'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'-Matthew 25:40
My heart softens all the time when I hear words relating to "physical challenged"-developmentally disabled, handicapped, mentally ill, etc.. I've grown with many people with differenet types of "challenges". After college-UMM, I never expected to be working (resume) at a group home for "physically challenged" adults in the same town-Morris, where I went to college for 4 years.
When I began my personal relationship with Jesus, I've grown in heart to "reach-out" more to people that society ignorantly looks down upon or "the least".
"35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'-Matthew 25
As I've grown in this personal relationship with Him, I've grown to know and see what His heart aches for-our souls to go to Heaven through salvation. Especially the "least" that our world looks down upon.
E-mail Forward
To my family and friends,
This is a story that I recently received. I enjoyed reading it, and I hope that you enjoy it, too.
In Brooklyn, New York, Chush is a school that caters to learning disabled children. Some children remain in Chush for their entire school career, while others can be mainstreamed into conventional schools. At a Chush fundraising dinner, the father of a Chush child delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended.
After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he cried out,"Where is the perfection in my son Shaya? Everything God does is done with perfection.
But my child cannot understand things as other children do. My child cannot remember facts and figures as other children do. Where is God's perfection?"
The audience was shocked by the question, pained by the father's anguish and stilled by the piercing query. "I believe," the father answered, "that when
God brings a child like this into the world, the perfection is in the way people react to this child."
He then told the following story about his son Shaya:
One afternoon Shaya and his father walked past a park where some boys Shaya knew were playing baseball. Shaya asked, "Do you think they will let me play?" Shaya's father knew that his son was not at all athletic and that most boys would not want him on their team. But Shaya's father understood that if his son was chosen to play it would give him a comfortable
sense of belonging.
Shaya's father approached one of the boys in the field and asked if Shaya could play. The boy looked around for guidance from his teammates. Getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said, "We are losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him up to bat in the ninth inning."
Shaya's father was ecstatic as Shaya smiled broadly. Shaya was told to put on a glove and go out to play short center field. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shaya's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shaya's team scored again and now with two outs and the bases loaded with the potential winning run on base, Shaya
was scheduled to be up.
Would the team actually let Shaya bat at this juncture and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shaya was given the bat. Everyone knew that it was all but impossible because Shaya didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, let alone hit with it. However as Shaya stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shaya should at least be able to make contact.
The first pitch came in and Shaya swung clumsily and missed. One of Shaya's teammates came up to Shaya and together the held the bat and faced the pitcher waiting for the next pitch. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly toward Shaya.
As the pitch came in, Shaya and his teammate swung at the bat and together they hit a slow ground ball to the pitcher. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could easily have thrown the ball to the first
baseman. Shaya would have been out and that would have ended the game.
Instead, the pitcher took the ball and threw it on a high arc to right field, far beyond reach of the first baseman.
Everyone started yelling, "Shaya, run to first. Run to first." Never in his life had Shaya run to first. He scampered down the baseline wide-eyed and startled. By the time he reached first base, the right fielder had the ball. He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman who would tag out Shaya, who was still running. But the right fielder understood what the pitcher's intentions were, so he threw the ball high and far over the third baseman's head. Everyone yelled,"Run to second, run to second." Shaya ran towards second base as the runners ahead of him deliriously circled the bases towards home.
As Shaya reached second base, the opposing short stop ran to him, turned him in the direction of third base and shouted, "Run to third." As Shaya rounded third, the boys from both teams ran behind him screaming,
"Shaya run home."
Shaya ran home, stepped on home plate and all 18 boys lifted him on their shoulders and made him the hero, as he had just hit a "grand slam" and won the game for his team.
"That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face,"those 18 boys reached their level of God's perfection."
This website is dedicated to all the people I've met with sometype of "physical challenged" and the "Church" will be moved to invite more of these people to their church services-family.
'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'"-Luke 14:21
Below are some indirect/direct personal testimonies (including an encouraging article) relating to various physical challenges:
Training Skills
During my Liberal Arts Education in college (UMM), I took the following courses related to this topic:
PSYCHOLOGY
-General Psychology I & II
-Social Pyschology
-Developmental Pyschology I: Child Psychology
-Developmental Pyschology II: Adolescent Psychology
-Developmental Pyschology III: Adulthood, Aging Psychology
SOCIOLOGY
-Prejudice, Discrimination in the American Society
IS
-Professional Ethics
HEALTH
-Introduction to Health
Since I started working at the group home, I have gotten training in various topics...
