College of Direct Support

Americans With Disabilities To Gain New Protections Under Hate Crimes Bill

2009-10-28T08:58:00.001-05:00

By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express

WASHINGTON, DC--Legislation that would expand hate crimes protections to include people with disabilities is headed to the White House for President Obama's signature.

Current federal law increases penalties for perpetrators who commit crimes against people because of race, color, religion or national identity.

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act would add protections against crimes based on a person's disability, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

On October 8, 2009, the House of Representatives voted 281 to 146 to pass its version of the hate crimes legislation. Last Thursday, the Senate passed its own version on a vote of 68 to 29.

Both the House and Senate versions were attached a major defense spending bill.

President Obama is expected to support the measure, which is named in part for James Byrd, Jr, a man with intellectual disabilities that was murdered in rural Texas.

In June 1998, three men beat the 49-year-old African-American man. Then they stripped him naked, chained his ankles to a pick-up truck, and dragged him for three miles down a secluded gravel road.

An autopsy later indicated that Byrd died after his head hit a culvert along the side of the road.

Recent Work from Interact Theater

2009-10-06T13:10:00.003-05:00

Here are some excerpts from recent works at Interact Theeater in Minneapolis. Interact Theater, founded in 1992 as a professional theater company that include actors with disabilities, Interact expanded its vision in 1996 to become a recognized center for both the performing and visual arts.

The Duck Whisperer

2009-09-28T08:38:00.002-05:00

As I sat watching the first episode of "The Amazing Race" last night, I was introduced to Zev Glassner one of the contestants in the competition. One thing that sets Glassner apart from the other contestants is that he has Asperger's Syndrome.

This is the third season that "The Amazing Race" has featured someone with a disability. The show excels at showing that while people with disabilities may have difficulties in some areas they can excel in others....just like the rest of us, really.

In last night's episode there was a challenge where the contestants had to herd a group of ducks. Many of the participants struggled with the challenge but Glassner's race partner, Justin Kanew, dubbed him "The Duck Whisperer" because he calmly led the ducks through the challenge where others could not.

I will enjoy watching Glassner this season and hope they have a long run on "The Amazing Race." To read an interview with Glassner on the Disability Scoop website, click here.

Ability Beyond Disability’s P2E Program Using CDS Has 63 Graduates – and All 63 DSPs Are Still There

2009-08-30T11:51:00.000-05:00

It is not everyday that you have an employee run up and give you a hug because they got into a training program, but at Ability Beyond Disability we are getting used to just that! Since beginning our Pathways to Excellence program in May of 2008, hugging has been on the rise.

Maybe that is because Pathways to Excellence (P2E) is more than your typical training program -- it is a career path that engages employees in our organization’s vision. At Ability Beyond Disability in Bethel, CT., we have a 55-year history of providing support to individuals with disabilities. But equally as important is our dynamic vision for the future -- Vision 2013. It is a vision of growth, creative solutions, and new possibilities for providing support to twice as many individuals with developmental and neurological disabilities in Connecticut and New York. Each year, we serve approximately 1,300 individuals through community-based residential, vocational, behavioral, nursing and rehabilitation services.

Anyone in our field knows the direct support staff story – low pay, lack of training, lack of recognition, and lack of career growth and advancement. Ability Beyond Disability employs 715 direct support staff, and have been challenged by annual turnover rates ranging from 30 to 35 percent. We knew something had to change if we were going to grow to meet the increasing support needs of those in our communities. We did a lot of research, and found the College of Direct Support (CDS) to be the leader in direct support training and best practices.

We have put a lot of new workforce ideas and best practices in place over the past few years, but nothing compares to the success we have seen in the past year since implementing our P2E program, with CDS as its core curriculum.

We began P2E, a career path program for our direct support workforce, with two goals -- to advance the skills, knowledge and ability of our direct support workforce, and at the same time provide promotional opportunities and financial rewards. The program was designed by a focus group of direct support staff and frontline supervisors from across the organization. Before we could start, we needed the approval and support, both in spirit and financially, from our entire organization. It soon became clear the program had overwhelming support! Our focus group became our initial pilot group and began in May 2008. All 17 participants graduated in November 2008 and P2E has been rolling ever since.

Here’s how it works. The first phase of the P2E Program is the Direct Support Professional (DSP) training program. Prospective participants self-select into the program and are required to complete an application, including a brief statement of what they wish to gain from the program and future career goals. Criteria for the program includes having worked in direct support with us for at least one year, compliance with all required trainings and certifications, no disciplinary actions within the past 12 months, and a letter of support from their supervisor. We run the program similar to college semesters, with a specific application period and a three-hour “kick-off” to orient participants to the program.

Ability Beyond Disability's Graduates and Staff

Participants must complete about 120 hours of online CDS lessons over a five-month period. Monthly group meetings are held to discuss a pre-selected course andparticipants are responsible for a written reflection of the course being discussed and to share what they have learned. Most participants have expressed the positive impact the CDS courses have on them, including sparking new ideas to provide better support, and viewing themselves as professionals, excited by the career possibilities that lie ahead as a result.

Recognition is a crucial element. We make sure we recognize the successful completion of the DSP program, not only internally, but with the greater community so that they may understand the importance of direct support. Let’s face it -- did any of us have a high school guidance counselor tell us about a career in direct support? Upon completion, graduates are promoted to a new title of DSP, which comes complete with a 50-cent hourly pay increase and a graduation ceremony. Graduates invite their co-workers, family, friends and those they support. The crowd rises to their feet and they file in to the now infamous chant “D – S – P! D – S – P!” They are presented a framed certificate along with a completion bonus of $1,000 by members of our Board of Directors and senior leadership. Photos and a press release are sent to each participant’s hometown paper in an effort to share their achievements with their neighbors and friends.

The next step in the P2E program is still in development. It includes specialty certifications with their own 40-hour training programs combining classroom and CDS courses not completed as part of the first step of the program. The specialty certifications are designed to assist our organization with our Vision 2013 goals.

Our organization has made a tremendous investment in our direct support workforce. To date, we have had 63 graduates, amounting to $63,000 in bonuses alone. In addition, we have 45 current participants in the program, and a waiting list of qualified applicants eager to start. This is a large investment, but with an equal if not larger return. In the past year we have seen a decline in our turnover rate – from 30% to 21%. We realize that the poor economy helps us retain employees, but also realize that it is how we treat people now, when the economy is poor, that will help us retain them when things improve.

Since beginning the P2E program in May 2008 we have had NO turnover among participants. All 63 graduates are still working here, eagerly awaiting the development of the specialty training programs. For each employee we retain, we save money on recruiting and on-boarding costs such as background checks and training. Each employee retained means the individuals we support know and recognize the person working with them each day, and it means that his or her family member recognizes the staff member working with their loved one. Can you put a price on that? As the credit card commercial says – PRICELESS. The success of P2E has shown us that by investing in our employees, they are, in turn, investing in a career with us.

“Our greatest asset is our workforce, and therefore, I can’t think of a better investment than our Pathways to Excellence program. It is a win-win for all. Our staff have the opportunity to develop professionally, and the people we serve benefit from having consistent and highly qualified staff,” said Thomas H. Fanning, President/CEO, Ability Beyond Disability

It makes one proud to work for a company that has a vision, especially in the tough economic climate that we all find ourselves faced with, and prouder still that our organization recognizes the importance of the direct support workforce who make the support we provided yesterday, today, and tomorrow possible. Oh, and of course, I love the hugs!

Written by Kristine Foss, Workforce Planning & Development Administrator at Ability Beyond Disability in Bethel, CT. You may reach her at 203.826.3066 or via email at kfoss@abilitybeyonddisability.org.

Valerie Jarrett's Remarks at the Signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

2009-07-30T19:46:00.001-05:00

Ms. Jarrett: Thank you Ambassador Rice. Ambassador Rice has been a trusted advisor and friend of President Obama and has provided invaluable advice and counsel and guidance throughout both his campaign and in the early months of his administration. We are so proud of her efforts and hard work and the men and women serving at the U.S. Mission, working on the front lines of the Administration’s effort to usher in a new era of engagement.

I am thrilled to be joining Ambassador Rice on this occasion, as the United States takes this historic step toward advancing our global commitment to fundamental human rights for all persons with disabilities.

Last week, the President took a bold step forward for our country and announced that the United States of America would sign the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Now we fulfill his commitment, and the United States of America proudly joins the 141 other nations in signing this extraordinary Convention – the first new human rights convention of the 21st century.

