Why do people see wheelchair and see you differently?

Why do people see wheelchair and see you differently?

So today, I went talking to somebody and I told them I have a job and they look at me like I was some alien!!! I often wonder why they do it, do you have any idea? Leave a comment if you do.  

Homecare

Homecare is so screwed up. The workers are nice, but the office is odd. On Monday they decided that they would cancel my essential service to do more training. Training is fine and good, but don't cancel essential services, and don't give me half an hour notice to figure something out. I was able to figure something out, but in my opinion if you have to cancel homecare for a while, you should tell the person that is receiving the care at least a day in advance, or more. It was so frustrating - phoning and wondering , and one person said one thing, and another person said another thing.

Annoying

This is a post from Caleigh's blog. I do not agree with what they are doing, and the supported typing is not putting words into somebody's mouth. I think that Caleigh knows what she wants, especially when Holly her mom says that she was choosing things that Holly didn't really want to do. That shows me that she can make her own decisions about different things, like what she wants to do. I don't think those people that she's working with really know what they're doing and they really need to get somebody else involved that is willing to listen to what Holly has to say. An ipad is definitely considered a communications device. They have it in my program where I go. This upsets me so much because I had similar experiences.

Communication

i am really angry because as I was reading Caleighs Corner; I came across..her getting her ipad taken away without asking.  When her parents said they were sending her to school, they were afraid of that happening and so was I.  I think that is there is no possible way for her to get a mount, they really need to talk about access because; I'll tape your mouth shut and see how you like it!  It's kind of ironic that it was a speech therapist that took it away.  They need to listen to the parents because they know more about this.  It makes me very angry because it is like taking your voice away and a communication device replaces or enhances your voice.  And nobody should be able to take your device away.  Or at least tell you where they're taking it so you know and let you know when they'll bring it back.  I know of three people now that have gotten there devices taken away.  This should not be an issue guys!   This is somebody's way of communication!!  To all the teachers out there: PLEASE DO NOT TAKE PEOPLES COMMUNICATION DEVICES AWAY!! EVER!!!  If it really bothers you maybe you could figure out a way to make it work.  You can change the voices on them, make it quieter, etc.  I hope Caleigh has a better time.  And if her parents read this, I'm so sorry that this happened. 

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!!!