It was said by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr, "A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions."
Over the past months, I have been actively involved in creating the Supported Self-Employment/Worker's Coop program and Resource Center as an addition to the Reach Inc services-Eau Claire, WI-for adults with disabilities. With the commitment of the leaders of Reach Inc, and colleagues who have collaborated with me to prepare the program, we now have a Supported Self-Employment/Resource Center up and running with the first five individuals going through the process to create a business.
Among the commitment's our team has made is to make sure the potential business owners come into the office to find us as "business mentors". Not job coaches or employment specialists or counselors. They come into the office on a level playing field of being directly involved in the development of their own business and receiving "mentorship".
We are part of their business team providing them with technical advice to use the computer and Internet with our technical mentor. There is a marketing mentor, business plan development, service provision, bookkeeping, etc, amongst the team members to alleviate the overwhelm of the aspects of a developing/on-going business.
As I've conducted the weekly class sessions prior to the break-out time for individual mentoring, the mentor team have discovered a real change in the members. First, they collaborated in naming the group as B.E.S.T.. The acronym means Building Effective Self-employment Techniques The inaugural members took ownership of the group. Secondly, they began to share their encouragement and support to one another.
We saw those different abilities function by helping those who needed a little assistance because of their disability. They shared the success of one another with cheers.
Most profoundly our team began recognizing real healthy emotional changes within each member. One of the members who challenged everything began to take on a more positive attitude. Another openly discussed her understanding to present herself in a different style of communication. They began to see their glass half full instead of half empty developing a dimension of belief that despite their disability, they had ability to achieve success.
As the team has given these individuals support and encouragement we see a "stretching" of experience which engages the members. They realize they are part of building a program whereupon not only will they create a business of their own; but, they will add a dimension becoming mentors for those who follow. They are not only the creators of their business but also the creators of their support group B.E.S.T.
No question, the development of this program is like birthing a child for this team leader. Countless hours to generate donations to secure computers, equipment, community business mentors,etc., along with bringing together a committed mentor team has gone into the start-up of this program.
Yet, this experience has also stretched this team leader. This program will not survive if it centers around one person; it will survive long after me as the mentor team evolves, and the B.E.S.T group grows and commitment expands.
We, as a team, recognize it takes the investment of the members to share their experience developing their business. We also recognize the greatest gift coming out of this experience is the development of self-confidence, trust, new experiences, and the self-discovery that disability is merely a hurdle to overcome toward their new dimension of life and business owner.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Walking with the Voices
Every time I meet with him, I marvel at his gentle spirit and endurance; and, I see in his eyes the fatigue of managing to cope with the voices. Despite the medication, the voices do not stop.
His deepest wish--every moment of his existence--is for the voices to stop. They speak day and night. They use swear words. He does not. He says, "They use God's name in vain. They shouldn't do that." He would never verbalize using God's name in vain; he loves God even with the voices that never go away.
He wonders outloud why the voices are in his head. Then he looks at me and asks, "You know I'm mentally ill, right?" I respond I know he struggles with the voices; but I also know he is the bravest, strongest, and compassionate man I know. I'm not lying. He is. I tell him no matter what the voices say, he is a good man.
The most important people in his life are his family. He lives on his own--his family makes sure he is a part of the activities they enjoy. He loves to fish Walleye. I acknowledge Walleye are my favorite fish to eat, and he smiles with "they are good."
He would like to learn how to ride horses despite the tinge of fear of being on top of an animal. He muses he knows how to drive his truck, but not sure about how to drive a horse. "I'd like to learn anyway," he says, "I like horses." I share I like horses too. My Mom raised Arabians when I was a child. He responds with a warm smile, "you know why I like horses?" I respond I think so. He says, "Because they seem free." I wonder to myself if he imagines they don't have to listen to voices.
This man has a part-time job. He wants to add more employment hours to his week. He has all the same desires to have enough money to meet his needs and wants. His real wish is to be a part of the community just like everyone else. His quiet demeanor does not let on he struggles with the voices. There are only a few moments, that for a time, he can be distracted enough not to hear them.