Today, as Susan mentioned, 650 million people – ten percent of the world’s population – live with a disability. In developing countries, ninety percent of the children with disabilities do not attend school. And women and girls with disabilities are too often the subject of deep discrimination. This extraordinary treaty calls on all nations to guarantee the rights of those that afforded under the Americans with Disabilities Act, urges equal protection and equal benefit before the law for all citizens, and reaffirms the inherent dignity, worth, and independence of all persons with disabilities worldwide.

It is fitting that we are signing this Convention just a few days after the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Due in large part to the ADA, we have made great progress. But as the President said last Friday, and as the Ambassador just said, we are still not satisfied. We have much work to do.

Today, the President, together with Secretary Clinton, once again demonstrate their commitment to people with disabilities at home and around the world, and I am pleased to announce the creation of a new, senior level disability human rights position at the State Department. This individual will be charged with developing a comprehensive strategy to promote the rights of persons with disabilities internationally; he or she will coordinate a process for the ratification of the Convention in conjunction with the other federal offices; last but not least, this leader will serve as a symbol of public diplomacy on disability issues, and work to ensure that the needs of persons with disabilities are addressed in international situations. By appointing the necessary personnel to lead and ensure compliance on disability human rights issues, the President reinforces his commitment to the UN Convention.

We look forward to the Senate giving swift consideration and approval to the Convention once the President submits it them for their advice and consent.

With this signing, we once again confirm that disability rights are not just civil rights to be enforced here at home; they are universal human rights to be promoted around the world. So we proudly join the international community in protecting the human rights for all, thank you very much.

Young Voices: Bringing the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities to Life

2009-07-27T13:52:00.003-05:00

From the young voices website: Young Voices is a project of the Leonard Cheshire Disability Global Alliance.

It brings together groups of young people with disabilities from 18 different countries around the world. It gives an opportunity for them to share their experiences, learn about the UN Convention and their human rights. It gives them training in campaigning, advocacy and media skills to help them hold their governments to their obligations under the UN Convention.

The original idea for the Young Voices project came from discussions with groups of young people with disabilities, NGOs and development agencies in West Africa. These highlighted that young disabled people were a neglected group whose voices were rarely heard.

Starting with a pilot project in 2005, Leonard Cheshire Disability worked through local partners to support groups of young people with disabilities in twelve countries. This covered the last two years of the development of the Convention. As these young people became knowledgeable about the Convention, they began to understand how to use their voices to influence policy.

A highlight for participants in the early years of the project was the opportunity to attend the ad-hoc committee of the UN in New York, where they organised a side event. Their passion and enthusiasm reminded everybody deep in negotiations that the rights of millions of people around the world were at stake.

Three years on, groups of young people with disabilities have been formed or are being developed in the following 18 countries: Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Namibia, Swaziland, Botswana, Kenya, Uganda, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, China, Guyana, South Africa, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and the Philippines. A network of effective advocates working closely with disabled people’s organisations and others in civil society has come to life.

During 2008 and 2009 the groups have been telling their stories through film. You can view some of their films on this site now and others will follow shortly.

'Benefits Go Beyond Sports' Autistic Children Find an Outlet In Swimming

2009-07-22T11:36:00.000-05:00

Here is a great article from the Washington Post's Bill Oram about the benefits of swimming for kids with autism. Click on the title of this post to read the article.

Video Evidence in Alleged State School 'Fight Club' Case Dismissed

2009-07-15T11:49:00.000-05:00

To read the whole story, click on the title of this post above. Here is the synopsis: The judge in one of the cases against a staff member involved in the Corpus Christie Fight Club case has ruled that the video evidence is inadmissible because it could not be proven that the defendant had intentionally abandoned the property.

This is why I would make a particularly bad lawyer. I have a hard time distinguishing between what is law and what is fair. For sure they don't always go together, but for some reason I always seem to think they should. Who cares how is was obtained? It doesn't change how wrong the actions were or that a crime was committed.

The judge did not rule that the evidence could not be used against the other defendants, so it will be interesting to see what happens when this issue comes up in their cases.

Man with Disabilities Fights for Job Opportunity

2009-07-09T11:15:00.000-05:00

Here is a story about Jeffrey Nurick and his fight to obtain gainful, professional employment.

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

2009-07-07T11:41:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to
nominate the following individuals for key administration posts:

Alexa E. Posny, Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education

Alexa E. Posny currently serves as the Commissioner of Education for the state of Kansas. As Commissioner, she is responsible for helping over 450,000 students meet or exceed high academic standards, licensing over 45,000 teachers, and overseeing a state education budget of a little over $4.5 billion dollars. Prior to this, Posny was appointed as the Director of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) for the U.S. Department of Education, a position in which she assisted state and local efforts to effectively educate all children and youth with disabilities. Other positions that Posny has held included the Kansas Deputy Commissioner of Education , Kansas State Director of Special Education, Director of Special Education for the Shawnee Mission School District, Director of the Curriculum and Instruction Specialty Option as part of the Title 1 Technical Assistance Center (TAC) network of TACs across the United States, and a Senior Research Associate at Research and Training Associates in Overland Park, KS. Posny earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, a master's degree in behavioral disabilities and a doctorate in educational administration both from the University of Wisconsin Madison. Currently she serves on the Board of Directors for the Chief State School Officers, the National Council for Learning Disabilities, and chairs the National Assessment Governing Board's Special Education Task Force. Most importantly, she has been a teacher at the elementary, middle and high school levels and remains a teacher today, serving as adjunct faculty with the University of Kansas.

New SmartHome Will Allow People With Developmental Disabilities to Be More Independent

2009-07-06T12:48:00.000-05:00

BOULDER, CO -- 07/06/09 -- A special group of individuals with developmental disabilities will be celebrating their independence this July in a unique way -- by moving into a home that uses technology to allow them to live fuller and more independent lives.

In May, Imagine!, a private, not-for-profit corporation that has been providing supports for people who have developmental disabilities in order for them to lead fulfilling lives since 1963, completed construction on one of its most ambitious projects ever -- the development of the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder, CO. The Charles SmartHome provides permanent affordable housing for eight individuals with physical, cognitive, and developmental disabilities, and incorporates cutting edge technologies to improve the quality and efficiency of services and supports for the residents.

As the first such home in the nation, the Charles SmartHome will serve as a model for the future of residential care for people with cognitive disabilities. It will enhance the lives and independence of residents, augment the effectiveness of staff as caregivers, and provide cost and energy savings to Imagine!.

In addition, the SmartHome model has enormous potential to impact groups of people with related concerns (dementia, autism, chronic mental illness, and Alzheimer's), as the home will provide a testing ground for "SmartSupports" -- assistive technologies that can be used in family homes to keep individuals with developmental and cognitive disabilities living in their own homes for as long as possible.

The Charles SmartHome is the culmination of Imagine!'s years of research in the field of assistive technology, visits to demonstration sites in Oregon, Florida and Indiana, and extensive interface with the University of Colorado's Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities.

Construction on the Charles SmartHome was completed on May 15, and residents began moving in July 1. All eight residents will be moved in by the end of the month.

You can learn more about the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome by visiting www.imaginesmarthomes.org.

The SmartHome project was created and implemented by Imagine!, which provides support services to more than 2,500 Boulder and Broomfield County citizens of all ages with developmental delays and cognitive disabilities including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and mental retardation. Learn more at www.imaginecolorado.org.

City Blames Otto Zehm For His Own Restraint Death

2009-06-30T11:26:00.003-05:00

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

Augmentative and Alternative Communication app for the iPhone

2009-06-17T09:49:00.007-05:00

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:

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.

Our Hats are off to: Nick Betsoleiman

2009-05-13T14:47:00.003-05:00

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.

Disability Arts Online

2009-05-11T15:04:00.004-05:00

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.

Special Needs Children Left Out, Bullied More than Other Children

2009-05-05T13:25:00.002-05:00

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.

Delta To Blind Woman: Can You Sit Somewhere Else? This Flight Attendant Doesn't Like Dogs

2009-04-27T13:59:00.001-05:00

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.

Singer Shatters Expectations With Her Talent And Confidence

2009-04-23T07:32:00.001-05:00

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."

2008 Direct Support Professionals Wage Study

2009-04-20T09:20:00.003-05:00

The 2008 Direct Support Professionals Wage Study, which was conducted in partnership between ANCOR and the Mosaic Collaborative for Disabilities Public Policy and Practice, imparts a sobering view of a national healthcare workforce in crisis.