Vulnerable Adults Policy Review (1/25/01) (1/26/09)[Minnesota Status] (1.29.10) [dhs.state.mn.us]
Seizure Information Class [Nat'l Inst. of Health]
First Aid (5/3/01, 12/06/05, 11/20/06-DAC through Nicole Arbach of the Stevens County Ambulance Services @5:30p-7:15p, 11/17/08-DAC through Jim Gillis @5:00-7:15pm) [Mayo Clinic Training]
Alzhiemers information [elderly] (5/3/01, 8/2/04))
CPR (7/9/01, 3/21/06, 11/20/06-DAC through Nicole of the Stevens County Ambulance Services @3:45p-5:15p, 11/17/08-DAC through Jim Gillis @5:00-7:15pm)[American Heart] , 11/13/13-DAC through Stv. Cty Ambulance Services @3:45p-6:45pm (1st Aid & CPR)
Postural Drainage & Percussion Information/chest physiotherapy [Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy] Mental Health Consumer/Survivor Network of MN-Lobbying at State Capitol
Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training Program (8/23/04-Hancock Community Center, 10/27/05-Otter Tail Basement, 11/14/06-Federated Church @6p-9p; 3/3/08-Stevens County D.A.C. @3:15p-4:15p by Dawn & Judy )
Emergency Safety Procedures (summer of 04') [osha]
Medication Overview Review [nursing-healthy place, online-course]
Dietary: Gluten Foods (really great food, Be A Glutten)
Rule 40 (6/26/00) Therapeutic Intervention (8/29/12-Hancock Community Center)
Stations: Transferboard, PAL, Hoyer, Vitals
Epilepsy [e.g. Epilepsy Foundation] JobHazards [worksheet (4.10.11)]
Mini-Boundaries Scenarios [worksheet (10.12.11) at DWH] : Setting boundaries with residents: becoming close to residents, but not too close, takes wisdom, by Eleanor Feldman Barbera March, 2004 findarticles.com "...Sound familiar? It's happened to me, too, I must admit. Setting boundaries can be difficult under any circumstances, but it is especially challenging when we are faced with reasonable requests from people who are legitimately in need of help. The problem starts when we take on too many extra tasks and begin to feel resentful, taken advantage of, or burned out. Boundary setting is not just about granting or not granting favors; it is about establishing appropriate personal guidelines in our relationships with residents. A lack of boundaries can foment jealousies and discord among residents and between staff members, and, when taken to an extreme, can lead to disciplinary action or job jeopardy. In order to set appropriate boundaries, it is helpful to be aware of the dynamics underlying resident/staff relationships... HIPPA online training (5/23/13); HIPPA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) "
Remedies to Treat Epilepsy
Updated: 03/06/2008 (from earthclinic.com) "..These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms due to abnormal, excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy at any one time. Epilepsy is usually controlled, but not cured, with medication, although surgery may be considered in difficult cases. Not all epilepsy syndromes are lifelong..
"I had a feedback of a child that had monthly epileptic seizures. The remedy for that one for a child anyway was 1/4 teaspoon of citric acid and 1/4 teaspoon of' baking soda, and some magnesium citrate supplements,which was about 100-150 mg. A foundation exists because a disease exists, if there were no disease, a foundation would not exist and people would be out of a job. Hence, the system perpetuates the disease. An epileptic seizures at least on my observations were at least a couple things (but more) as the cause that can be considered in a home remedy: A heavy metal toxicity and hence magnesium reduces this problem..." Treating epilepsy
Tue, Jun 24, 2008 from asiaone.com
* other treatments for some patients are Ketogenic diet or brain surgery..-Rachit Srivastava (yahoo chat 7/18/08)
Wagon Wheel's Hub Hancock, Minnesota-"Helping Horses heal individuals: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually
*met Lorna Lauinger at the 2nd Annual Volunteer Expo at the Nat'l Guard Armory in Feb 2011
Area Services
-ARC Arc Stevens County "
19032 480th Ave
Morris, MN 56267-4401
Business Phone: (320) 589-3096
Toll Free:
Chapter Email: harri088@fedtel.net
Website:
Chapter #: 1557
If you have any questions or would like to submit an update to this record, please email membership@thearc.org."
