What happens when you’re both a caregiver and, at the same, disabled yourself?    In this episode my guest Daniel Hodges, JD, who is blind, was a caregiver for his parents and children while needing special care himself from the medical community.  We discuss how he was able to succeed at this, by being a non-stop advocate for himself and those around him to overcome surprising biases and other obstacles put in his way.  Our conversation includes:

• How to get doctors to treat you with respect
• How to get more time when needed.
• What happens when a doctor wants to “Fix” you or your loved one – and it goes wrong
• When the doctor goes outside the box to be a savior/hero
• How quality of care can decline if you’re perceived to have a disability.
• Bias and ignorance in the medical community and how to make things work in your favor

In addition, we dive into how best to sharpen your own self-advocacy skills and get more from your doctor and healthcare providers, than the average person. Learn how to work the system before it works you over!

Special Note: I am fortunate to have Daniel as a friend and guest here on the Eldercare Success podcast. I am confident that his words and experiences will be lessons that you, the listener will learn from too. Nancy

The TRANSCRIPT for this show is available by clicking here.

Guest: Daniel Hodges, JD Social entrepreneur, connector, and servant leader. My unique approach to access, inclusion, and health equity facilitates real solutions. When each of us has a chance to succeed, all of us benefit. He is the cofounder of Pure Access and the President and Founder of The Peaces of Me Foundation.

Daniel was born blind, and with a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers Danlos syndrome. His constellation of symptoms is so rare that they have never appeared together in any medical text that I have been able to find. He says "Sometimes I struggle to lead with this part of my story because my health struggles do not define me. EDS has taken a lot of things, but it will not take my identity. Nevertheless, my experiences provide me with a valuable lens through which I view the world. It inspires me to question the status quo on several levels, and it causes me to dream of what we can yet achieve."

Host: Nancy May, Author of How to Survive911 Medical Emergencies, Step-by-Step Before, During, After! is an expert in managing the path of step-by-step caring for aging parents, even from over 1200 miles away. For a free, fillable File-of-Life go towww.howtosurvive911.com. Nancy is also the Co-Founder of CareManity LLC, and the private FaceBook group, Eldercare Success.