Direct Support Professionals (DSP) provide “hands on” daily supports, training and habilitative services to persons with developmental and physical disabilities. Analysis of survey results compared wages among DSPs employed by private providers with those who work for state-run programs.

The national average starting wage for private provider DSPs in community programs is $8.53 per hour, comparedto the average starting wage of $12.13 for state-employed DSPs – representing a 42 percent difference. Annualized, the average entry wage for a private provider DSP falls just short of the federal poverty level as the private DSP entry wage is $17,744 compared to the federal baseline (for a family of three) at $17,600.

“The wage disparity among private and public DSPs is startling,” said Renee Pietrangelo, CEO of ANCOR. “As demand for the supports provided by DSPs grows exponentially, low wages will prevent private providers from attracting and retaining a qualified workforce.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 49 percent increase in the number of direct care positions that will be needed between 2006 and 2016. This problem is compounded by the fact that the workforce is almost entirely funded by the Medicaid program.

Love 'Em or Hate 'Em...the New Yankee Stadium got Accessibility Right

2009-04-14T09:07:00.001-05:00

From a U.S. Attorneys Office Press Release on April 14, 2009:

LEV L. DASSIN, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that the Government has completed its review of the accessibility of the new Yankee Stadium under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (the "ADA"). As a result of close and successful cooperation between the New York Yankees, the Department of Justice, and private groups during the design and construction of the new Yankee Stadium, the Stadium is a model of accessibility to people with disabilities.

On December 11, 1999, the Yankees and the Government entered into a consent decree to settle litigation related to ADA compliance at the previous Yankee Stadium. When the Yankees undertook the design and construction of the new Yankee Stadium several years later, after the expiration of the consent decree, they voluntarily sought input from the Department of Justice, as well as from representatives of private groups committed to the interests of people with disabilities, to ensure accessibility at the new venue and avoid the costly retrofits that arise when an inaccessible facility must be brought into compliance. The resulting structure is one of the most accessible sporting venues in the nation. The new Yankee Stadium features:

A total of 506 wheelchair spaces, 530 companion seats and 490 designated aisle transfer seats. Companion seats are designated seats next to wheelchair locations; the seats are sold together so that the wheelchair user can sit with family members or friends. Aisle transfer seats have removable armrests so that people with disabilities can easily transition into them from a wheelchair used for transport. Accessible seating choices are dispersed throughout the Stadium and across all price points. Wheelchair locations provide lines of sight over both seated and standing spectators comparable to those available to guests in adjacent general seating locations.

16 public elevators that service all levels and seat locations, each with a permanently stationed operator.

Accessible suites with wheelchair seating locations and accessible restrooms.

Closed-captioning for guests who are hearing impaired, provided on video boards located in left, right and center fields, as well as in the Great Hall, and on high-definition video monitors throughout the Stadium. The two dedicated captioning boards in left and right field are tied to emergency power and connected to the alarm system for notification during emergencies.

Assistive listening devices, available at no charge at guest service booths throughout the Stadium

Electrical outlets located at guest services booths and numerous accessible seating locations for re-charging wheelchairs and other medical equipment.

Accessible routes within the site to each entrance and each ticket window from accessible drop off and accessible public transportation stops.

Accessible ticket windows and concession counters.

Availability of home-game schedules and other print materials in Braille or large print upon request.

Wheelchair lifts in both the home and visiting dugouts, allowing wheelchair users direct access to both the players' bench and the playing field.

Accessible bars and lounges, with accessible tables, dining surfaces and counters.

Accessibility at every entrance, with accessible routes from each entrance to all public spaces, including the Great Hall, Monument Park, Babe Ruth Plaza and the New York Yankees Museum.

Accessible signs throughout the Stadium, both permanent and via video boards and monitors, directing patrons with disabilities to accessible routes and services.

Allowance of service animals for guests with disabilities.

More with learning disabilities forced to wed

2009-04-09T15:56:00.001-05:00

An increasing number of young people in the UK with learning disabilities are being forced into marriage by their own families.

Every year the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Forced Marriage Unit deals with around 400 cases.

And a significant number involve people with learning disabilities.

The unit's head Sarah Russell said: "We don't have any firm statistics, but anecdotally we are seeing more and more cases of victims with learning disabilities as awareness around the whole issue of forced marriage is rising."

Disability charities, meanwhile, warn that forced marriage is being used as a way to ensure that children with disabilities will be looked after.

Rachael Clawson of the Ann Craft Trust believes that parents are worried about the future of their adult child.

"Often they're looking for a full time carer for that person," she said.

To read the rest of this article, click here to view the rest of the story on the BBC News website.

ECCO's Dave Bergeron Brings Something Special to the Job

2009-04-07T12:59:00.003-05:00

Dave Bergeron, left, and Chris enjoy the newspaper.

In the fall of 2008 Dave Bergeron and the economic ills of the day met head-on. The 39-year-old self-described blue-collar worker lost his job at the largest employer in Madison, S.D. He and his wife have three children and the employment options in Madison, a town of 6,000, are few and far between

A friend suggested he consider visiting ECCO, Inc., an agency that serves 70 people . On Nov. 10, 2008 he had an interview with Vicki Kommes, ECCO's Staff Development Coordinator. Two weeks later he was hired as a Direct Support Professional (DSP).

"He has that certain something," Kommes says of Bergeron. "He was a keeper."

Today he is a DSP, supporting three men in a community based setting, and a supervisor, directing five DSPs in their roles. He wrote a Mission Statement for the men he supports and supervises, and the agency thought so much of his work that it incorporated it into their agency's Mission Statement.
Dave Bergeron is the subject of the second installment of "The DSP Chronicles" and you can read about him and his new career by clicking here

Obama Apologetic Over "Thoughtless" Special Olympics Remark

2009-03-23T08:41:00.001-05:00

By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
March 20, 2009

WASHINGTON, DC--It happened in the middle of his first major media blitz as President of the United States.

Right there, in front of millions of late-night viewers of the "Tonight Show", Barack Obama goofed up.

Some would say he goofed up "big time".

During Thursday night's appearance, Mr. Obama joked with host Jay Leno that he was working on his bowling game in the White House basement's bowling alley.

"I bowled a 129," Obama said, grinning.

"No, that's very good," Leno replied. "Yes. That's very good, Mr. President."

"It's like -- it was like Special Olympics, or something," said Obama.

The President and his staff realized immediately that the comment would sting.

So, during his flight back to Washington, Obama called Timothy Shriver, the Chairman of Special Olympics.

"He expressed his disappointment, and he apologized in a way that was very moving," Shriver told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Friday.

"He expressed that he did not intend to humiliate this population."

Shriver added that the Mr. Obama told him he wants to invite some Special Olympic athletes to visit the White House to bowl or play basketball with him.

On Friday, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters: "I know that the President believes that the Special Olympics are a triumph of the human spirit, and I think he understands that they deserve a lot better than -- than the thoughtless joke that he made last night, and he apologizes for that."

Many advocates said they were willing to give the President the benefit of the doubt, noting that he has shown he is a friend to the disability community.

"The fact is, President Obama gets disability issues pretty well," disability advocate Gary Karp told the San Francisco Chronicle.

"He devoted more energy to it than any candidate on either side," in the last election, said Karp, who earlier Thursday asked the President to keep people with disabilities in mind as he pushes his economic recovery agenda.

"Every program that we have has to be thinking on the front end, how do we make sure that it is inclusive, and building into it our ability to draw on the capacities of persons with disabilities," Obama said during a Los Angeles town hall meeting.

Others are not as eager to give the new Commander in Chief a break.

California's First Lady, and Tim Shriver's sister, Maria Shriver, said in a Friday morning statement: "While I am confident that President Obama never intended to offend anyone, the response that his comments have caused, coupled with the reaction of a primetime audience, demonstrate the need to continue to educate the non-disabled community on the issues that confront those with a developmental disability."

"I've talked to parents who are very upset," Rick Rushton, whose is involved in Special Olympics in Massachusetts, told NECN. "They can't believe a sitting president would go on a major media venue like that and make a comment like that."

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, whose infant son Trig has Down syndrome, criticized the President, saying his comment was a "degrading remark about our world's most precious and unique people, coming from the most powerful position in the world."

Still others are using Obama's remarks as a chance to educate the public.

"We've been trying to use this moment to make it an educational moment," explained Michael McGovern, Executive Director of the Special Olympics of Rhode Island.