I met with Emma, who oversees the local DAC on Thursday, May 13th of 2004; she told me some interesting facts about the DAC. It has about 65 consumers from the local groups homes (1 of them from Hancock), who work for 19+ area businesses (e.g. delivers newspapers for the Morris Adviser, works side by side for 2 hours each day at Pizza Hut and other businesses, cleans vehicles for Heartland Chevyrolet, helps out at the local cabinet shop, etc...). They have received many distingished accolades (e.g. "Outstanding Service 99') during it's 35 years of service in the Stevens County. Emma shared about the new DAC that's being open in Benson-Swift County-expanding from it's small building and opening this week!
Windmill Project, for families in Region IV whose children have disabilities
Did you know that there about 4 surrounding companies that serve the "developmentally disabled" adult population?
"Disability Alliance is a student run organization that works to promote a broader understanding of diversity and human experiences by exploring disability issues and promoting a more accessible and accepting environment.
Disability Alliance welcomes everyone who is interested
in disability issues in the Morris community.
"..United Cerebral Palsy of Central Minnesota in October celebrated 55 years of service to individuals in Central Minnesota with cerebral palsy and other disabilities in Central Minnesota.
Eva Cook Jones of Morris was honored for her efforts in starting the first special education class for children with cerebral palsy in Minnesota in 1954 on the campus of what is now St. Cloud State University, according to a story in the St. Cloud Times...
Group Home Companies
-Divine House, Inc.; 618 Pacific Ave [located next door to Morris Commercial Printing across the railroad tracks on the corner of W. 7th St. behind United Builders]; Morris, MN 56267; Contact: Bobbie Jo Staples 320.589.3652 (home locations)
-New Beginnings, 405 W 9th St
Morris, Minnesota 56267, (320) 589-0161 "NEW BEGINNING of Morris is looking for an experienced person to work with the disabled. Part time positions available. Call Daphne. (320) 239-4955. evpe24"-Morris Sun Tribune
-Prairie Community Services (contact Jan #320.589.1026); 801 Nevada Ave; Morris, MN 56267-[Contact Judy Richards Ravenwood (605 W. 6th St #320.589.2057)-group home I worked at or Jessica at Heartwood Home, who supervised my one&one mentoring of a local teenager]=> job application
-REM (employment)
Ministries
Donations Welcome to help maintain this site or support the minnistry down below
Special Touch Ministries, an outreach to Morris and the surrounding area group homes of physically challenged adults.
When? Every first Saturday of the month @1pm
Where? Hossana Worship Center or designated location
Who? surrounding area group home residents and interested volunteers that have a heart to serve these people
What? games, arts & crafts, snacks during break-time, and praise&worship music w/interactive sermon/drama
Contact: Morris Chapter: Jan and Cal Burmgander or Sal (Me) 320.585.5573 or goodnewsmorris@yahoo.com
Notes from a previous Special Touch/Assembly of God National Conference:
"... MAHS One-Act Play. Brian Miller, Thomas McPhee and Thomas Roberts ...
'The Boys Next Door' delves into lives of developmentally disabled men; cast, crew prepare for next week's public performances and sub-section contes... "The boys next door" MAHS 2010 one-act opening night _MG_8639 on ...
Jan 28, 2010 ...flickr.com ".. the 2010 one-act play produced by the Morris Area High School drama ...
"WINONA, Minn. (WCCO) — A Minnesota artist’s greatest tool just may be his determination. When Ron Gramling, age 42, of Winona, Minn. lost the use of his hands, he turned his disability into possibility.
"This is something new that I have learned about him, recently,” said Peggy Reps of Lewiston, one of Gramling’s painting students.
Reps and a small group of women meet in the basement of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lewiston every week to paint. Most of them had never picked up a paint brush until they met Gramling.
In a few years, Gramling taught his painting class to craft stunning scenes, all while hiding what he once considered an artist’s most shameful secret.
He instructs only by voice, never picking up a paintbrush himself.
"I don’t know that I would have had the strength that he has shown,” said student and friend Dianne Rislow.
In downtown Winona, Gramling’s art gallery is filled with Minnesota landscapes and mystical places — his life’s work. Those frames now hold the past, because he will never paint like that again.
