By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON--In a classic case of blaming the victim, attorneys representing the City of Spokane told a court Friday that Spokane Police were not responsible for Otto Zehm's March 20, 2006 restraint death.
Otto Zehm was.
How?
By failing to take his medication.
And by failing to drop a plastic soda pop bottle when told to do so.
Since his death, the city and its police department have tried to shift the focus away from officers' actions and toward Zehm's behavior and disabilities.
Zehm, 36, reportedly had an intellectual disability and schizophrenia. He had worked as a janitor at Fairchild Air Force Base under a contract with Skils'kin, an employment services agency known until a few years ago as Pre-Vocational Training Center.
Zehm died two days after officers beat him, restrained him on his stomach, shocked him repeatedly with a Taser stun gun, and placed a plastic "partial non-rebreather mask" over his face without supplying oxygen.
Zehm's mother, Ann, and the Center for Justice have filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city.
On Friday, city attorneys asked the federal court to dismiss the case.
"Otto Zehm knew or should have know that he was being detained by a peace officer and had the duty to refrain from using force to resist such detention," they wrote. "Any injury or damage suffered by Mr. Zehm was caused solely by reason of his conduct and willful resistance."
Following up on a 9-1-1 report of a "suspicious person" acting "in a bizarre manner" at a bank ATM, police tracked Zehm two blocks to a Spokane convenience store.
Video from security videos show Zehm walking to the back of the store and getting a 2-liter bottle of soda pop. One officer is then seen quickly walking up to Zehm, who held the plastic bottle with both hands at chest level. Zehm is seen moving away from the officer, who advances and strikes Zehm with a nightstick and knocks him to the floor in an aisle.
Other officers join in, restraining Zehm, handcuffing and hogtying him. Flashes from the Taser are clearly seen on the video. At some point, officers placed the clear plastic mask with a nickel-sized hole over Zehm's face to prevent him from spitting. After about 15 minutes, officers discovered that he had stopped breathing.
Zehm lapsed into a coma and died two days later at a local hospital.
He had not taken any money from the ATM.
Following an autopsy, Spokane County Medical Examiner Sally Aiken determined that Zehm's death was a homicide and that he died from a heart attack "while restrained in a prone position for excited delirium". Toxicology tests showed that he had no drugs in his system.
Immediately after the incident, acting police chief Jim Nicks claimed that Zehm "lunged" at the officer that tried to arrest him. He suggested that Zehm was using the plastic bottle as a lethal weapon against the officer. Nicks also said that Zehm was lying on his side most of the time he was on the floor.
The video, which contridicted much of Nicks' statements, was not released until a court ordered the city to do so several months later.
In April, questions were raised about a request by the Spokane County Sheriff's Department, which conducted an investigation into any wrongdoing by Spokane City Police officers, to obtain a search warrant for Zehm's medical, mental health, and employment records. The county detectives said they needed the information to follow up on the city officers' claims that Zehm assaulted them. Some legal experts said that it was highly unusual for investigators to probe the past of a dead person who cannot be charged with a crime.
In court documents filed Friday, the city maintains that Zehm "defiantly and angrily" rejected the officer's orders to drop the pop bottle, "at first by stating, 'No,' and thereafter by making loud growls, roars, and loud guttural sounds as Mr. Zehm physically resisted the officer’s efforts to get him under control."
The city attorneys also wrote that Zehm "had functioned moderately well in the community despite the severity of his mental illness, so long as he took his prescribed psychotropic medication and utilized the support provided by various social service agencies, and including those provided by his most recent employer."
"Mr. Zehm stopped taking his prescribed psychotropic medication in or about February, 2006, contrary to the advice of his medical providers, leading to a significant deterioration of his functioning capacity, including but not limited to episodes of major confusion and paranoia."
