Injured workers are many times the forgotten part of the Workers' Compensation system. They get injured, leave work and are out of the picture, at least as far as most of us are concerned. It is easy for the politicians and the public at large to dismiss all injured workers, as frauds and cheats, when they are a faceless lot.

  The Our Stories section is an opportunity to put a face on injured workers, to show that we are real, viable human beings. It is much harder to dismiss us when you see the face of human suffering. We are people whose lives are irreparably changed by workplace injury or disease. It is an opportunity for us to tell our stories, so that injured workers are not forgotten. This section will show not only the suffering but also the triumph of the human spirit.

See also an excellent list of injured workers' websites and blogs on the Canadian Injured Workers' Society website and the online forum of the Community of Injured Workers in Canada.

• "Dignity" [pdf] (poem by Barbara Stewart-Fischer, November 2007)
• "Overcoming barriers with laughter and tears / Superando barreras con risas y lágrimas" [pdf]- a Photovoice project from Latin American Injured Women for Justice / un proyecto de fotografía (Foto Voz) por Mujeres Accidentadas Latinamericanas en pro de Justicia (IAVGO, 15 September, 2007)
• Read the inspiring journey of Maryam Nazeemi from injured worker to activist for universal coverage
• "Living in limbo" - Hawaii's injured workers battle an uncaring system - different country, same pain [YouTube]
• "What is isn't always what it is - how do I explain our pain!" (poem by Barbara Stewart-Fischer, February 2007 for International RSI Awareness Day)
• "In spite of everything " (poem by Beryl Brown, written and presented on the occasion of the injured workers' 15th annual Christmas demonstration, December 7, 2006)
• "Gli'infortunati sul lavoro / The injured workers" (poem by Bright Lights' member Antonio Mauro, who despite suffering two industrial injuries as a construction worker, is still denied compensation)