Today, his only tools are a tower of white socks and his right toe.
"I was going through socks at a very fast pace," said Gramling. “I’m a foot painter … It took about five years to say that. It’s a fairly odd thing to tell people you are painting with your feet. I was embarrassed by it.”
Five years ago, is when the piercing pain began. Gramling was a graphic artist by day and painter by night.
"It’s the same, exact motion of how this injure happened, which is doing a computer job and I’d go home and do that same thing with a paintbrush,” said Gramling.
He spent his days using a digital pen to correct photographs and hours more using the same hand to hold his paintbrush.
A doctor’s diagnosis crippled his career: cumulative trauma disorder — for Gramling it was near-paralysis from overusing his hands. Surgery and medications failed. He says he can find no cure.
Dr. Jennine Speier with the Sister Kenny Rehab Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital says she has seen an explosion of patients with Gramling’s condition, mostly due to technology-related jobs.
She says cumulative trauma disorder happens with prolonged repetitive muscle use, along with awkward movement and force. At her practice, she says the condition is common with graphic designers, musicians, people in the recording industry and, in general, people who type or use a mouse all day long.
Speier says cumulative trauma disorder can be prevented by taking frequent breaks and using ergonomic tools, but once the damage is done, it can be very difficult to reverse. Intense rehabilitation is necessary to repair small muscles with microscopic injuries.
That's the case for Gramling.
"I lose all feeling from the shoulder down. Right now, there’s hardly any feeling from here to here,” said Gramling, pointing from his shoulder to his wrist. “So the hardest thing for me is, I look normal to people.”
That conflict, appearing normal with excruciating pain, was the beginning of deep depression.
"I went absolutely crazy because how do you do art, when you can’t do art?” said Gramling. “It’s so frustrating to not be able to do what you are put on this earth to do, and that’s be an artist for me. It’s in every cell of my body. I have to paint.”
Art did imitate life when Gramling picked up his camera. He recorded every painful moment, 70 hours over five years, all, he says, to prove he had no choice but to paint with his feet.
Gramling first put a paintbrush between his toes and found no hope when he tried to paint sitting down.
"I’d got these knots in here,” said Gramling, pointing to his toes. “So for an entire year, I could not paint.”
Frustrated, Gramling became a recluse.
An artist can wait his entire life for a breakthrough, and finally, Gramling’s came by accident, when one day he dragged his toe across his canvas.
"Then it’s thousands and thousands and thousands of those toe prints, built up in layers like that,” said Gramling.
It’s a deliberate ballet of tapping, twisting and balancing, a process that can take several months before a painting is revealed.
He says using a different part of his body opened up a different part of his mind.
"When this happened to me, I thought it was the worst thing in the entire world. After about three years, I realized it was the best thing that ever happened to me in the entire world,” said Gramling. “I always wanted to break new ground as an artist. I just didn’t know how until I was literally forced into doing that.”
It took around three years and 32 paintings before Gramling realized he had landed back on his feet. His former landscape paintings were realistic with muted colors. His new view of nature became bold and abstract.
"Because I thought if I’m bizarre enough to be painting with my feet and telling people that, I might as well use the colors that I am truly feeling inside, you know?” said Gramling.
On every painting is his size 12 signature — a blue footprint — marks a final step forward.
"I was hoping that through that I could inspire one person out there,” said Gramling. “Something clicked inside my mind and I started to see the world in a completely different way.”
Today at his painting class, Gramling’s students now capture the beauty of what can be imagined and what can be overcome.
"There’s many more things that we can do just by watching his example,” said Rislow, who credits him as an inspiration.
Gramling has now overcome his challenge in another way. He launched a public art project called Artovance, on the premise that even if he couldn’t physically create art, someone else could do it for him.
"It ended up being my ultimate dream project — to let everybody else do art. I envisioned this book being passed from person to person, and thought ‘Wow, what if someone would feed out of that person’s idea?’” said Gramling.
In these books, people create a page of their own art in a book and pass it along to someone else. So far, it’s reached across to hundreds of schools and hospitals in the U.S. and is being used as art therapy. The books are even in 20 countries around the world, according to Gramling.
His journey is proof that it doesn’t matter what hand life has dealt Ron Gramling, he’s an artist who has already left his footprint on the world."
"MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA (ANS) -- Katy Thuleen of Golden Valley, Minnesota, recently hosted visitors from the African nation of Zambia interested in learning American ways of helping people with disabilities.
Zambia is an extremely poor nation, where the life expectancy is about 40 years and the average yearly wage less than $400.
This particular Zambian group came courtesy of Catholic church and private U.S. funding, and consisted primarily of priests, nuns, brothers, and parents of children with disabilities.
Thuleen was asked to be a host because she is the Minneapolis-St. Paul manager of Joni and Friends, a U.S. faith-based disability outreach. Also, her wheelchair-using son Zach has cerebral palsy.
At Zach's birth, doctors said he would never be independent, lift his head on his own or be aware of his surroundings.
�But that didn't happen at all,� said 48-year-old Thuleen in a telephone interview. �Right now he's a very active, typical teenager.�
As for the visiting Zambians: �The group wanted to visit a 'typical' family affected by disability,� Thuleen said.
�They wanted to see an accessible home and talk with Zach's siblings. And they wanted to learn what our government does, because people with disabilities don't receive any government support there.�
One of the Zambian priests had thousands of parishioners affected by disability, and one nun worked at a �group home� housing 1,200 people with disabilities.
While in America, they were acquiring knowledge in order to properly draw up a realistic proposal to present to their national government.
�They were especially interested in the accessibility of our home,� said Thuleen, whose residence has lifts, accessible bathrooms, and a ramp leading to the basement.
�They also wanted to know about my son's education. Zach became involved in an early intervention program at six weeks old, and today a number of teachers, therapists, and health professionals help him. They don't have all that for people with disabilities in Zambia.�
She said the Zambians were gracious and humble, and spoke respectively of the people they served.
At the end of our visit together,� she said, �we all prayed, and they sang me a song. They gave me a copper bracelet, and said that copper in their country was believed to have healing qualities.
"It wasn't they felt I needed any healing, but that they wanted to keep me strong because of my work as a parent and with Joni and Friends.�
Daniel J. Vance's weekly newspaper column Disabilities has been published in about 250 newspapers. Disabilities is the nation's best-read weekly column featuring people with disabilities. It's sent free to newspapers because of grants from Blue Valley Sod, Palmer Bus Service, and All American Foods.
Mr. Vance is the editor of Connect Business Magazine and the author/co-author of ten books, including his newest 172-page history collection called Unique Mankato! Unique Mankato! relives eight great forgotten stories of Mankato, Minnesota, including ones involving U.S. Vice President Schuyler Colfax, Julia A. Sears, Harry Truman, Moses Wickersham, Sinclair Lewis and Maud Hart Lovelace.
Vance and his wife homeschool a 12-year-old daughter with spina bifida and an 11-year-old son. A Cincinnati native, he moved in 1995 from Baltimore to Minnesota, where the weather gets plenty cold.
Contact Vance at www.danieljvance.com "
*see Goodnewseverybody: African
*met Erin Cummings, who was a young adult representative I met at the 2005 Windmill Project Retreat in the Holiday Inn-Alexandria. Contact: Bob Slaybaugh
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
"More people than ever before are coming to Lifeworks to meet their employment goals. Make a difference in the life of someone with a disability today. Support the growing need for employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Watch our newest video and learn how you can make a difference today!"
"...is a group of not-for-profitCollage organizations committed to helping adults with serious and persistent mental illness and brain disorder improve their status by promoting their self-sufficiency."
*referred by an employee (Andrea) on 8/5/08
"Some recycled holiday lights end up at the Adult Training & Habitation Center in Hutchison, MN "HUTCHINSON, Minn. (WCCO) -
WCCO-TV is collecting lights for the "Recycle Your Holidays" program. Those who want to recycle used lights can drop them off at participating businesses like Snyders Drug Stores or at the Holidazzle. However, what happens to all those old lights once they are picked up?
Most people are doing away with old lights and using new LED environmentally friendly lights. Recycling those old bulbs keeps them out of landfills and provides jobs for the developmentally disabled.
Jeannie Caotone and about 16 other workers at the Adult Training and Habilitation Center in Hutchinson are taking the lights apart.
"This is a nice job," said Jeannie Cotone. "I'm taking the Christmas lights and unscrewing the Christmas lights."