I have tried to imagine what it is like to never hear the quiet of night time; the hush while sitting in a church pew during silent prayer; to hear just the rustle of the wind in creation. I cannot imagine trying to go to sleep with the inability to block incessant voices in my head. For him, the voices continue even in his efforts to go to sleep. He tells me he has to be completely fatigued to get them to fade enough for sleeping.
I share this story with you to give you a chance to imagine what it is like to have schizophrenia. I write this to elicit a sense of compassion rather than fear of a mental illness that affects most often individuals in early adulthood or late adolescence. Onset often is seen among those with high IQ's and during their early college years. Some at later onset.
Modern medications have offered for most the ability to calm if not dissipate completely the voices in their consciousness. I suspect you would be surprised to discover some are among your co-workers, high-achieving individuals with well-qualified reputations.
I worked with a man who was an electrical engineer for ten years with a major corporation before the disease overtook him. Finally, he trusted the Rx's enough to bring him back to become able to take on a new position successfully.
The intention of this piece to create an awareness and compassion. I encourage you to change your perception of someone with schizophrenia from someone you fear to someone to embrace as a member of the community living life with all the same opportunities as you and I. Recognize the abilities and negate the negative stereotype that has followed someone with this diagnosis. Remember, everyday this person walks his journey with courage, determination, and the wish to be accepted.
From the Peace Pilgrim is this encouragement, "From all the things you read and from the people you meet, take what is good---" See the good in the individual who walks their journey with schizophrenia.
His deepest wish--every moment of his existence--is for the voices to stop. They speak day and night. They use swear words. He does not. He says, "They use God's name in vain. They shouldn't do that." He would never verbalize using God's name in vain; he loves God even with the voices that never go away.
He wonders outloud why the voices are in his head. Then he looks at me and asks, "You know I'm mentally ill, right?" I respond I know he struggles with the voices; but I also know he is the bravest, strongest, and compassionate man I know. I'm not lying. He is. I tell him no matter what the voices say, he is a good man.
The most important people in his life are his family. He lives on his own--his family makes sure he is a part of the activities they enjoy. He loves to fish Walleye. I acknowledge Walleye are my favorite fish to eat, and he smiles with "they are good."
He would like to learn how to ride horses despite the tinge of fear of being on top of an animal. He muses he knows how to drive his truck, but not sure about how to drive a horse. "I'd like to learn anyway," he says, "I like horses." I share I like horses too. My Mom raised Arabians when I was a child. He responds with a warm smile, "you know why I like horses?" I respond I think so. He says, "Because they seem free." I wonder to myself if he imagines they don't have to listen to voices.
This man has a part-time job. He wants to add more employment hours to his week. He has all the same desires to have enough money to meet his needs and wants. His real wish is to be a part of the community just like everyone else. His quiet demeanor does not let on he struggles with the voices. There are only a few moments, that for a time, he can be distracted enough not to hear them.
I have tried to imagine what it is like to never hear the quiet of night time; the hush while sitting in a church pew during silent prayer; to hear just the rustle of the wind in creation. I cannot imagine trying to go to sleep with the inability to block incessant voices in my head. For him, the voices continue even in his efforts to go to sleep. He tells me he has to be completely fatigued to get them to fade enough for sleeping.
I share this story with you to give you a chance to imagine what it is like to have schizophrenia. I write this to elicit a sense of compassion rather than fear of a mental illness that affects most often individuals in early adulthood or late adolescence. Onset often is seen among those with high IQ's and during their early college years. Some at later onset.
Modern medications have offered for most the ability to calm if not dissipate completely the voices in their consciousness. I suspect you would be surprised to discover some are among your co-workers, high-achieving individuals with well-qualified reputations.
I worked with a man who was an electrical engineer for ten years with a major corporation before the disease overtook him. Finally, he trusted the Rx's enough to bring him back to become able to take on a new position successfully.