The city also contends that Zehm had "a history of being physically resistive and aggressive with law enforcement officers." The document describes an incident in 1990, in which a county sheriff's deputy tried to detain Zehm after seeing him "wandering along an arterial in a confused manner wearing ripped clothing". Zehm reportedly refused to go with the deputy. According to the deputy's report, when he tried to wrestle Zehm to the ground, Zehm tried to reach for the gun in the officer's holster.
No charges were filed, but Zehm was referred for involuntary mental health evaluation and treatment.
The paper does not say whether the officers involved in the March 2006 incident knew anything about the 1990 report.
The U.S. Department of Justice is doing its own investigation into whether Zehm's civil rights were violated during the incident that resulted in his death.
For more information on this event, visit wikipedia
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Augmentative and Alternative Communication app for the iPhone
From the Prologquo2Go website:
Proloquo2Go™ is a new product from AssistiveWare that provides a full-featured communication solution for people who have difficulty speaking. It brings natural sounding text-to-speech voices, up-to-date symbols, powerful automatic conjugations, a default vocabulary of over 7000 items, full expandability and extreme ease of use to the iPhone and iPod touch.
Key Features:
Our view: This is a pretty cool new product. What I like most about it is that it utilizes existing technologies rather than having a specialized device. Also, the price is fabulously affordable compared to other devices...even if you have to buy an iPhone or an iTouch. One concern I have heard is whether or not it will be hard for people who have difficulty with fine motor control, but even considering that it's a really interesting new product.
Proloquo2Go™ is a new product from AssistiveWare that provides a full-featured communication solution for people who have difficulty speaking. It brings natural sounding text-to-speech voices, up-to-date symbols, powerful automatic conjugations, a default vocabulary of over 7000 items, full expandability and extreme ease of use to the iPhone and iPod touch.
Key Features:
- Full communication solution with a default VocaSpace vocabulary of over 7000 items
- Choice of list or grid view
- Built-in natural sounding text-to-speech voices from Acapela Group (one language, initially only American English). The current version includes North American English male, female, girl and boy voices. British English voices will soon be available as an option. Support for other languages and voices is in the pipeline.
- Supports picture and/or text-based communication
- Close to 8000 built-in symbols from SymbolStix LLC.
- Automatic conjugation of verbs
- Automatic plurals and possessives for nouns
- Extensive customization options: item size, color, interactivity, restrictions, speech.
- One-button addition of new vocabulary items and categories
- Easy cut, copy and paste of items
- Quick access to recently spoken items for the last 15 minutes, last hour, all the way up to one week back
- Typing view for typing full paragraphs
Our view: This is a pretty cool new product. What I like most about it is that it utilizes existing technologies rather than having a specialized device. Also, the price is fabulously affordable compared to other devices...even if you have to buy an iPhone or an iTouch. One concern I have heard is whether or not it will be hard for people who have difficulty with fine motor control, but even considering that it's a really interesting new product.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Our Hats are off to: Nick Betsoleiman
Nick Betsoleiman is an 18 year old from Glenbrook South High School in Chicago who recently stepped outside the constraints of his cerebral palsy to climb a 30 foot climbing wall at his high school. Nick normally uses a power wheelchair to get around and only has control over some fingers in his right hand. To read the entire story that appeared in today's Chicago Tribune, click on the title to this story above.
Prior to beginning my career in technology, I was a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and I can tell you that I lived for helping to create moments like what Nick experienced. There is no better feeling of success than to know you have helped someone step outside of their limitations to go to new places they've never been before.
My Nick experience was a gentleman who was very seriously physically disabled and confined to a wheelchair and had never had the opportunity to ride a bike. At the place where I worked, we had a side by side bike that either both riders could pedal or just one. It also had a seat belt to prevent falling. So, we got this gentleman onto the bike and he and a staff member took off down the trail. I could hear the shear joy in his laughter and how for just a moment he was free.
I know being a Direct Support Professional or a Recreation Therapist, as I was at the time, seems to be all about helping people and most of the time it is. However, I can tell you that you never, ever forget moments like these. These moments serve to enrich your life...even if you think all you are doing is helping others.