Workers take the bulbs and then remove the glass and plastic. It's hard work. One person did over 200 lights before lunchtime on Thursday.
"Typically, in a day we're probably going through 500 pounds," said Jason Telander, the executive director at ATHC.
Once the lights are stripped off the string, they are then recycled into copper, glass and plastic.
"Once the bulbs are removed from our facilities then this glass is then brought to Green Light Recycling," said Telander. "They basically take the bulbs there and they crush the glass and extract the metal and other contaminates."
The goal is to collect 50,000 lights and keep these workers busy until July. From the looks of things, they are well on their way.
"So far this month we've collected 5,000 pounds of lights," said Telander.
Besides being able to hand off your lights to recycle elves at the Holidazzle, recyclers can also drop off them off at participating Snyders Drug Stores and get a $5 coupon.
There is a drop off area on the WCCO-TV plaza in downtown Minneapolis at 11th Street and Marquette Avenue. "
"OWATONNA, Minn. -- The former caregiver of two severely disabled brothers in Owatonna has pleaded guilty to child endangerment after she was caught on videotape sleeping and leaving them unattended.
The Owatonna People's Press reports that the neglect of Alex and Levi Stewart, teenagers with a neuromuscular disorder that require continuous care, occurred between June and October 2008. The boys' parents decided to videotape health aide D_ A_ on the job when they noticed their sons had lost a lot of weight. She had been hired to care for the boys in 2007.
The tapes showed A_ often left the boys unattended while she slept, watched movies, hosted male guests and took smoke breaks. The boys' feeding machine was not attended to and was sometimes turned off."
"Minnesota Statutes, Section 626.557, frequently referred to as the vulnerable adult law, was initially a 1979 bill that was facility-focused with no designated lead agency or common entry point. The law was created as a result of a rape in a nursing home of a 30-year old woman who was non-verbal and bed bound. In 1980, the statute was enacted, declaring public policy to protect vulnerable adults. The Department of Human Services Adult Protection unit was created in 1981 to provide training and consultation to counties..." The who, what and where of mandated reporting "To report abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult in Minnesota, contact the local Common Entry Point (CEP) office in the county where the vulnerable adult lives or where the maltreatment occurred." Vulnerable Adult "..
(4) Regardless of residence or whether any type of service is received, possesses a physical or mental infirmity or other physical, mental, or emotional dysfunction:.. Maltreatment ".. means abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation as defined below:.." Types of abuse "Conduct which is not an accident or therapeutic conduct as defined in this section, which produces or could reasonably be expected to produce physical pain or injury or emotional distress including, but not limited to, the following:.. Test your knowledge "John is 25 years old and lives at an adult foster care home. He also attends a day training and habilitation program five days per week. John has limited communication abilities.
On Monday morning, John arrives at his day program as usual. As the day program staff persons are assisting him off of the van they notice a large bruise on the left side of his face and neck. When asked about the bruise, John is unable to tell the day program staff persons how he sustained the bruise...
..Report the unexplained bruise to the CEP (Common Entry Point). Also, have John evaluated by a nurse at the day program or a health care clinic in the community. Take pictures of the bruise...
-Anna "..You go to your mother’s house and she is visiting in the kitchen with a friend. Anna, your mom’s friend, appears very fragile. She is very thin and uses a walker. You notice that she has bruises on the inside of her arm that appear to be the size of finger tips. When you ask her how she got those bruises she avoids the conversation. You know that her adult son comes home some weekends and you have heard Anna complain about his temper and alcohol consumption. You know that he is not staying with her now, but you’re concerned that when he comes back she won’t be safe. ..
-Situation: "
A resident who has dementia and a history of aggressive behavior complains that the nursing assistant who put her to bed the night before slapped her...
Yes, the incident should be reported. More definitions "
Neglect means:An older man with a walker and older woman walking beside him
(a) The failure or omission by a caregiver to supply a vulnerable adult with care or services, including but not limited to, food, clothing, shelter, health care, or supervision which is: Test your knowledge "Meet Jane:
Jane is 30 years old and lives in an adult foster care facility. Jane is diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and insulin dependent diabetes. An adult foster care staff person brings Jane to see her physician for a routine check-up. During the visit to her physician, Jane’s blood sugar levels are noted to be very high. The physician asks Jane about the high blood sugar levels. Jane tells the physician that she ran out of insulin three days ago and that the person in charge of refilling her prescriptions at the facility said that they were “working on” getting her some more. The physician asks the staff person accompanying Jane about Jane not having any insulin, but the staff person has no knowledge...