Corpus Christi State School Fight Club

2009-03-17T10:01:00.002-05:00

How far have we come in improving quality of life for people with disabilities when situations like what happened at the Corpus Christi State School are still happening in 2009? As I was looking for resources for this report, I stumbled upon a couple of items that only further shocked me. One was from KIII News last night. In the report, a former employee discusses that abuses in the news now have been going on for a long time and she was told not to report it by her supervisor. That really isn't that surprising, but what is surprising to me are the comments about the story on the KIII News website. To view the video and read the comments, click here.

Then I found an editorial denouncing the abuse, but the more I read I was surprised to read that while they did denounce the abuse, it was not only because of the inhumanity of it but also because it made state run facilities look bad. Click here to read the editorial

Again, I ask how far have we really come in 2009? I do believe that 99% of direct support professionals are committed to providing quality care for the individuals they care for, but if there is even 1% that can participate in what happened in Corpus Christie, then we still have work to do.

Here is a basic overview video of the story if you haven't heard anything about it yet:

Invisible Kansans

2009-03-17T09:54:00.001-05:00

Listen to Kevin, an employee of Starkey in Wichita KS, describe challenges for direct care workers...

Jerry Lewis Wins Humanitarian Award

2009-02-23T09:29:00.002-06:00

As I was watching the Academy Awards last night, I was surprised to see that Jerry Lewis was going to be honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. My first thought was to wonder how this was being received in disability communities. Here are some links to articles I found this morning:

From Radar Online:

This Sunday at the 81st annual Academy Awards, legendary comedian and actor Jerry Lewis will receive the prestigous Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award on behalf of his long-time work raising money for disabled people through the the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon.

And for some, there lies the problem.

In the past, Lewis has described people with muscular dystrophy as "being half a person." He's also referred to a wheelchair as "a steel imprisonment."

Read More...

Another article in the Washington Times

Some video coverage of the protests:

DSP Today: John Lambert

2009-02-18T11:14:00.001-06:00

This video is a production of nhdsp.org and is a very creative way to spotlight DSP's who are doing good work. Check out their website at www.nhdsp.org

The Effect of Proposed Budget Cuts on People with Disabilities in California

2009-02-13T12:35:00.000-06:00

This article appeared recently in the Mercury News about proposed budget cuts in California. The legislature and the governor are try to deal with a 40 billion budget shortfall in California. People with disabilities are not immune to the effect of the proposed cuts.

Here is the link to the article:

http://www.mercurynews.com/topstories/ci_11684781?nclick_check=1

Kansas Direct Support Professionals Urge Lawmakers to See Invisible Kansans

2009-02-10T00:01:00.003-06:00

by Kate Fisher, KETCH
Wichita Kansas

People with disabilities in the Sunflower State have a new catch phrase to express their struggles – “Invisible Kansans.” It is part of an advocacy campaign designed to raise awareness and fight budget cuts to community based services. InterHab, a resource network which provides support for community service providers statewide, advocating for persons with developmental disabilities, launched the campaign in December of 2008 as a way to convey two key messages to law makers: reduce the state waiting list of almost 4,000 Kansans eligible for services, and increase wages for Direct Support Professionals to achieve parity with similar jobs at state institutions.

The Invisible Kansans campaign includes three online elements: a website with stories about persons waiting for services and a user-friendly database to look up and e-mail the user’s house representative, senator and Governor Sebelius a form letter; a cause on Facebook; and a collection of video and audio clips on YouTube. At the end of January, more than 3,000 e-mails had been sent to the state lawmakers, and more than 1,700 people had joined the Invisible Kansans cause on Facebook.

During a legislative session with a major budget crisis prevailing and a waning economy, when the main focus is how to slash budgets and cut services, DSPs remain united in their efforts to share the reality of their daily challenges. Many of the persons served already feel the effects of frequent staff turnover and reduced funding for programs and services. Direct Support Professionals feel it’s essential for the senators and house representatives to get a personal glimpse of the people whose lives they will impact with the decisions they make in the state capitol.

To see the faces and hear the stories of Invisible Kansans, check out these sites:

http://www.invisiblekansans.org/

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/171693?m=7bf7bab2

http://www.youtube.com/invisiblekansans

What Are You Watching On TV This Weekend?

2009-02-06T14:15:00.002-06:00

How about checking out a new show on MTV called "How's Your News?" Without having seen the show, I can't say if it will be insulting or informative or possibly both, but it should certainly be interesting. To read more about it, check out this link to an article in the Washington Post

It airs at 10:30ET on Sunday night on MTV

How Is the Down Economy Impacting the DSP World?

2009-02-06T14:03:00.001-06:00

The economy is bad. Companies are closing. Bankruptcy filings are increasing. People are being laid off and losing jobs daily across the country. When will it begin to turn around? Or will it get worse before it gets better?
We are wondering what impact these difficult economic times are having on the Direct Support workforce around the country.

* Is turnover among Direct Support Professionals (DSP) increasing?
* Have the layoffs increased the number of available job candidates for DSP
positions, with those who have lost jobs now considering entering the DSP field?
* Has the bad economy had no impact at all?
* Are more and more DSPs having to look for second jobs?

The College of Direct Support would like to hear from you. Share your stories with us. You can use The CDS Blog as a venue for your stories and information...Just click comments to share your story.

Stimulus Bill Features Several Provisions For Americans With Disabilities

2009-02-01T07:40:00.003-06:00

By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express

WASHINGTON, DC--The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, known more commonly as the "stimulus package".

While the bill is intended to stimulate the economy and increase jobs, in its latest form, the bill includes a number of features that apply specifically to people with disabilities.

Allocates $500 million to states for Vocational Rehabilitation grants to help people with disabilities prepare for gainful employment;

Provides an immediate, temporary increase of $450 in individual Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits ($650 per couple) for 7.5 million seniors and people with disabilities;

Allocates $7.5 billion for repairing public housing and making energy efficiency upgrades to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) -assisted housing, including a new program to improve emergency efficiency -- with new insulation, windows, and furnaces -- in low-income housing for disadvantaged groups, such as seniors and people with disabilities;

Sets aside $13 billion in grants for schools for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, increasing the federal government's share of the costs of the special education law to 27 percent -- higher than at any time since the IDEA became law more than three decades ago;

Provides $600 million to states to assist in making IDEA services available to children with disabilities who are two years of age or younger and their families; and

Protects Medicaid health care coverage for millions of Americans, by providing an estimated $87 billion in additional federal matching funds over a two-year period to help states maintain their Medicaid programs in the face of massive state budget shortfalls. This could help offset cuts in 39 or more states that are facing budget shortfalls.

The measure will likely face several changes before it finally becomes law. Congressional leaders expect to have a final version ready for President Obama to sign by President's Day, February 16.

Disability Groups Celebrate Inclusion At First Disability Power And Pride Inaugural Ball

2009-01-23T08:39:00.000-06:00

Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
January 20, 2009

WASHINGTON, DC--Two nights before Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, several hundred disability advocates celebrated at the first ever Disability Power and Pride Inaugural Ball, held at the National Press Club.

The master of ceremonies for Sunday's event was former U.S. Congressman Tony Coelho of California, who is credited with writing the landmark 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act.

Coelho said last week that disability groups came together to organize the event because they didn't want people from other inaugural bashes to "be patronizing and say, 'Let’s include some people with disabilities at our party.'"

Instead, he said, "we want to have our own party and reach out to everybody else."

Coelho introduced U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland, who told the crowd of this "inaugural, Inaugural Ball . . . what we celebrate tonight is the recognition of abilities, not just disabilities."

Congressman Hoyer said that on Inauguration Day, "we will celebrate our country's promise of inclusion, that all men and women are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights."

"America offers a promise of using those abilities to seize opportunities to make a difference for individuals, for their families, for their communities, and, yes, for their country."

Honored guests at the ball included combat veterans from Walter Reed Medical Center that had been injured in battle.

New Diploma Considered for Special Ed Students: What do You Think?!

2009-01-22T08:47:00.001-06:00

NEW YORK, NY January 15, 2009 —For the first time in 25 years, New York State is considering a new type of diploma for special education students who aren't able to earn a regular one. Click here to read the rest of the article

2008 Mattie Stepanek Caregiving Scholarships Awarded

2009-01-11T10:42:00.000-06:00

Begun by the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI) in 2005, the Mattie Stepanek Caregiving Scholarship was created in memory of renowned poet and peacemaker Mattie J. T. Stepanek. In Mattie’s view, “if all generations of people freely and abundantly give care to others and to our world, we will have an eternal source of love and hope that fulfills the needs of all ages…for all future”.

