ArcNC.org

We are the interns of the Mission Health Project SEARCH program in Asheville, North Carolina. The program is a partnership between Mission Health, The Arc of North Carolina, AB Tech, North Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation, Vaya Health, and the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities. We participate in classes that educate us on the importance of job skills, interview etiquette, professionalism on the job, and self-advocacy.

From personal experience, I can tell you that one of the most important aspects of healthcare is having a strong and open relationship with your doctor.  Like many people with disabilities, I’ve seen a lot of doctors over the years.  Recently, I had an experience to which some people with disabilities can relate. I have a speech disability, and, in a well-meaning way, my parents began trying answer my doctor’s questions without giving me a chance to speak for myself.  It became very frustrating because I knew the answers, but I was never given a chance to speak or have the chance to build a relationship with my new physician.  My parents were beginning to take my appointment in a different direction than I wanted to go, so I became fed up and asked them to step out of the room, so I could talk to the doctor unimpeded. They got the hint, and both respectfully quieted down so I could finish my appointment.