Both A and B.
.. Yes, the incident needs to be reported to the Common Entry Point (CEP) by the staff person accompanying Jane to the appointment.
Letter B button Yes, the incident needs to be reported to the Common Entry Point (CEP) by the physician. Test your knowledge "Meet Marvel:
Marvel is a 90 year old woman who is living alone since the death of her husband Bill, approximately one month ago. Bill had managed the finances, done the grocery shopping and maintained the yard. As her neighbor, you have noticed there has been no activity at the home in the past week. You have not seen Marvel in over a week and you are concerned that she may not have the ability to get to the grocery store. Marvel does not have a driver’s license and her children live in other states. No one has picked up her mail and it is starting to pile up on her front step. Her yard has become overgrown and her plants have died. ..
-Incident: "
A resident’s care plan indicates that the resident is not to be left unsupervised on the side of the bed because of her poor sitting balance. The resident is left sitting on the side of the bed while the nursing assistant left the room quickly to get a clean towel and washcloth. The resident falls and sustains a fracture of her humerus." Financial exploitation Test your knowledge "Meet Robert:
Robert is 18 years old and lives in an adult foster care home. Robert enjoys playing video games and owns all of the latest games. One evening while talking with a staff person named Jeff, Robert says that he sure wishes he could get his video golf game disk back from the staff person who works on the weekend. Jeff asks Robert some questions and Robert says that he “loaned” the game disk to a weekend staff person two weeks ago. Robert tells Jeff that he did not really want to loan the game to the weekend staff person and told him so, but the staff person took the game anyway and said he would return it in two weeks when he worked again. As they are talking, the weekend staff person comes into work, gives Robert his game disk, and tells Robert "thanks."..
Yes, the game disk is the property of Robert and the staff person “willfully withheld” the disk without legal authority.
-Test your knowledge "Meet Joel:
Joel is a young man who is diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He attends an adult day program where he met a new friend, Jill. Jill also attends the same day program and is diagnosed with depression. You are the facilitator of a group session at the day program. After group, Joel tells you that Jill has been “borrowing” money from him and now he is not able to pay his rent. Joel stated when he asks Jill for his money back, she gets upset with him and calls him names. This is very upsetting to Joel because he likes Jill. You’re not sure how much money Jill has borrowed, but you are concerned about Joel and his ability to say "no" to Jill the next time she asks for money. You are also concerned about Joel’s inability to pay his rent and fear he may get evicted...
-Incident: "
A resident’s family member alleges that her mother’s money has been stolen. According to the family member, she gave her mother, who is a resident of the facility, $50 one week ago so that her mother would have money to get her hair done. However, the money is no longer in the drawer and her mother has not had her hair done."
=Reporting maltreatment Mandated Reporting Policy for Vulnerable Adults Form PDF Contacting law enforcement "When a report is NOT required to the Common Entry Point (CEP)
A report is not required for any of the following events:.. Reporting maltreatment in a Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) licensed facility "..A mandated reporter must also submit a report to the Common Entry Point (CEP) to make an oral report of the incident, if reportable under the VAA... Reporting maltreatment in a Department of Human Services (DHS) licensed facility "..If you are a mandated reporter in a DHS licensed program and make an internal report to the facility designated reporter, you have met your mandated reporting responsibilities. It is the facility’s responsibility to determine whether your information will be reported to the CEP, and if so, make the report. The facility must also respond to you in writing within two working days regarding whether a report was made to the CEP. This written notice must be provided in a manner that protects your confidentiality as a reporter... Maltreatment investigations "Conducting maltreatment investigations
Investigator reviewing the case. There are three agencies that can take the lead in conducting the maltreatment investigation. MS 626.5572, Subd. 13 defines the LEAD AGENCY as:
The primary administrative agency responsible for investigating reports made under section MS 626.557.
(a) The Department of Health is the lead agency for the facilities which are licensed or are required to be licensed as hospitals, home care providers, nursing homes, residential care homes, or boarding care homes.