RCI recognizes that caregivers are often viewed as expendable resources in systems of care. As a result, many caregivers are overlooked, ill-prepared and may ultimately burn-out. RCI promotes the view that family, professional, and paraprofessional caregivers are the most valuable asset in any system of care, and they should be cultivated, preserved, developed, and valued.

To that end, the purpose of the Mattie Stepanek Caregiving Scholarship is to provide financial assistance to family, professional, or paraprofessional caregivers who are seeking training or education in specific skills, procedures and strategies that lead to more effective care, while also protecting the health and well-being of the caregiver.

This year a record number of scholarship applications were received from all over the country, making the selection process quite difficult. Mattie’s mother, Jeni Stepanek, serves as chair of the selection committee. She states, “It is always an honor to be able to support this effort, and to see how this award is rippling out and touching lives in such a powerful and good way. And I am so proud to see that each year, more and more applicants are linking the award money both with their own futures as caregivers and with the message of hope and peace that Rosalynn Carter and Mattie J.T. Stepanek have offered to others.” Nancy Hunt, President of the We Are Family Foundation and Kelly Ellison, Senior Communications Executive for Camp Fire USA also serve on the scholarship selection committee.

The 2008 Mattie Stepanek Caregiving Scholarship winners are:

Muneera Fontaine, Ft. Worth, TX – A quote by Mary McLeod Bethune “the purpose of education is service” is the driving force behind Muneera. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Early Childhood Development and Learning Disorders through the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders Graduate School in Kentfield, CA. As mother to a special needs son, Muneera’s education has empowered her to fight for him to get the treatment that he needs and deserves. Muneera seeks to pass this education along to others to help them cope with their own caregiving situations.

Yvonne S. Hiebert, Mt. Horeb, WI – Mother of 2 teenagers, Yvonne is a non-traditional student recently accepted into a PhD program in Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health and Development Disorders. Yvonne believes that because of the lack of adequate training, there is high burn-out and a sense of helplessness among those who work with young children with challenging behaviors or significant social-emotional issues. Through her PhD studies, Yvonne seeks to improve her own effectiveness in working with a wide range of parents and children to foster healthy early relationships. A research area of interest for Yvonne is exploring what kinds of supports have a positive impact on professionals working in the field of developmental disabilities.

Addjany Petit, Rowell, MA – Addjany, whose parents are Haitian immigrants, is the first generation in her family to attend college. Addjany is pursuing an education in nursing because “nursing involves the overwhelming ability to care with few limits or boundaries”. As a home health aide, Addjany has learned many life lessons from those she provides care for. She quickly realized that there was more to her job than just providing adequate service - Addjany feels a need to let her patients know that she truly cares about them and that they deserve to be valued. She has observed that one’s culture and exposure to educational opportunities plays an important role in an individual’s life decisions, so she has a goal of promoting care and health education among minorities in an effort to help others make better decisions about their health.

Cara Reindl, Rochester, NY – Cara’s goal is to finish her B.A. in Humanities at Roberts Wesleyan College and to work for a non-profit youth organization. Currently working in a special education preschool, Cara loves working with her “kids”, who teach her how beautiful and determined the human spirit can be. Cara states that despite incredible odds, each child overcomes, learns, laughs, explores and grows. Cara states that she feels privileged to be a part of something so beautiful. She believes that teaching hope to young people is invaluable, and she wants to teach others how to live well and how to care for others too.

A one-time special scholarship will also be awarded to Monadnock Worksource, a non-profit United Way agency serving adults with developmental disabilities and other acquired brain disorders in rural New Hampshire. The Vision Statement of Monadnock Worksource is “to build a community partnership between disabled and non-disabled individuals…to promote opportunities for productive and meaningful life experiences…and to foster personal growth and to encourage individual expression and respect for other’s differences.” With staff training funds severely limited, Associate Director David Mattocks applied for the scholarship so that seven of his agency’s most dedicated direct support professionals could enroll in an online curriculum developed by the College of Direct Support at the University of Minnesota. The course content includes a standardized knowledge base and practical applications, and was developed with the input of those working directly with individuals with developmental disabilities.

The Mattie Stepanek Caregiving Scholarship is sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, RCI’s partner since 2001. This partnership builds on the significant work accomplished by the RCI over the past 21 years as well as on the credo of Johnson & Johnson to be “responsible to the communities in which we live and work,” and to “encourage…better health and education.”

The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving was established in 1987 on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) in Americus, Georgia. The RCI was formed in honor of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, an alumna of GSW, to enhance her long-standing commitments to human development and mental health. The RCI works to establish local, state and national partnerships committed to building quality long-term, home and community- based services.

Recession’s Bite Hits Americans With Disabilities Extra Hard

2009-01-06T11:05:00.001-06:00

Here's an article published recently in US News & World Report about the effect of the recession on employees with disabilities. Click here to read the entire article.

Making Your Church More Accessible

2009-01-04T21:23:00.001-06:00

After returning from Zambia last September, a colleague gathered a couple of quick resources that church organizations could use to help make their facilities more accessible. While clergy in Zambia were the primary reason for gathering the resources, they are good resources for any church.

More Than 50 Ways to Make Your Church Accessible With Little or NO Cost Involved
Christian Reformed Church's resources on disability concerns

The CDS Story at Alternative Community Training: Turnover is down, 'Increase in Positive Culture for Agency'

2008-12-15T14:46:00.007-06:00

Alternative Community Training, Inc. (ACT) has been a human services provider for persons with disabilities in Columbia, MO, since 1975, initially providing educational services to students in a private school setting. Today, predominantly an adult-service provider, ACT supports more than 300 persons with disabilities in the following Programs: Community Living, Community Employment, Community Integration and ACT Works. The College of Direct Support (CDS) has been utilized in Missouri and at ACT as a pilot program since November 2005 -- and the results for this agency have been amazing!

The Missouri College of Direct Support currently has about 35 agencies throughout the state participating in the pilot, which will continue though June 2009. The agency administrators in the state have convened on a monthly basis to annotate curriculum, complete a thorough overview of each course and to make recommendations regarding how CDS courses could replace current statewide requirements for training. The administrators group, along with the Statewide Steering Committee, has been the driving force behind the level of success associated with using the CDS.

ACT has offered CDS on a completely voluntary basis. If learners are interested in completing courses, they seek out the agency’s CDS administrator to get started with classes. ACT does offer incentives for completing courses. Learners who provide direct support can receive a total stipend of $700 in bonus money. This includes $350 after completing a set of six prescribed courses and the on-the-job training checklists that the CDS offers. The learners and their supervisors then have the option to choose “elective courses” from the remaining seven courses needed to complete state certification requirements for Missouri. Once the on-the-job training checklists are reviewed with learners, they are eligible for the second stipend of $350. The learners also receive a $0.25 hourly rate increase and a title change, to Direct Support Professional (DSP).

Ed Ricciotti, who recently began a position as a Frontline Supervisor after working as a DSP for 12 years states, “The CDS courses assisted me to become a better DSP and now I am able to use this as a frame of reference when I am training and supervising our DSPs.”
Employees complete surveys to provide feedback regarding the validity of the courses completed. This survey data is maintained on a statewide basis and has assisted the Missouri Division of Developmental Disabilities to have credible data supporting the use of CDS statewide. The state is currently looking into funding options that would sustain this program into the future.

Employees from ACT have given rave reviews regarding the CDS content. Employees feel better prepared for their daily responsibilities after completing these courses. Employees who support persons with behavior challenges feel more confident when dealing with challenging situations. Employees have a realistic picture of the vital role they play in the lives of persons supported. ACT’s mentor and CDS graduate Emma Landry, notes, “The CDS classes that I took were very user friendly. I enjoyed listening to the stories of real individuals and their staff members and felt like they helped me to fully understand what was being taught to me. I can honestly say that I gained a great deal of knowledge, understanding, and awareness from taking the CDS courses. I feel that I can now better support the individuals in our program and I feel that I can be a better advocate for them.”

ACT recognizes all learners who have achieved this status at ACT employee events (our annual retreat, holiday party, employee appreciation days, etc.) The learners receive a framed certificate from the State of Missouri recognizing the completion of the required curriculum. This certificate is portable across the state, so retraining would not need to occur if a DSP relocates to a different part of Missouri. ACT also provides CDS graduates with a CDS tote bag filled with items/goodies to assist the DSP in doing their job. Learners are recognized in ACT’s quarterly newsletters. ACT believes that celebrating these accomplishments is an integral part of the delivery and success of this curriculum.

