Learning a matter for life say graduates
An occupational therapist, Karen Hammell was aware many of us believe life with complete paralysis isn't worth living and was concerned with the lack of in-depth research on how people cope.
She has just completed a PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies that applied rehabilitation sciences, anthropology and sociology to the study of disability.
Originally from England, Hammell emigrated to Saskatchewan. Her interest in disabilities was triggered after working with people who had difficulty performing daily tasks.
In 1980 she met her husband who was paralysed from the neck down. She became convinced that people living with disabilities could maintain a rich and meaningful life.
For her doctoral thesis Hammell conducted a seven-month study examining the quality of life perceived by 15 people, ages 21 to 50, who are completely paralysed below the neck. The results were inspiring -- all of them told her they are glad to be alive.
Some felt positive immediately, Hammell says, but for others it took years to shed society's stigma and realize they still had much to offer. They all agreed being confined to an institution was worse than being paralysed.
"One man was told at 19 that he would only live two years and never leave the institution," Hammell says. "He's now 40, married with children and a successful business man."
Hammell says the situation in B.C. is unique because these individuals fought for social policies that would allow them to live independently.
"When you meet these people doing ordinary things like heading to work, picking up their kids or travelling overseas, the rationale for keeping them in institutions seems clearly flawed," she says.
Hammell's thesis will be published in professional journals and she plans to turn it into a book.
"The stories of my subjects can offer newly injured people and their families some insight into the kind of lives that may be possible," Hammell says. "I think this provides hope even in the absence of a cure."