tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post8467384827607524596..comments2024-03-29T03:43:45.977-04:00Comments on Of Battered Aspect: A Question from the CrowdDave Hingsburgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918601687946534172noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-79167088602372741382012-10-30T18:56:47.747-04:002012-10-30T18:56:47.747-04:00It is extremely unfortunate that people with disab...It is extremely unfortunate that people with disabilities are oppressed within the systems that they rely upon as well as their advocates. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-56864830665243086022012-10-30T12:17:36.093-04:002012-10-30T12:17:36.093-04:00Dave, I love the line "Aren't all voices ...Dave, I love the line "Aren't all voices necessary. Aren't all voices needed in order for there to be a chorus. For there to be harmony". Sometime, though, the choir needs practise!Princeton Possenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-31146298396027448582012-10-27T09:24:55.429-04:002012-10-27T09:24:55.429-04:00"We live, we learn with every turn around the..."We live, we learn with every turn around the sun up in the sky, <br />my favourite prayer is the one that says: please help me love whats right in the front of my eyes,<br />sometimes its so hard and complicated<br />to see this world unjaded.<br /><br />Go on let it break your heart<br />Go on let it break your heart<br />Go on let it break your heart<br />- wide open...." <br />lyrics from Joshua Kadison<br /><br />known by JuliaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-82061932388442146492012-10-27T08:39:45.481-04:002012-10-27T08:39:45.481-04:00You've reminded me of the year -- 15 years ago...You've reminded me of the year -- 15 years ago now -- when I spent three days a week as direct care staff in a 2-resident group home. Two staff for each 8-hour shift took care of two adults who were among the last released from one of our state's huge institutions.<br /><br />I only attended one IPP meeting (we weren't "invited," but whichever of us were on duty drew straws for 'attending the meeting for X' vs 'sitting in the waiting room with Y'.<br /><br />The meeting began without introductions of the 8 people around the desk of the meeting's leader, a psychiatrist. His opening remarks didn't seem to include much beyond 'Good Morning, let's get started.' <br /><br />The very next thing out of his mouth was "John Smith, Male Client." He then proceeded to enumerate the compiled remarks of staff and assorted 'consulting professionals' and 'weekly one-hour visiting therapists' and then make his recommendations for med changes.<br /><br />Then the rest of the staff spoke in turn, briefly. 'John' was not invited to speak.<br /><br />Here's the part where I wish I'd understood more, then, about 'John's' experience:<br /><br />For the next two days his only spontaneous utterance, spoken in a voice of bleak doom, was "John Smith. Male Client."<br />Maggienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-8352664390497378172012-10-27T08:00:46.846-04:002012-10-27T08:00:46.846-04:00Dear Dave:
This is very thought provoking. I saw ...Dear Dave:<br /><br />This is very thought provoking. I saw a little sign the other day that said, Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone. Obviously in your case age and wisdom are a couple.<br /><br />There are many instances in my own professional life where I wish I knew then what I know now. But that is the nature of the beast - we grow and develop by reflecting on and learning from our experiences.<br /><br />I like your thought that direct care staff should be listened to, payed attention to. I think sometimes they get the message that what they do is not important or that what they think about something does not matter. And yet, they are the ones who know the person they support better than most, they are the ones who carry out all the policies and procedures and witness how they impact the lives of those they support. They are the ones who sometimes have to risk everything to report abuse or to advocate with or on behalf of the people they support. And yet within an agency they often have very little power.<br /><br />ColleenColleennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-33728871676525555392012-10-27T07:53:38.652-04:002012-10-27T07:53:38.652-04:00Yes! How could the people working at Winterbourne ...Yes! How could the people working at Winterbourne View not know? Well they did know and they didn’t get heard. And that’s not safe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com