ACT also offers an incentive to Frontline Supervisors and Managers, which includes a $500 bonus for completing 13 courses in the DSP curriculum and four courses in the College of Frontline Supervision and Management (CFSM). Again, learners complete these courses and reviews the on-the-job training component prior to receiving bonus monies.

Carrie Griffith, Manager of ACT’s Community Living program and a CDS graduate said: “The CDS has become a valuable resource for our organization. Even though I had experience in the field, going through the coursework (both the direct-care portion as well as the frontline supervision) taught me new information as well as helping me to refresh on important points. As a manager, the On-the-Job Training Assessments for each course were a great opportunity to touch base with my staff, to have the type of discussions that you don’t typically have in the hustle and bustle of the work week. The OJT Training Assessments served as a springboard to several conversations about where we are as an agency and where we are going. The CDS experience is a reminder that what we do is important and we need to keep learning so that our practices don’t become stagnant. The DSPs who have completed the courses typically are contributing more ideas and have renewed enthusiasm for the profession.”

The response from other ACT employees has been phenomenal! There are currently 148 learners from ACT utilizing the CDS. This includes consumers, direct care employees, supervisors, managers, administrative support staff -- and even our Chief Executive Officer, Mark Hassemer. Mark notes, “We are very encouraged by the early results of making CDS training available to our Direct Support Professionals. People are increasing their skill level, which results in more effective and efficient services. Staff retention has been enhanced, critically important in today’s environment. The direct support positions are just perceived differently since we started the CDS training; people are on a career track and receive a portable certification.

ACT’s Training and Development Committee recently revised the agency’s New Hire orientation to include employees completing the CDS Safety course as part of their new-hire training with ACT. This introduction to CDS has sparked an interest in many employees to continue with courses and gain the wealth of knowledge this training program offers. ACT’s Training and Development Committee is currently working on new-hire training for supervisors and plans to include the new course from the CFSM -- “Becoming a Supervisor.”

Retention statistics for the agency for the past two years have shown that the implementation of the CDS and making it available to ACT employees has “raised the bar” for delivering quality services for consumers supported in ACT’s programs. Retention statistics from calendar year 2006 showed a 43% turnover rate. In 2007 that dropped to a 23% turnover rate. The CDS was a contributing factor in the 20% decrease in turnover. ACT has seen an increase in a positive culture for the agency. The level of professionalism has increased as a result of this curriculum being available to employees. Employees understand that they are not just providing supervision to persons with disabilities; they are facilitating support for persons served to be included in their community.

Michelle Saunders is the CDS Administrator for ACT and can be contacted via email at michelle4act@socket.net or by calling Alternative Community Training at 573-474-9446. If you are interested in more about the services Alternative Community Training provides, please go to their website: www.actservices.org

Paul Smith...An Amazing Artist

2008-12-08T10:40:00.007-06:00

Recently I was forwarded some samples of work done by an artist by the name of Paul Smith. Two amazing things...Paul had cerebral palsy and he created all of his art on a typewriter. I don't know about you, but I was lucky to be able to type with a minimum of white out, much less create art on a typewriter. I know I am probably dating myself because there are probably a number of you out there that have never even used a typewriter!

A little information about Paul: He was born in 1921 in Philadelphia and moved to Hollywood, Florida with his family in the 40's. In addition to his art, Paul was also a very accomplished chess player.

He created hundreds of pieces of art over the span of seven decades. Almost all of his art was accomplished using these keys on the typewriter: @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) _

For more information on Mr. Smith and to see more samples of his art, please visit the following sites:

Paul Smith Website
Chessplayer.com

Open Your Eyes-Sean Delaney

2008-12-01T20:38:00.000-06:00

Many of you have probably already seen this video, but it is worth repeating here. Sean Delaney won the Music and Comedy category in The DSP TV Online contest "You Need to Know Me" sponsored by ANCOR. For more information about ANCOR, click here.

Thank You-Andrea McMurray

2008-11-24T10:35:00.000-06:00

Andrea McMurray won an honorable mention in The DSP TV Online contest "You Need to Know Me" sponsored by ANCOR. For more information about ANCOR, click here.

Maroon and Gold by Greg Devorce

2008-11-17T08:30:00.000-06:00

Greg Devorce won the Self-Advocate category in The DSP TV Online contest "You Need to Know Me" sponsored by ANCOR. For more information about ANCOR, click here. Greg's song is dedicated to his job coach.

What do the 2008 Amendments to the ADA mean?

2008-11-10T11:34:00.001-06:00

The purpose of the 2008 ADA Amendments is to restore the intent of the original ADA passed in 1980. The 2008 Amendments were signed into law by President Bush on September 25, 2008.

If you are interested in reading all of the 2008 ADA Amendments, you can go to this link for a summary or this link for the actual bill.

Here are some highlights:

The definition of disability is expanded: Under the 2008 Amendments to the ADA, more people will be considered to have a disability. The definition of disability must be defined more widely and cover a broad range of individuals and disabilities.

A disability only has to effect one major life activity to be considered a disability under the ADA. It is still a disability even if it doesn't effect other major life activities.

Definition of major life activities added: The 2008 Amendments added a partial list of major life activities. These include: caring for oneself; performing manual tasks; seeing; hearing; eating; sleeping; walking; standing; lifting; bending; speaking; breathing; learning; reading; concentrating; thinking; communicating; and working.

Disabilities that are episodic are included: A disability is considered a disability whether it is active or not as long as it substantially limits a major life activity when active.

A disability is considered a disability even if there are medications or medical equipment that can make the effect of the disability lessen or disappear.

Eugene-Eugene Miller

2008-11-03T09:18:00.000-06:00

Eugene Miller won the healthy living category in The DSP TV Online contest "You Need to Know Me" sponsored by ANCOR. For more information about ANCOR, click here.

Hear Us Out-Chad Ek

2008-10-28T10:40:00.000-05:00

Chad Ek won the Reality category in The DSP TV Online contest "You Need to Know Me" sponsored by ANCOR. For more information about ANCOR, click here.

Respect

2008-10-24T16:02:00.000-05:00

Produced by Will Schermerhorn of Blueberry Shoes Productions. http://www.blueberryshoes.com
Featuring members of The Arc of Northern Virginia, this is a great video suggesting a better use for the term "R Word."

Beyond Disability...The Empowered FeFe's

2008-10-20T22:04:00.002-05:00

I stumbled across this the other day and I love what this group is doing...here is a description from their website:

The Empowered Fe Fes (slang for female), a group of young women with disabilities, hit the streets of Chicago on a quest to discover the difference between how they see themselves and how others see them. Their revelations are humorous, thought provoking and surprising. As the young women grapple with issues as diverse as access, education, employment, sexuality and growing up with disabilities, they address their audience with a sense of urgency, as if to say, "I need to tell you so you'll see me differently." To purchase the full version visit our website www.beyondmedia.org.

Spotlight on Self-Advocacy: A Report from the SABE Conference in Indianapolis

2008-10-14T14:33:00.006-05:00

Gail Larson, a self-advocate living in Bemidji, Minnesota, recently attended the SABE(Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered) conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. To hear our conversation about the conference, please click the play button below.

Quick Report on Candidates' Views on Disability

2008-10-14T07:46:00.002-05:00

Charlie Lakin recently wrote an article published in the Access Press on the positions of the presidential candidates' in regard to disability issues. To read the article, click here.

Poll Results: Can you cure Autism?

2008-10-09T14:41:00.002-05:00

Many of you might have noticed the poll that has been listed on the blog for the past week. Voting is closed now, but the results were interesting. Of the 15 votes cast, 12 believe that Autism can not be cured.

Anyone care to comment further on their opinions on this topic?

Predatory Lenders

2008-10-09T14:36:00.002-05:00

Recently, the Minneapolis Star Tribune published an article titled, Foreclosure: They were preyed upon. This story highlights yet another example of the housing and economic crises many Americans are facing. Approaching this topic from a different angle, this story describes the experiences of a couple that owns a home – they also have intellectual disabilities. Ultimately, managing life on a fixed income and giving into relentless predatory lenders, these homeowners lost everything.

A social worker of one of the victims stated in the article, “In hindsight, more oversight over their finances would have been appropriate.” This notion was supported by Beth Fondell, from Arc Greater Twin Cities, she said "If there was more prevention, up-front support and dollars invested, people like Dave and Kathy would be able to be as safely independent of the system as possible." Unfortunately, these supports were not in place and an October 14th auction is scheduled to sell the house.

