Bereavement Professionals’ Insights

Grief and Disability: Carrie’s Story

It has become clear to me over time that we have much work to do to ensure the delivery of disability-sensitive grief literacy and grief support. In March of 2022 my proposal for four 1-hour sessions was approved, we provided the program for 20 participants. My heart was full in each session.

My heart remains full of hope that conversations, education, and expertise about disability sensitive end of life care and grief support will gain momentum as more and more people join in on this vital conversation.

Michael – “A story of loss and longing”

Michael relays a story of a man coping after the loss of his wife.

Chantal – My Story

Chantal discusses finding a release in doing a graphic novel to explore her grief as a thesis in art therapy school

Cara – Grief and intellectual disabilities is a topic that needs to “get out there”

Cara shares some information from a participant in her research on intellectual disabilities and the bereaved. A person with an intellectual disability said… “Grief: It’s a topic that needs to get out there” Grief is something that so many people are hesitant to talk about, to display, to show, because there’s so many social rules around how we grieve. This is particularily challenging for the intellectually disabled.

Cheryl – “My story” short version

Cheryl talks about her daughter’s organ donations.

Janice – “Crying”

Janice explains how crying helps physically and emotionally.

Jean – My own grief and being a professional counsellor

Jean shares about being a counselor and going through her own grief

Claudia – My story

Claudia tells her story about art and grief

Maureen – Preparing for holidays

Maureen gives some ideas to help during holidays like connecting and taking time out

Sara – Creating music

Sara explains how creating music can be a part of the grieving process

Marija – Permission to mourn

Marija discusses the value of being allowing yourself to mourn

Madelyn – Advice to younger self

Madelyn discusses how having feelings is a gift and you can work through tough ones. There is hope.