(b) The Department of Human Services is the lead agency for the programs licensed or required to be licensed as adult day care, adult foster care, programs for people with developmental disabilities, mental health programs or chemical health programs.
(c) The county social service agency or its designee is the lead agency for all other reports, including reports involving vulnerable adults receiving services from an unlicensed personal care provider organization under section MS 256.0659 (Laws of Minnesota, 2009, Chapter 79, Effective July 1, 2009). .. Confidentiality for mandated reportersSummaryQuiz
*took this on Friday, January 29th of 2010
"Northeast Residence, a non-profit organization caring for developmentally disabled children and adults, found themselves in a tight situation last year"
"(WCCO) What happened to a mentally disabled Minnesota man was vicious enough. One month ago police say a group of men kidnapped, robbed, beat and burned Justin Hamilton off a rural road in Dakota County.
He's now recovering from that unthinkable attack. But Hamilton's family discovered he's not the only survivor.
Investigators are worried about increasing violence against our more vulnerable neighbors.
Hundreds of cards of support flooded in for Justin after the attack. But dozens tell stories of violence that other vulnerable people have endured, much like Justin.
"Doctors can't be sure if I'll ever mentally fully recovery from this whole traumatic thing that has happened," Justin said.
Mary Hauck manages apartments for people with disabilities and last month she was stunned at the sigh of on mentally disabled resident.
"I could not recognize him, he had been beaten so severely," said Hauck.
She said that the resident left a store and was walking home. When he got to his apartment, two guys confronted him and tried to take his backpack. He snatched it back from them, ran away and tried to ditch them.
He hid between cars in a nearby parking lot but the guys found him and badly beat him.
"Bloody eyes, black and blue," described Hauck.
Other disabled residents are on edge after the attack.
"I feel very vulnerable, especially these days it seems like more and more assaults and crimes are happening with people with disabilities," said disabled resident Melissa Gleason.
"Our numbers in adult protection in the last three years have risen dramatically," said Hennepin County Adult Protection Supervisor Cynthia Carlson.
Just in Hennepin County, maltreatment reports went from 6,000 in 2005 to 8,000 so far this year; that's a 33 percent increase.
The county said the reason behind the increase is that more disabled people are moving out of group homes and into communities. Statistics show that 20 percent of disabled people are financially exploited as well.
"It's an easy prey," said Gleason.
Case workers say much of the abuse goes unreported because the victims are embarrassed and fear retaliation and more violence if they say anything.
Community members are urged to get involved and call police or county social service if they suspect a vulnerable adult is at risk."
"
The Library of Congress celebrates 2010 National Disability Employment Awareness Month by recognizing the contributions of disabled Americans to our society ...
"Tucked into Golden Gate Park's nursery, Elva's Greenhouse was the scene recently of a lively party. The greenhouse is Ben Oude Kamphuis' latest addition to Project Insight, the city program he directs that connects disabled people and gardening.
A freshly painted sign honors Elva Vergari, a Project Insight participant since its inception in 1994, who died last year. Gonzalo Garcia, a courtly Colombian participant, recalls her as "our Helen Keller, blind and deaf and a beautiful lady."
"She would have loved this," says one of Vergari's granddaughters, pointing out a photo of her grandmother dancing with Oude Kamphuis....
Park employees, including carpenters and plumbers, donated time and skills to refurbish it. They even got a deal on pavers from South Beach Harbor for wheelchair-accessible flooring.
Oude Kamphuis gives special credit to Sean Corritore, a part-time staffer at San Francisco's Recreation and Park Department, for the heavy lifting: "He helps me out so much with the hard labor I can't do because of my back. If it hadn't been for Sean, this wouldn't have happened."
A dedicated scrounger, Oude Kamphuis found a 550-gallon water tank "just laying in the boneyard" and rigged it to collect runoff from the greenhouse roof. "I want to make it a green center," he says. "We're looking at doing solar and wind energy, with little windmills on top of the roof. Then we'll be off the grid."...
"Throughout the week, 70 different people with disabilities use the greenhouse, from elementary school age to seniors," he says. "People come out to do a little seeding, a little planting, a little eating. It becomes a social network for everyone."
The greenhouse is just one part of Project Insight's operations.
=>Massachussets
Ablevision visits a greenhouse