Though everyone I’ve discussed this with found the incident to be sad and unfortunate, I have noticed mixed reactions. Some viewed this as an example of a lending industry that would do anything to anybody to make money, regardless of a person’s vulnerability. Yet, some also questioned why this couple was allowed to purchase a home in the first place, since they both have an intellectual disability. They felt those supporting them, such as social workers and family members, should not have allowed them to get into a home loan – period. What about self-determination and homeownership? Do people with intellectual disabilities have the right to take the same risks as many Americans chose to take?

To read this article go to: http://www.startribune.com/business/29844484.html?elr=KArksUUUU

This post is courtesy of Derek Nord

My Choice, My Vote

2008-10-04T21:11:00.003-05:00

My Voice, My Vote is for young adults with disabilities who want to make a difference. Please visit www.myvoicemyvote.org for more information.

Where's my Lasagna?

2008-10-02T10:32:00.000-05:00

October 6th-10th is Mental Illness Awareness Week. As this week is upon us I’d like you to think about the people you know with chronic and/or serious mental illnesses. People who sometimes fall away, are hospitalized, or have to leave work or school due to mental illness. People who because of their illnesses sometimes cannot get by without significant, on-going help from family caregivers. I also want you to think about those family caregivers whose lives and energy are devoted to keeping loved ones safe and helping the person to managing the illness.

I want you to think how you have handled the “news” that someone has a mental illness, and especially if that person had to be hospitalized or “found out” they were ill after being arrested. These are very stressful times for the family and the person. They are akin to when someone suffers a major heart attack, gets into a car accident, or goes into a diabetic coma. But what is often strikingly different is how the rest of us respond when it’s mental illness and not physical illness.

How many of you have organized an office pool to send flowers and a card saying “Hope you are feeling better soon!” after hearing someone has been hospitalized for a mental illness? How many of you have done this when a person goes in for other types of medical emergencies?

When it’s mental illness how many of you have called the person or family members and asked “How is it going? What can I do for you?” How many of you have offered to come walk the dog, bring dinner, or spend time with the person who is ill so they and the family caregiver can both get a break? How often do you ask a person or their caregiver after the initial crisis: “How’s it going now? What’s the prognosis? What treatment options are you using? What’s been most helpful to you? Are there things that I could do that would be helpful to you now?”

It’s not uncommon in the face of long term disability and chronic illness for some friends to drop away and for life to change. But how we react when we first find out is a clear sign of the ongoing prejudice and ignorance about mental illness. I met a woman in a family education course run by the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI). She said to the group: “Hospitalizing my son (for bipolar disorder) was the worst, most heartbreaking thing I had ever been through. When I got home I called my Mom and said ‘Where’s my lasagna?’ (The traditional family dish for comforting people in the face of illness). No one seemed to notice at all.” Her experiences were echoed by everyone in the group and I hear them again and again in support groups. Where are my friends? Where is my family? Why are we being rejected, ignored, or treated with suspicion? Why is no one talking about this?

This year during Mental Illness Awareness week, I’d just like you to take some time to ask yourself why.

This post is courtesy of Susan O'Nell

Political Candidates Views on Disability

2008-10-01T18:02:00.010-05:00

Since the campaign season is coming to a head, I thought it would be a good idea for this blog to post a little information on each candidate's platform on disability. The two videos listed here represent what I could find on each candidate's disability policy(in video format) and are limited by what people on the web choose to post.

The College of Direct Support DOES NOT endorse any political candidate running for office.

To read a complete accounting of each candidate's disability policy, please visit fifth freedom's website at: fifthfreedom.org

Barack Obama

John McCain
note: I know this is a bad picture of John McCain and that is not intentional. The reason I selected this video was because it offers the best uninterrupted statement from McCain on some of his policies on disability that I could find on the web.

We Put the "P" in DSP

2008-09-30T19:19:00.002-05:00

ANCOR(American Network of Community Options and Resources) recently sponsored a DSP Online TV video Contest in an effort to give DSP's an opportunity to tell their own stories as well as bring awareness to workforce wage issues. The video featured here was the grand prize winner of over 30 videos submitted. It was created by Ben Leadbetter from RHD-RI in Pawtucket, RI

World Bicycle Relief-Proving that effective change does not have to be complicated

2008-09-30T13:35:00.001-05:00

Here's a simple idea making a big difference. World Bicycle Relief has donated 24,000 bicycles to HIV/AIDS caregivers in Zambia so that they can better care for their clients. For one man, this decreased his trip to see one of his clients from 5 hours to 40 minutes. Great ideas for change don't have to be complicated to be effective.

Family Advocacy Group develops in Chawama, Zambia

2008-09-26T11:19:00.003-05:00

In August, a group from The Institute on Community Integration and ARC Greater Twin Cities took a trip to Zambia to continue work started earlier this year to develop a project with advocates, educators, missionaries and government officials regarding children and adults with disabilities. This project builds on a leadership training program developed by Sandy Beddor to train non-governmental organization employees in Zambia. However, the focus and purpose of this project is the preferences and needs of children and adults with disabilities and their families.

The leadership model currently being used involves identifying a group of partners in the United States and a group of partners from Zambia and promoting a cultural and professional exchange. Arc Greater Twin Cities and the Institute on Community Integration are working together as the U.S team. Sandy Beddor works on both the U.S. and Zambian teams.

The first set of meetings took place in Zambia in January of 2008. Then, two months later, a leadership team came from Zambia for two weeks of training in Minnesota. The most recent trip took place in August of 2008.

One of the most exciting developments during our most recent trip took place in Chawama parish in Lusaka. We held a meeting for people with disabilities and their families to come and tell us their stories as well as their current needs and how they are or are not being met. The response was overwhelming. With less than 24 hours of notice to the community, we had 75 in attendance at the meeting.

As you can imagine, there were many stories that were heartbreaking. Zambia, to a large extent, is still a country where having a family member with a disability is considered bad luck and people with disabilities are often hidden away. Bearing that in mind, the courage it took for these people to come forward and come to our meeting is impressive, to say the least.

In spite of this, there was alot of hope at this meeting and one of the action steps identified by the participants was to continue meeting both to support one another as well as define action steps that they can take as a group to improve conditions for people with disabilities.

Fr. Patrick Chisanga attended the training in Minnesota and has been a major cog in the wheel in helping this all to move forward. Earlier this week, I received an e-mail with an update on the group as well as photos of the group. Here is an excerpt from Patrick's e-mail:

Special needs Chawama Group: first meeting- Friday 12 September. The turn out was overwhelming; I walked into that hall and was greeted by so many expectant and/or anxious faces of children, men and women, young and old with different disabilities. Ba Father for whom they had been waiting had arrived. That in itself was a honour, but also a huge challenge for me. Before going to Italy, I had began talking with a very small group of women who come out voluntarily after I had preached about the reality of a person with a disability in the family. The subsequent visit of the team from the USA had overwhelming results- hat off for all of you.

On that our first meeting, the one thing they all expected was to have their picture taken. It turned out ot be an exciting photo-taking session- I'll send some as soon as I can; still have problems downloading pictures from my camera.

I addressed the group briefly, especially checking their expectations and clarifying the misdirected ones. I emphasized on the the power of unity and recognizing that they are not alone in the situation, as well as the need to come out of the shame, suspicion and fear that often accompany any disability in the family.

There was also a parent from another parish who spoke to the group about her experience as a mother of a child with a disability and how she has struggled until she's able to stand up for the rights of her child, without fear or shame.

The group met again the following Friday; more came. Many still expected to have their pictures taken. I was not able to attend. The Home Based Care team addressed them.
Our task is to identify a core team that will work with Mathew and I and the parish executive representative(s) to draw up a program and orientation of our work.

It is obvious that such work demands a lot of consistency, time and energy. The parish team shows a lot of interest to learn and make follow up. I really do count on them as well as your support.

On behalf of Mathew and the whole parish community, I thank all of you- dzikomo.
Patrick.

Patrick also sent photos of the group's meetings:

Offense Taken

2008-09-26T10:38:00.006-05:00

In the spring of 2007, when a Minneapolis theater company put on a show titled “Rise of the Celebretards,” people with disabilities and their allies took action. “Offense Taken” documents this community’s organized response to the play title and to the public use of the “R” word (“retard”).

By lifting up the voices of a broad range of citizens—people with disabilities, allies, educators, artists, and neutral theatergoers—the documentary also serves as a springboard for discussion about language: “Does artistic freedom trump human rights?”

