Window of Tolerance & Disability

A balanced window of tolerance, developed by psychiatrist Dr Dan Siegel, helps us to effectively function and to promote our wellbeing. The window of tolerance helps us to tolerate mild fluctuations in mood, neural activity, and energy levels to ensure our nervous system (sympathetic and parasympathetic) are in a calm activation mode and we can cope with daily stress and build healthy relationships. Those with a disability in our community can often experience life outside a window of tolerance, and that means their effective functioning is compromised and their wellbeing suffers. Neurological conditions such as autism, ADHD and OCD can often narrow the window of tolerance, as can chronic illness, trauma and physical disabilities, where ongoing stress, fatigue and pain make living within a window of tolerance more challenging. In Australia, people with disability consistently report poorer general health, higher levels of bodily pain, and much higher rates of psychological distress compared to the general population. While the NDIS is being reviewed because of budget cuts, older Australians still miss out. Ongoing organisational barriers to health, transport, working conditions and community facilities are still a challenge for the disability community. Current rules prevent people over 65 from accessing the NDIS, creating significant hardship and anxiety for older Australians with disability who need support. This means their wellbeing is all the more important to be conscious of and to promote an effective window of tolerance. For example, increasing self-awareness, improving self-regulation skills, focusing on self-care, and reaching out for support can all be critical in expanding and sustaining your effective window of tolerance. I strongly believe that we as a society need to do more to break down the disability barriers to promote self-determination, inclusivity, and collaboration to help sustain, develop, and maintain windows of tolerance while respecting the independence and autonomy of the individual. What are your thoughts and experiences in this important area of social policy reform?