Matthew
I use to work in a Group home for the mentally and physically disabled. We didn't even call them disabled as
that was downgrading ... to us it was 'Participants'
conditions.
Living in a small, small town (7participants in our GH) most of them would come to us from larger communities
and it was unbelievable how they must of been treated there. To see them now today with us being able to give
them 'one-on-one' attention we had several that were able to move out of the home to their own place.
At staff meetings sexual abuse would be part of it and I just couldn't conceive it!! Our boss being around
visiting several different homes tried convincing us that yet it was and has been. Whew.....it made me feel
awful and could shed a tear for them as just couldn't picture it. To me they were part of our family and
teaching them and getting them to do different things, when accomplished was a thrill to staff that I can not
describe. The ones that moved to their own place a staff would spend a couple hours with them, helping them
get groceries, making their menu for the week and seeing if there was anything they needed. At first it was
every day, now it is only once or twice a week and sometimes just a phone call is all they need.
Matthew, keep up the volunteering, it at least gets you out of your home. That is how I got my job in the
first place. My boss saw how I was able to communicate with the participants and basically asked me if wanted
to start working there. At that time my seizure were really bad still and memory not good, but I was able to
do the basics. Doing it got my mind off my seizures and gave me something to be proud of and believe it or
not my seizures slowly got under control.
Take care and keep a smile on your face
Julie
Julie Hope
epilepsyhealth@
http://www.2betrhea
----- Original Message -----
From: "Matthew Ford" <matthewford@
To: <epilepsy@yahoogroup
Sent: Saturday, June 06, 2009 3:32 PM
Subject: [epilepsy] Re: Disability, does anyone receive it?
I got put on Disability shortly after I got diagnosed in my early years.
My Dad was a GP so he and my Neurologist decided that's what's best.
When I was 14 I got "fixed" so I can't have kids, and being under legal age,
they didn't need my consent.
When I was 16 and tried to find work, I got classed Unemployable for Public
Safety. Our great gvernment said the safety of thousands is more important
than the pleasures of just one.
When I finished High School, I wanted to live on my own.
My parents put me in a Home for the Handicapped from 1982 (age 20) til 1996
(age 34).
Once I was gone, my parents were able to have guests over without hiding me
in my room.
Got sexually abused by a Gay Caregiver in that Care Home, who loves young
men.
Reported it to the Police, but nobody would take my word seriously as I have
a Brain disorder.
He used a hole punch on my foreskin as a warning for if I ever call the cops
on him again.
Parents saw the damage and called the Police, but the law says "No Witness,
No case!".
After having Brain Surgery to stop the seizures, I was allowed to live on my
own.
The Care Home had a lot of people waiting to get in, and I no longer needed
looking after.
But I'm still living on Disability Income ($906 a month) to rent an
apartment.
Tried to find work but due to Liability Issues, employers refuse to hire me.
.just in case!
When it comes time for Community Events seeking Volunteers, a lot of people
with disabilities show up! That's about the only places that will take us!
I'm now 46 and I've never held a job. Not even Walmart would will take me!
Just continue doing many years of Volunteering.
Matthew
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------
Just a friendly reminder: Please remember to sign your post and remember to clean up messages when you reply
to them. This is especially important if you are on digest. This not only helps out the list owner but, it
makes messages much easier to read when they arrive in our inboxes.
Yahoo! Groups Links
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe
No comments:
Post a Comment