The intention of this piece to create an awareness and compassion. I encourage you to change your perception of someone with schizophrenia from someone you fear to someone to embrace as a member of the community living life with all the same opportunities as you and I. Recognize the abilities and negate the negative stereotype that has followed someone with this diagnosis. Remember, everyday this person walks his journey with courage, determination, and the wish to be accepted.
From the Peace Pilgrim is this encouragement, "From all the things you read and from the people you meet, take what is good---" See the good in the individual who walks their journey with schizophrenia.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Ability not Disability
One of the responsibilities of my professional life is working with other businesses who have the understanding to recognize the valued added employee who has a disability.
It is not always easy for a business to overlook the disability and see a liability because of pre-conceived perception.Yet, without a doubt I have discovered so many compassionate demonstrations of ethical businesses who look beyond the disability and recognize the "ability" of the employee with a disability.
They work with me and others to overcome barriers to the workplace, to integrate the workplace, and to prepare co-workers to become natural supports when needed.Some come to the workplace with obvious physical or cognitive disabilities; while others have issues of autism, ADD/ADHD, or cerebral palsy, etc which hide the high cognition of the person but affects distract from the actual high level of skills and intellect.
Among my richest experiences was discovering a man with Asberger's Syndrome who displayed unusal affects and the system tended to believe his job placement would be janitorial. As I worked with this young man I discovered his love for books, his skills at the computer, and by developing a trusting relationship I discovered an intelligence at high level once skills of communication between us were developed. This young man's IQ is 134.
When I first met him, he responded in "yups & nopes", and heavy blinking of his eyes when nervous. We worked on his affects and practiced interview skills. He could never get through a job interview up to that time.
Finally, he was able to interview effectively and got a job with a computer software/web design company, and today he is going through the Self-Employment program I lead. Not only that, but he attended a conference with me two years ago and sat on the platform with myself and others to tell his story.
As I write this story, I realize that with his consent and willingness to accompany me on this journey with him, we did NOT compromise on his ability, but we were determined to have others recognize his ability!
Sometimes compromise can be negated with determination to overcome!
It is not always easy for a business to overlook the disability and see a liability because of pre-conceived perception.Yet, without a doubt I have discovered so many compassionate demonstrations of ethical businesses who look beyond the disability and recognize the "ability" of the employee with a disability.
They work with me and others to overcome barriers to the workplace, to integrate the workplace, and to prepare co-workers to become natural supports when needed.Some come to the workplace with obvious physical or cognitive disabilities; while others have issues of autism, ADD/ADHD, or cerebral palsy, etc which hide the high cognition of the person but affects distract from the actual high level of skills and intellect.
Among my richest experiences was discovering a man with Asberger's Syndrome who displayed unusal affects and the system tended to believe his job placement would be janitorial. As I worked with this young man I discovered his love for books, his skills at the computer, and by developing a trusting relationship I discovered an intelligence at high level once skills of communication between us were developed. This young man's IQ is 134.
When I first met him, he responded in "yups & nopes", and heavy blinking of his eyes when nervous. We worked on his affects and practiced interview skills. He could never get through a job interview up to that time.
Finally, he was able to interview effectively and got a job with a computer software/web design company, and today he is going through the Self-Employment program I lead. Not only that, but he attended a conference with me two years ago and sat on the platform with myself and others to tell his story.
As I write this story, I realize that with his consent and willingness to accompany me on this journey with him, we did NOT compromise on his ability, but we were determined to have others recognize his ability!
Sometimes compromise can be negated with determination to overcome!
Friday, September 5, 2008
Do They Hear the Voices of the Disabled?
Well, the presidential conventions are over and the campaigns are in full swing. The rhetoric has been strewn about who is the most experienced, capable of making critical decisions, protecting our country, and even a bit about our economy.
