title: Consumer, advocate, provider: a paradox requiring a new identity paradigm.
abstract: The best measure of a society is how well it cares for its weakest members. Over the past 60 years, I have had to merge the roles of consumer, advocate, and provider into a new identity paradigm. This address shares my experiences-the best and the worst of what I have seen. On reflection, I offer the following words of advice to both persons who have disabilities and those who are able-bodied: "if there is no wind, row!"
authors.affiliation: JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute, Edison, NJ 08820-3947, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Strax
mesh_terms: D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008282:Mainstreaming, Education; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010810:Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010819:Physician's Role; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States