Prior to beginning my career in technology, I was a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and I can tell you that I lived for helping to create moments like what Nick experienced. There is no better feeling of success than to know you have helped someone step outside of their limitations to go to new places they've never been before.
My Nick experience was a gentleman who was very seriously physically disabled and confined to a wheelchair and had never had the opportunity to ride a bike. At the place where I worked, we had a side by side bike that either both riders could pedal or just one. It also had a seat belt to prevent falling. So, we got this gentleman onto the bike and he and a staff member took off down the trail. I could hear the shear joy in his laughter and how for just a moment he was free.
I know being a Direct Support Professional or a Recreation Therapist, as I was at the time, seems to be all about helping people and most of the time it is. However, I can tell you that you never, ever forget moments like these. These moments serve to enrich your life...even if you think all you are doing is helping others.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Disability Arts Online
I stumbled onto Disability Arts Online website today and found it pretty interesting. From their site:
dao exists to showcase disability and deaf arts, profile artists and to offer informative critical evaluation, serving the development of disability arts.
dao is fuelled by disabled and deaf artists, performers, writers and musicians working across art forms with a passion for saying something relevent about disability and impairment. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes reflective, sometimes angry, often questionning and insightful, disability arts is a relatively new art form which has a unique perspective on the arts afforded by disabled people.
dao originated in 2002 as a section on Council England's website, given over to profiling disability arts events, organisations and artists. Over the last four years, with funding from Arts Council England dao has built up a vast body of discussion, reviews, interviews, profiles, blogs and resources including a chronology of the history of disability arts in the UK.
dao also performs a role as a tool for students, with many links to bodies within higher and further education. On an informal basis, dao frequently provides information and advice to students who are either on disability studies courses or researching disability arts.
I particularly enjoyed reading the blogs by Signdance Collective and their trip to India as well as learning about the band Heavy Load. Heavy Load is a punk band in which three of the members have a learning disability. They have also had a documentary made about the struggle for success also called Heavy Load. To see more about the documentary, click here.
dao exists to showcase disability and deaf arts, profile artists and to offer informative critical evaluation, serving the development of disability arts.
dao is fuelled by disabled and deaf artists, performers, writers and musicians working across art forms with a passion for saying something relevent about disability and impairment. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes reflective, sometimes angry, often questionning and insightful, disability arts is a relatively new art form which has a unique perspective on the arts afforded by disabled people.
dao originated in 2002 as a section on Council England's website, given over to profiling disability arts events, organisations and artists. Over the last four years, with funding from Arts Council England dao has built up a vast body of discussion, reviews, interviews, profiles, blogs and resources including a chronology of the history of disability arts in the UK.
dao also performs a role as a tool for students, with many links to bodies within higher and further education. On an informal basis, dao frequently provides information and advice to students who are either on disability studies courses or researching disability arts.
I particularly enjoyed reading the blogs by Signdance Collective and their trip to India as well as learning about the band Heavy Load. Heavy Load is a punk band in which three of the members have a learning disability. They have also had a documentary made about the struggle for success also called Heavy Load. To see more about the documentary, click here.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Special Needs Children Left Out, Bullied More than Other Children
By Medical University of South Carolina
(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Charleston, S.C. - Few have emerged from childhood without facing the ire of their peers, whether called an embarrassing name, left out of the "cool" group, or in extreme cases, enduring severe physical, emotional or psychological trauma.
In a Medical University of South Carolina-led (MUSC) study presented at the annual meeting of the world's largest pediatric academic organization, the Pediatric American Societies, researchers found that children with developmental and/or medical special needs are indeed "left out" more than their peers, and are often targets of bullying compared with typically developing children. The study also concluded that special needs children were ostracized, or purposely ignored, more often than other children. Previous research suggests this treatment can have serious, negative effects on a child's self-esteem, sense of belonging, control, and meaningful existence and can ultimately result in impaired coping skills, social withdrawal, and mental health problems.
