jobs and school
If you have a few different interests or job goals, you should have different resumes that highlight your related skills and experience. With a binder, it is easy to include the right resume, and appropriate work samples for each interview.
Put these in plastic page protectors so you won't hurt them with coffee drips or finger smudges.
(2) A comic strip from the newspaper that showed I was willing to work hard at any job. Remember the old saying, "always open with a joke"? That isn't easy with aphasia, but it is important to put your interviewer at ease.
(3) A completed model application form, listing names, addresses, dates of prior employment, school, references,and other personal data. This takes me a long time to complete, so I ask them to fax it in advance, and fill it out at home if they will let me. If not, having the model form is a big help.
My books, "How to Conquer the World With One Hand...And an Attitude," and "You Can Do It! 105 Thoughts, Feelings & Solutions to Inspire You," provide additional insights and tips into returning to work after stroke. For details, click here
For government resources, visit the US Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy, click here.
Do you have a tip to share? Send it to me at
Paul@strokesurvivor.com for a free gift if we use it.
 3. Stephanie’s Tips for Caregivers: Supporting the Survivor's Job Search
We are strong advocates for working-aged survivors and spouses to keep their jobs or return to work as soon as possible after the stroke, for financial reasons, as well as promoting independence. Sometimes this means changing jobs.
Emotional support and keeping a positive attitude are the most important things you can provide, since finding a job can be stressful and demoralizing.
Family, friends, and therapists can support the survivor's job search by helping the survivor to:
* Consider the type of job, hours, and location
* Network with potential mentors and employers
* Review the newspaper help-wanted ads
* Find Internet web sites for job finding
resources, and companies' job openings lists
* Develop and format resumes on paper and for email
* Develop form letters for the survivor to send
* Organize material for their interview binder.
By helping with these nuts-and-bolts efforts, you show the survivor that you believe in their job search and goal of returning to work.
For more tips for caregivers, click here.
4. PAUL'S FAVORITES: A Close Shave with One Hand
I prefer one-handed shaving with an electric shaver. Using a blade was too difficult. I needed a shaver that could do a good job on a heavy beard, and was easy to clean and charge by myself. I like the Braun Self-Cleaning Shaving System because it gives me a close shave, and you store it in an automatic cleaning and charging container. Instead of taking the shaver apart to clean, you just push a button. This brand is sturdy and gave me many years of excellent service.
For details, click here.
For other Paul-tested helpful products, click here.
5. Paul's Hobbies Featured in NSA's Be Stroke Smart
Learn how to return to or find your hobby or creative craft after stroke by reading the September issue of "Be Stroke Smart," the magazine of the National Stroke Association (NSA), featuring an interview with stroke survivor Paul Berger, award-winning author of "How to Conquer the World With One Hand...And an Attitude." This book shows how stroke survivors can have a full life--with many interests and activities.
Paul also wrote "How to Conquer Hobbies with One Hand: 50 Tips and Tools to Make Things," providing photos, shopping lists, and bonus tips for arts and crafts and hobbies.
To read the article, click here.
For details on "Stroke Smart", visit the NSA web site, click here.
For details on Paul's "How to Conquer" books, click here.
5. PAUL'S FAVORITES: Conquer Stroke Tool Kit
When people ask me how to overcome the problems caused by their stroke and to feel good about themselves, I tell them that having a positive attitude is very important. It is also important to try new things, and to be ready for life's ups and downs.
The Conquer Stroke Tool Kit can help you cope with your
stroke. It features the book, "How to Conquer the World With One Hand...And an Attitude," plus solution-packed articles (3) and newsletters (3), plus the handy 3-in-1 magnifier-bookmark-ruler -- great for phone books, maps, small print on bottles (and people won't know you're using a magnifier!), plus the check-writing-tip-card (fits into your check book), and more.
For details, click here
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INSPIRATIONAL SPEECHES & PRACTICAL TIPS TO SUCCEED!
Do you want to maximize stroke recovery and be motivated to regain a fulfilling life? Learn first hand by bringing Paul and Stephanie to your organization.
Call us for your next program, conference, convention, seminar, workshop, or sales meeting. We provide personalized presentations and workshop services. Email us at: Paul@StrokeSurvivor.com, call 703-241-2375, click here.
For details of our recent presentations at Harvard, click here.
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6. WHAT'S NEW on the Stroke Survivor.com web site.
We're adding helpful new things to our web site all the time. Coming soon to our Resource Links page.
7. Stroke/Aphasia Reading problems?
After a stroke, many people have reading and other language
problems, known as "aphasia." Hearing a sentence read aloud
helps to understand it. You can hear this newsletter read
aloud while each word is highlighted on the computer screen
with the FREE text reader software.
8. SUBSCRIBE
Welcome to our online newsletter. If you would like to receive a copy each month, please sign up by completing the blue form on the right.
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Copyright (c) Paul E. Berger & Stephanie Mensh
Permission is granted to reprint these articles
in your newsletter or magazine only with the following byline:
"Paul Berger & Stephanie Mensh are speakers and authors.
To find out more about their programs and services,
visit www.StrokeSurvivor.com
or call (703) 241-2375."
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