Yet, the idea of strong health care reform has seemingly been on the back burner. Educational subsidy to give our children a competitive edge in our country and the world has been less than even skirted.
Even more deafening has been the silence on behalf of the disabled population of our citizens. Federal and state budgets in crisis turn to balancing them by reducing or cutting programs that serve our disabled who have the least recourse to articulate how it affects their lives. Lives that have had to make extreme effort to become integrated in the "abled" community of our towns, cities, states, and nation.
What have the elected men and women stood for when it comes to the disabled who seek employment, health care, a place to live? These are rights of living in our country, yet so many disabled are relegated to being ignored, overlooked, and enduring a loss of dignity.
Familes of disabled are struggling to give their sons, daughters, parents, and friends who are disabled caregiving. How difficult it is for caregivers to maintain their own jobs without the support of professional caregivers in community based programs. Why? Because the reimbursement for professional caregivers is often close to minimum wage.
Quality care for the disabled is not reimbursed at the level for the work provided. Across the country home health caregivers are paid a dismal pittance while they provide quality care to help disabled remain independent.
So while the campaign rhetoric persists about being for the people; some of the people who are overlooked remain unheard. It is time for those of us who are "able" to urge our politicians at all levels of government to "listen" and take "action" on behalf of those who are disabled. Cut the frivolous "ear marked" projects in bills and turn that money into quality care for disabled to live in dignity.
What is your willingness to stand up for those who are less able? Do something that will make a difference that really counts...
Maralene
Yet, the idea of strong health care reform has seemingly been on the back burner. Educational subsidy to give our children a competitive edge in our country and the world has been less than even skirted.
Even more deafening has been the silence on behalf of the disabled population of our citizens. Federal and state budgets in crisis turn to balancing them by reducing or cutting programs that serve our disabled who have the least recourse to articulate how it affects their lives. Lives that have had to make extreme effort to become integrated in the "abled" community of our towns, cities, states, and nation.
What have the elected men and women stood for when it comes to the disabled who seek employment, health care, a place to live? These are rights of living in our country, yet so many disabled are relegated to being ignored, overlooked, and enduring a loss of dignity.
Familes of disabled are struggling to give their sons, daughters, parents, and friends who are disabled caregiving. How difficult it is for caregivers to maintain their own jobs without the support of professional caregivers in community based programs. Why? Because the reimbursement for professional caregivers is often close to minimum wage.
Quality care for the disabled is not reimbursed at the level for the work provided. Across the country home health caregivers are paid a dismal pittance while they provide quality care to help disabled remain independent.
So while the campaign rhetoric persists about being for the people; some of the people who are overlooked remain unheard. It is time for those of us who are "able" to urge our politicians at all levels of government to "listen" and take "action" on behalf of those who are disabled. Cut the frivolous "ear marked" projects in bills and turn that money into quality care for disabled to live in dignity.
What is your willingness to stand up for those who are less able? Do something that will make a difference that really counts...
Maralene
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Welcome
Welcome to Adventures in Living with Compassion.
It is the purpose of this blog to share conversation about living our lives with compassion as we fulfill the purpose of journey as professionals, caregivers, supported employment service specialists, friends and family. Each of us have connection in some way with individuals who are confronting challenges emotionally, physically, or cognitively. Most of all each of us are confronting issues of our own loss or observing or comforting the losses others are facing.
As a journalist, I have observed and written many stories. It is the effect of storytelling that helps us recognize the reality of others experiences with the joy and sorrows of living with disabilites of various descriptions. It is my hope real stories will contribute to our awareness of the required compassion in our communication, actions, decisions, and understanding of those we serve.
I will share with you real stories about real people. Your responses and experiences are welcome to help all of us join together in the Adventures of Living with Compassion. Looking at life as an adventure of mission, joy, overcoming barriers, and ultimately victory of making a difference in our family and our professional endeavors.
Sharing the wisdom of our Adventures in Living with Compassion can only move each of us toward fulfilling the mission we have been given in our lifetime.
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