"It is essential that parents, educators, and clinicians regularly ask children with special needs about their social experiences and reassure them that any problems will be effectively addressed," said lead author Kimberly Twyman, M.D., MUSC Department of Pediatrics. "Most importantly, we should take steps to ensure that these children feel like they 'matter'. Parents often underreported bullying and ostracism concerns, therefore the child or adolescent needs to be asked directly about these problems."
Additional study authors included Michelle Macias, M.D., and Eve Spratt, M.D., also of MUSC's Pediatric and Psychiatry departments, and Conway Saylor, Ph.D., Lloyd Taylor, PhD., and Danielle Saia, all of The Citadel's Psychology department.
Children aged eight to 17 with learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, behavioral/mental health disorders, and cystic fibrosis were compared with control children who had no diagnosis on the Reynolds Bullying and Victimization Scale and a pilot ostracism scale. The authors suggest that further research is needed to explore these findings and the relationship to child adjustment and mental health.
About MUSC
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina is the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues the tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and residents, and has nearly 11,000 employees, including approximately 2,000 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $1.6 billion. MUSC operates a 750-bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized Children's Hospital, the Ashley River Tower (cardiovascular, digestive disease, and surgical oncology), and a leading Institute of Psychiatry. For more information on academic or clinical services, visit http://www.musc.edu or www.muschealth.com.
(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Charleston, S.C. - Few have emerged from childhood without facing the ire of their peers, whether called an embarrassing name, left out of the "cool" group, or in extreme cases, enduring severe physical, emotional or psychological trauma.
In a Medical University of South Carolina-led (MUSC) study presented at the annual meeting of the world's largest pediatric academic organization, the Pediatric American Societies, researchers found that children with developmental and/or medical special needs are indeed "left out" more than their peers, and are often targets of bullying compared with typically developing children. The study also concluded that special needs children were ostracized, or purposely ignored, more often than other children. Previous research suggests this treatment can have serious, negative effects on a child's self-esteem, sense of belonging, control, and meaningful existence and can ultimately result in impaired coping skills, social withdrawal, and mental health problems.
"It is essential that parents, educators, and clinicians regularly ask children with special needs about their social experiences and reassure them that any problems will be effectively addressed," said lead author Kimberly Twyman, M.D., MUSC Department of Pediatrics. "Most importantly, we should take steps to ensure that these children feel like they 'matter'. Parents often underreported bullying and ostracism concerns, therefore the child or adolescent needs to be asked directly about these problems."
Additional study authors included Michelle Macias, M.D., and Eve Spratt, M.D., also of MUSC's Pediatric and Psychiatry departments, and Conway Saylor, Ph.D., Lloyd Taylor, PhD., and Danielle Saia, all of The Citadel's Psychology department.
Children aged eight to 17 with learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, behavioral/mental health disorders, and cystic fibrosis were compared with control children who had no diagnosis on the Reynolds Bullying and Victimization Scale and a pilot ostracism scale. The authors suggest that further research is needed to explore these findings and the relationship to child adjustment and mental health.
About MUSC
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina is the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues the tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and residents, and has nearly 11,000 employees, including approximately 2,000 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $1.6 billion. MUSC operates a 750-bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized Children's Hospital, the Ashley River Tower (cardiovascular, digestive disease, and surgical oncology), and a leading Institute of Psychiatry. For more information on academic or clinical services, visit http://www.musc.edu or www.muschealth.com.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Delta To Blind Woman: Can You Sit Somewhere Else? This Flight Attendant Doesn't Like Dogs
from consumerist.com
Natalie is pretty angry. Lately whenever her mother, who is blind, has to travel, she seems to run into trouble. As Natalie puts it, as far as airline regulations go a guide dog is equivalent to a wheelchair, and the appropriate accommodations should be made without hassle. It's too bad on her last flight, Natalie's mother had to sit in the bulkhead next to a Delta employee with a fear of dogs.
