Holidays

So you phone somewhere and people are always on holidays!  Yesterday I phoned somebody for my home care call.  The regular person wasn't coming.  So I phoned the Coordinator to see what was going on (after waiting for 15 minutes to be absolutely sure they weren't coming).  And she was on holidays until next week or the week after.  She said on her machine to call the Case Coordinator instead.  So, I did this. 

And he said he was on holidays on his machine until later that day.  So, I pressed zero for the reception because I think going to the washroom is something that requires "immediate assistance", don't you? 

And so my worker talked to the receptionist who went "hold on, I'll just transfer you to the case coordinator." who she just called like 5 times just so she could hear all the details of the message he left which said, to call the reception if you needed "immediate assistance" (and it might have said to call the coordinator, which we have established was already gone on holidays). 

Eventually, he got back to the office and emailed me that he talked to the coordinator's sub who phoned me back and arranged something...after I figured out the afternoon on my own. 

But, this could have all been prevented if I knew who the replacement was and how to phone them...but apparently they always change..so they can never tell me who (!) and this day in age, maybe it's confidential!  Everything seems to be that way.  But it was a pretty funny day..you never think they are all going to go on holidays at once!!

I'm just happy I wasn't training anyone, that might have freaked them out a bit:) 

Police Handcuff 9 year old boy with autism following meltdown

http://news.sympatico.ca/oped/coffee-talk/toronto_cops_handcuff_9-year-old_following_tantrum/16d79769

I think if they really needed some intervention; they should call them but don't handcuff the poor guy for crying out loud!  Did he kill anybody?  No.  He just threw some chairs and splashed some paint on the floor.  So, why are they handcuffing him?  If he didn't do anything criminally (against the law).  Then why would they handcuff him?  In a pair of adult handcuffs!! I guess they didn't know what to do. 

Maybe police should have special training on dealing with situations that involve people with mental disabilities like autism.  So that in a situation like this they can go in and know exactly what to do.  Like putting the person in a quiet place by themselves so that they can work it out and come back when they're ready.  NOT trying to calm them down and talk to them intensely.  Putting a little boy in handcuffs makes him seem bad and them seem like they're mad at him instead of wanting to help work out the situation.  People need to know about autism so they can help.  There needs to be more education in the Government about it. 

Dignity

Today at my work we have a Dignity Forum.  And I think dignity is very important because as people with disabilities we don't get that enough.  All I ask for is to be treated like a regular adult.  That shouldn't be a lot to ask but it is sometimes.  It is important, especially for non-verbal people to have their needs and wants known somehow.  Because it's really important that we give them dignity and respect even if they don't speak or seem like they can do anything.  Which I don't believe, I think that everyone can do something, even if it's small.  People don't see that though.  And that annoys me.  That they look at people like medical cases instead of like people with hearts and minds and souls. 

One time, I went to a doctor that was doing a procedure for me that wasn't very pleasant sometimes and I thought it had to hurt and my next doctor said no, it doesn't have to hurt that much!  It just has to hurt a little bit.  The other Doctor was not paying attention to how I felt and actually was doing something wrong!! And this Doctor knew exactly what it was and fixed it right away because she was talking to me and listening to what I said and asking if I was ok lots of times.  Normally, that would really bother me, people asking are you ok? are you ok? all the time but when you are having work like that done, it is actually nice to be asked and not jabbed without notice!!!

I hope you all have a very Dignified Day!!!

Marshmellows

On Love That Max I was reading a comment from somebody and I'm not trying to be rude; but I didn't appreciate it at all.  (Max who is 8 and has Cerebral Palsy painted a paper plate by himself for the first time using marshmellows that his Occupational Therapist suggested to him).  This person said that marshmellows should only be used to feed people because there are starving children in the world and not for OT activities.  What if you had never painted before (and you really really wanted to)??? Or think of something that you really want to do and you can't do it and all of the sudden there is a way that you CAN do these things...wouldn't you buy anything to be able to make you do it??? want to acheive this goal. 

 This makes me angry because I have an OT that is very creative and I get very upset when I can't do things.  If that is the only feasible way that I could do something; it would make me happy, really happy!!! In my opinion, whatever works, works!!

kilometres for communication

I loved this presentation that I went to. It's about these two boys that are cycling across Canada to raise awareness about alternative augmentative communication. It is really cool, I think, and I think there has to be more awareness raised because two of the people at the presentation had communication devices taken away from them by teachers because the voice was annoying. (!) This is like me putting tape over your mouth because it's like taking their voice away and how would you like it if somebody made fun of your voice? This really makes me mad because everybody has the fundamental human right to communicate. If you don't give them a chance to communicate, then they can't. Alot of people think that non-verbal people are dumb and stupid and don't understand what you're saying. Even the simple things, simple wants and needs, like thirst, hunger, need for sleep, etc. If people had the ability to communicate even these simple needs, they would feel more like humans. Not aliens. This is the blog for Kilmotres for Communication:
http://kilometresforcommunication.wordpress.com/
Check it out!

Talk to you guys later! Leave me comments if you have time!

Good Stuff for People with Disabilities

Hello Everyone,

I thought this was SO NEAT!!! And I would reccomend (for the Enter Van).  That you get the 500 dollar straps because their the best ones ever! And I would never go back..to the other ones.  You don't tip or move a bit! 
Enjoy!
http://www.lovethatmax.com/2011/05/stuff-for-kids-with-special-needs-lots.html

Metro - Winnipeg : Video : iPad gives non-verbal kids a voice

Metro - Winnipeg : Video : iPad gives non-verbal kids a voice

This video is really cool because it's about about giving non verbal kids a chance to have a voice and pay attention better in school and let them know what they really want, you don't have to guess anymore.