I am a consumer with schizo-affective
disease. I also have the priviledge to work for an organization that I
believe in. Tomorrow will be my two year anniversary with NAMI Texas!
And I never imagined that I would have the capacity nor the motivation
to take on any job, especially full time. But I have grown through
my advocacy work and I continue to learn to empower myself and others
through my job as public policy assistant.
Because of my mental illness and the
treatment I received for so very long, I once thought that I was
entitled to "special" treatment. I thought that I deserved to be treated
"special." Now, through my growth in my recovery and in my
dedication to NAMI Texas, I have learned what empowerment really is.
Empowerment is DOING something! It is not
mere words in a speech that I may deliver, it is not words written on a
page for others to read.
Empowerment for me is ACTION!
Empowerment is getting out of my house, even
when I feel tired or depressed, and driving the 27 miles to work.
Empowerment is walking on the Austin State Hospital grounds for a
Consumer Council meeting and sitting in a room with that "hospital
smell" knowing that I am in a much better place to take care of
myself than ever before. Empowerment is finding the courage to walk into
a meeting with other disability organizations when I still carry that
paranoia of being labeled "crazy." Empowerment is leaving that
meeting with much more knowledge that I can use to help others
navigate the system.
Empowerment is not an entitlement. It is
something we earn. Empowerment has come to me through lots of hard work,
lots of stress, perseverance and consistent motivation. Empowerment has
come to me because Lynn Lasky believed in me two years ago and still
believes in me today.
So, let's celebrate the progress that we
have made in these last two years. Let's think about what we need to do
as a unified group of people interested in lives of persons with MI and
their families. Let's look at all we have in common and what the true
goal is for NAMI Texas. Let's make all of our lives better by working
together.
Diana Kern
NAMI Texas
Public Policy Assistant
