Yes, they can! A diagnosis of a brain injury or a mental illness does not mean that the individual cannot lead a more productive life working towards his goals and desires. Often times individuals believe that they will not be able to regain any of their independence nor will they ever have the ability to do many of the things they desire-whether that includes getting a job, traveling or being in a relationship. An individual’s ability may be different due to their diagnosis, but many individuals are able to embrace their new circumstances and find a path to reach their goals often times with support from family, friends and staff. Many individuals that have a diagnosis of mental illness understand that they have to learn about their disorder, develop different coping strategies to deal with their disorder, understand their medications and to also educate those around them about the support they need. An individual may have lost most parts of his lifestyle and family relationships that they had prior to anaccident or diagnosis. Each individual may suffer with various symptoms and therefore need to modify or adapt their lifestyle according to their needs now.