With the release of this film, a coalition of Minnesota organizations and individuals is launching a campaign to encourage a community-wide discussion about disrespectful language and human rights.

Offense Taken is a project of Self-Advocates of Minnesota (SAM). The program was produced & directed by Verso Creative.

Tropic Thunder: Just Comedy or Just Offensive

2008-08-18T16:52:00.002-05:00

Comedians are no strangers to controversy. Offensive or funny seems to be a matter of personal taste. I recently went to see Margaret Cho and while I find her funny, another person could find her comedy completely distasteful.

So, cut to the purpose of this post...Ben Stiller's Tropic Thunder. In Tropic Thunder, Stiller plays Tugg Speedman, one of three self-absorbed actors starring in a war movie in southeast Asia that unwittingly end up becoming real life captives...but don't know it.

Without a doubt, the part of the movie that has people so upset is Stiller's portrayal of 'Simple Jack' a previous role that Stiller's character played in a cheap attempt to gain an academy award nomination. The movie poster for 'Simple Jack' reads "Once upon a time...There was a retard"

The group's captors recognize Tugg Speedman(Stiller) as Simple Jack and make him act out scenes from the movie for their entertainment. I'm sure you can imagine the rest.

From what I have read about the movie so far, opinions seem to fall in one of two ways.

1. The movie makes fun of everyone; if no other groups are getting upset, why should people with intellectual disabilities?
2. The use of the word retard is offensive and hurtful under any circumstance. No exceptions.

Good Morning America had a good piece on the movie this morning. Here is a link to it:

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=5601545

Another interesting website to visit is r-word.org. Sponsored by Special Olympics, they currently have over 6, 000 signatures opposing the use of the r-word.

What are your opinions?

Ben and Jerry's Partner Shops

2008-07-21T15:52:00.002-05:00

When I was in graduate school in the early 90's, I first heard about Ben and Jerry's Partner Shops program. I thought it was such a great idea. I thought, "How awesome would it be to open a shop and run it completely by people with disabilities?" In my idea, employees would have the opportunity to learn all aspects of the business if they desired as well as share in the profits of the business. I liked spirit of entrepreneurship and empowering people economically in a non-traditional manner.

I never got around to making my vision a reality, but Life's Work of Western Pennsylvania is running a Ben and Jerry's Partner Shop. I don't know how close it comes to the vision I had, but still...I think it is such a cool idea...here is a link to more information:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/pittsburgh/print_578381.html

I'm sure there are more innovative vocational programs out there. I'd love to hear about them...please post them here.

Look for a podcast on this topic in the near future.

Rising cost of living costs....how does it affect your work?

2008-06-26T16:55:00.001-05:00

Daily we are hearing stories of how the rising costs of fuel and food are impacting lives. I would like to hear from DSP's as to how they and those they support are dealing with the ever rising basic living costs. How are agencies coping...are they changing their strategies..how might these changes impact the lives of those supported?

Social Inclusion and the Boy Scouts

2008-06-18T11:10:00.003-05:00

I was deeply moved by the tragic deaths, last week, of four Boy Scouts at the Little Sioux Scout Ranch. From news accounts, the heroic efforts of fellow Scouts are exemplified in the Scout Oath – “To help other people at all times” the Scout Motto – “Be Prepared” and the Scout Slogan – “Do a Good Turn Daily.” When listening to interviews with Boy Scouts, who were at the Scout Ranch, they talked about the importance of their Scout experience and training.

That is what I want to share in my Blog, the importance of the Scout experience and training for Scouts with disabilities. I have worked in the field of disabilities for a number of years and have seen the paradigm shift from persons with disabilities being hidden in large state institution to living full lives in communities. Another part of my life has involved being an active adult leader in Boy Scouts. Those two passions intersected when I saw Scouting units struggle with socially including youth with intellectual disabilities in Boy Scout Troops. “Social Integration (inclusion): Opportunity to enjoy reciprocal, satisfying social relationships with family, friends and others members of one’s community” Larson. Some of what I saw in regards to why including youth with disabilities was not working included: attitudes, fear, and lack of knowledge/training/resources.

So I decided to work within the Scouting system and research and develop resources to be used to support the social inclusion of youth with intellectual disabilities in Boy Scout troops. I did this through the University of Scouting and received a Doctorate of Scouting. My final project is titled Resources to Support the Social Inclusion of Boys with Intellectual Disabilities in Boy Scout Troops. What I did was:

•Analysed the data from the last Council survey, 2003, identifying the number of youth
with disabilities and types of disabilities.
•Developed a web based and paper tool that can be used to more accurately identify
youth with disabilities, types of disabilities, how units support youth with
disabilities, and what units need to support youth.
•Identified resources that units can use to support social inclusion and made
recommendations on how the resources can be used.
•These materials have been shared with the Boy Scout council in a number of venues.

What do you think about youth with intellectual disabilities being socially included in community activities?

This article was posted on behalf of Marijo McBride, Project Coordinator at the University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration. If you are interested in more information, you can contact her at mcbri001@umn.edu

Boy with Autism Banned from Church.

2008-05-27T17:11:00.004-05:00

What do you think? A 13 year old Minnesota boy with autism recently was banned from attending church due to "disruptive and dangerous behavior." Here are a couple of reponses from the local paper on the topic...what do you think?

Response #1

Why should one person be allowed to totally disrupt a church service regardless of the cause? Attacking other people and urinating in church is totally unacceptable, regardless of this boys affliction. What is wrong with these parents?

Response #2

I have had the same reaction at my Catholic church and school. My son was diagnosed with ADHD while attending K-1st grade at the school. I was told many times by parents that he did not belong there...go to the public school to get the services he needed. His medication kept his behavior at "bay" yet there were other boys in his class who had serious issues. They were not made an example of and successfully completed their schooling. After we left the school, half way through 1st grade, I requested and was denied an application for CCD. My church shunned us yet continually request donations of money! what's wrong with this picture? Where is the Godly attitude of accepting those with afflications...especially the children? Why not offer a special service for those children--adults who suffer with afflications--allow them to be present and participate as much as they possibly are able to do so. Open your hearts and minds..get rid of the shunning attitudes!

Response #3

While I believe that we need to respect the rights of all poeple with or without disabilities they also need to be taught proper behavior. Autism is not an excuse to be violent and spit on others. It sounds as though this family may benefit from some professional help in teaching their some proper social behaviors. If urinating is an issue why doesn't this boy have diapers to wear? Autism can be a very difficult disability but it does not mean that inappropriate behaviors need to be tolerated.

Here is a link to the original article: Click here for original story

Patrick Jordan's Story

2008-04-02T19:27:00.000-05:00

Patrick Jordan and family are participants in the Region 10 quality assurance project called VOICE. The Region 10 project began approximately 10 years ago as a group of concerned stakeholders in SE Minnesota. They explored ways to best protect services for
people with developmental disabilities in the event of block grants, which
could have removed funding from services. They chose quality assurance as
an area to protect, and in the process, developed their own QA process known
as VOICE. They were successful in getting state funding to perform QA and
licensing in their region, of which five counties have opted in. For more
information, visit mn-voice.org.

Ashley Case

2008-03-18T13:42:00.002-05:00

Hello DSPs,

Have you heard about the “Ashley Case?” This link tells the story of a girl with significant disabilities. Her parents chose to stunt her growth and have other medical procedures performed to keep her reproductive organs from maturing. Their justification was that it would be easier for caregivers in the future to care for her. I do not want to pass judgment on this family, but rather am curious as to what other professionals in the field have to say. Do you think as a society we should be able to perform these types of medical procedures on people with disabilities to make it easier to care for them? Do you think it will it make it easier to care for Ashley? As a direct support professional who believes in justice as an ethic (NADSP Code of Ethics) and advocates for the person you support, how do you feel about this from an ethical perspective? What do you think it says about the how the direct support profession is viewed by others? Do you think if the parents had a good understanding of service options for Ashley that they would still choose to do this? Or do you think it is because of their understanding of the service options that they chose to do this?

I for one do not believe that “limited service options” justifies this action. What it does suggest is that parents are not comfortable with the service options they have to care for their child. How about advocating for better services for all people with disabilities – by promoting the direct support workforce? Lobbying for increased funding? Other thoughts?

Welcome to the new CDS blog!

2008-03-04T16:26:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the newest feature of the CDS...a place to come to discuss and debate issues in the field of Direct Support Professionalism, current disability issues of the day, and any other topic of interest to the direct support community. If there are issues you would like to see addressed, please don't hesitate to e-mail them to Kristin Dean.