My mom is a medallion member of Delta Airlines. This should get her a few perks and privileges because she flies so much.
Instead, several times she has almost been kicked off of her flight. Why? Because she is blind and travels with a guide dog. It's ridiculous—the Americans with Disabilities Act allows her to travel on planes with a dog and requires the airline to make an accommodation. Instead, she has been put through the wringer.
My mother almost always requests bulkhead because there is extra space for the dog. She calls ahead to make sure this is possible. She's an experienced traveler, and just completed her 30th flight with her current guide dog.
Natalie goes on to explain that last year, she and her mother were bumped from the bulkhead seats and almost missed their flight as they fought with a ticket agent over upgrading to a coach seat. Then this past weekend her mom faced a new unnecessary inconvenience.
Fast forward to this weekend. My mom went to Oregon. On the way home on Flight #4693, where the bulkhead seat was not an emergency row, she thought she was good to go. But then she was approached by a Delta employee and told that a flight attendant on the flight was scared of dogs and that she'd have to change her seat. No, I'm not joking.
My mom didn't budge. Delta didn't either. Until a CRO [Complaint Resolution Official] told them that my mom needed to be allowed on the plane.
Throughout the flight, the supposedly terrified attendant bothered her every time the dog's tail was in the foot space of the seat next to her — which was empty — asking her to move the dog.
I'm writing because I'm fed up. Businesses, and it seems especially Delta, don't understand that even though these dogs are cute and cuddly, they should be treated like wheelchairs. They are tools and devices and by law must be accommodated for.
Both of these incidents should have been handled before they reached the consumer. In this case, my mother. Who is blind. Traveling is dang hard enough.
Natalie is pretty angry. Lately whenever her mother, who is blind, has to travel, she seems to run into trouble. As Natalie puts it, as far as airline regulations go a guide dog is equivalent to a wheelchair, and the appropriate accommodations should be made without hassle. It's too bad on her last flight, Natalie's mother had to sit in the bulkhead next to a Delta employee with a fear of dogs.
My mom is a medallion member of Delta Airlines. This should get her a few perks and privileges because she flies so much.
Instead, several times she has almost been kicked off of her flight. Why? Because she is blind and travels with a guide dog. It's ridiculous—the Americans with Disabilities Act allows her to travel on planes with a dog and requires the airline to make an accommodation. Instead, she has been put through the wringer.
My mother almost always requests bulkhead because there is extra space for the dog. She calls ahead to make sure this is possible. She's an experienced traveler, and just completed her 30th flight with her current guide dog.
Natalie goes on to explain that last year, she and her mother were bumped from the bulkhead seats and almost missed their flight as they fought with a ticket agent over upgrading to a coach seat. Then this past weekend her mom faced a new unnecessary inconvenience.
Fast forward to this weekend. My mom went to Oregon. On the way home on Flight #4693, where the bulkhead seat was not an emergency row, she thought she was good to go. But then she was approached by a Delta employee and told that a flight attendant on the flight was scared of dogs and that she'd have to change her seat. No, I'm not joking.
My mom didn't budge. Delta didn't either. Until a CRO [Complaint Resolution Official] told them that my mom needed to be allowed on the plane.
Throughout the flight, the supposedly terrified attendant bothered her every time the dog's tail was in the foot space of the seat next to her — which was empty — asking her to move the dog.
I'm writing because I'm fed up. Businesses, and it seems especially Delta, don't understand that even though these dogs are cute and cuddly, they should be treated like wheelchairs. They are tools and devices and by law must be accommodated for.
Both of these incidents should have been handled before they reached the consumer. In this case, my mother. Who is blind. Traveling is dang hard enough.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Singer Shatters Expectations With Her Talent And Confidence
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
BLACKBURN, SCOTLAND--We've all seen that "look" before.
You know, the look people have when they're sure they will have to endure something awful to get to the good stuff.
When Susan Boyle stepped onto the stage at "Britain's Got Talent" on Easter Sunday, members of the live studio audience were seen rolling their eyes, frowning and giving each other that look. On the YouTube video of the show, one can hear the crowd's snickers when Susan tells the show's judges that her dream is to be a professional singer.
The three judges of the British version of "American Idol" seemed ready to toss out the "frumpy" 47-year-old contestant with no more than a polite, yet condescending, "Thank you for your time, Miss".
Then Susan started singing.
And everything changed.
Especially the looks on the faces of the panel of judges.
Piers Morgan sat up straighter, beamed and clapped. Amanda Holden's jaw dropped. Even Simon Cowell -- known for his brutally cutting remarks -- raised his eyebrows, cradled his chin in his hands, and smiled softly.
Several times as Susan sang "I Dreamed A Dream" from the musical Les Miserables, the audience rose to their feet in applause.
Three minutes later, after the song was over, Morgan told Susan: “Without a doubt, that is the biggest surprise I have had in my three years of this show."
He gave her "the biggest ‘yes’ I have ever given to anybody.”
Holden said, "I am so thrilled because I know everybody was against you . . . I just want you to know it was a complete privilege to listen to you."
Crowell grinned as he told Susan her voice was "extraordinary".
The night was extraordinary, especially when you consider that -- except for singing in her small church choir -- this was Susan's first time on stage.
Since that night, British news accounts have reported that Susan has had a difficult life. Her brain was damaged from a lack of oxygen when she was born. She has a "learning disability", which is the term used in the United Kingdom and many other countries for what is called an "intellectual" or "developmental" disability in the United States. As a child, she was teased and bullied because she was different.
Now, she is considered the favorite to win the TV competition for this season.
And, she is being approached by a number of singers, including her own idol, Elaine Paige, to record professionally.
“Most mornings I wake up with a smile," Susan told ABC TV's Diane Sawyer last week. "I can’t believe it has happened."
BLACKBURN, SCOTLAND--We've all seen that "look" before.
You know, the look people have when they're sure they will have to endure something awful to get to the good stuff.
When Susan Boyle stepped onto the stage at "Britain's Got Talent" on Easter Sunday, members of the live studio audience were seen rolling their eyes, frowning and giving each other that look. On the YouTube video of the show, one can hear the crowd's snickers when Susan tells the show's judges that her dream is to be a professional singer.
The three judges of the British version of "American Idol" seemed ready to toss out the "frumpy" 47-year-old contestant with no more than a polite, yet condescending, "Thank you for your time, Miss".
Then Susan started singing.
And everything changed.
Especially the looks on the faces of the panel of judges.
Piers Morgan sat up straighter, beamed and clapped. Amanda Holden's jaw dropped. Even Simon Cowell -- known for his brutally cutting remarks -- raised his eyebrows, cradled his chin in his hands, and smiled softly.
Several times as Susan sang "I Dreamed A Dream" from the musical Les Miserables, the audience rose to their feet in applause.
Three minutes later, after the song was over, Morgan told Susan: “Without a doubt, that is the biggest surprise I have had in my three years of this show."
He gave her "the biggest ‘yes’ I have ever given to anybody.”
Holden said, "I am so thrilled because I know everybody was against you . . . I just want you to know it was a complete privilege to listen to you."
Crowell grinned as he told Susan her voice was "extraordinary".
The night was extraordinary, especially when you consider that -- except for singing in her small church choir -- this was Susan's first time on stage.
Since that night, British news accounts have reported that Susan has had a difficult life. Her brain was damaged from a lack of oxygen when she was born. She has a "learning disability", which is the term used in the United Kingdom and many other countries for what is called an "intellectual" or "developmental" disability in the United States. As a child, she was teased and bullied because she was different.
Now, she is considered the favorite to win the TV competition for this season.
And, she is being approached by a number of singers, including her own idol, Elaine Paige, to record professionally.
“Most mornings I wake up with a smile," Susan told ABC TV's Diane Sawyer last week. "I can’t believe it has happened."
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