In the Limelight: Susan Berch, Former AADD Board Member

At the June Board of Directors meeting, self-advocate and AADD Board Member Susan Berch read a letter to share the impact the Agency has made on her life.  We were deeply touched by Susan's sweet letter, and asked her permission to share it with our readers. 

Dear Dave,

I just wanted you to know you have impacted my life in such a positive way.

When I was a young kid, I didn't speak up very often.  I guess I just didn't think about it at the time.  I had a difficult time making it in middle and high school because I was shy and it wasn't easy making friends.  I had a few, but I never got asked to dances or the prom.  It didn't bother me much at the time. Years later, I went away to a Vocational School called Warm Springs.  I made several friends there.  One of my best friends lives in Athens and we take trips together.  We've traveled to Alaska, Hawaii and in two weeks we are going on a cruise.

When I moved back home, I joined some social groups and made friends.  I obtained a job at Jewish Family & Career services in July of 1993 and moved out on my own December of 1993. Several years later, my friend, Linda Danzig told me about this wonderful organization called Partners in Policymaking.  She told me I should get involved and she kept talking about it.  She encouraged me to apply, which I did.  When I received the letter that I was accepted, I was so excited.  I learned so much about people's rights with disabilities, the challenges we face and so much more.  The one thing I have found most helpful to me is to become more assertive.  That's always been a hard obstacle for me, but since I have graduated from Partners, it has become easier.

Everyone should be given a chance to live on their own, obtain a job, make friends, vote, travel, take public transportation, etc.  It's not always easy and it takes us longer to comprehend tasks, but we can do it if we are given the opportunity.  I feel honored to have been on the Board of AADD and learn what AADD is about.  I want to thank you, Dave, personally for all the encouragement you have given me.  I wish you well on your future endeavors.  I will miss you. I also want to thank the Board for being part of your committee and helping others.

Gratefully,
Susan Berch

Classic rock buff Susan Berch has served as an enthusiastic member of AADD's Board of Directors for six years.  When asked why she became so involved with the organization, she told us "because AADD has helped so many people with developmental disabilities who desperately need their services when it comes to obtaining employment, finding housing, and regaining custody of their children."

Now that she has some extra time, this summer Susan hopes to make a difference in children's lives by becoming a member of Happy Tails Pet Therapy along with her furry friend, Gabby.  When Susan is not spending quality time with Gabby, she enjoys traveling, reading, going to the movies, watching TV and frequenting ethnic restaurants.  If she could trade place with any animal, she would be a dog, joking, "I'm jealous of all the attention they receive."  Her personal hero is First Lady, Michelle Obama for her understanding and compassionate character.

An Open Letter to the Dr. Phil Show: People with Disabilities Have a Voice

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Peter Berns

Dear Dr. Phil,

What the disability community can do:

• Learn more about the episode.
• Read about the episode.
• Dr. Phil on Twitter.
• Send Dr. Phil a message on Twitter. See our example.
• Download a copy of this letter.

I am writing on behalf of the millions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in our nation and their loved ones that may have seen the April 13, 2012 Dr. Phil episode entitled “Deadly Consequences.” As the nation’s largest organization serving and advocating on behalf of people with I/DD, with a network of over 700 chapters across the country, we’ve received many outraged complaints about the content of this program, and after viewing it, I felt compelled to contact you to voice our concerns.

Frankly, we are appalled by the superficial coverage given to a subject that is, literally, a matter of life or death for Jeffrey, Janet and many other people with severe physical and cognitive disabilities. Your show did a great disservice to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as others who develop severe disabilities throughout their lifetimes as a consequence of traumatic brain injury, trauma experienced in serving our country, and the natural process of aging. Moreover, asking the audience to serve as Dr. Phil’s death panel and vote on whether Jeffrey’s and Janet’s lives are worth living was simply wrong. It is reassuring that the majority of people taking the online poll on your website reject the audience’s conclusion.

Annette Corriveau is entitled to free speech. But so are her son Jeffrey and daughter Janet. While they cannot physically speak for themselves, your program still could have provided for their voice to be heard. It should not be presumed that people who can’t speak are totally unable to communicate. Perhaps you could have interviewed the caregivers who interact with them on a day to day basis and could speak with authority about how Jeffrey and Janet communicate what they are feeling and about their quality of life. Often it is more a matter of our learning how to listen and to interpret the other cues that individuals with severe disabilities are able to provide. Your show focused only on Annette’s opinion, and while she is their mother, she admitted that she sees them only every other month and institutionalized her children many years ago.

You also could have interviewed other people with severe disabilities who, like Jeffrey and Janet, were written off as having no value and no abilities, yet who have succeeded in living in and in participating in their communities. Too often people with severe disabilities are dismissed, yet when given a chance and provided appropriate supports they can rise above the low expectations that others have for them. You might, for example, have interviewed other parents who fought to get their son or daughter out of an institution and have been amazed at how they have succeeded far beyond what anyone expected.

The show would also have been enriched by interviewing some of the many experts that have a deep understanding of individuals like Jeffrey and Janet and extensive experience in supporting people with severe disabilities to live meaningful lives in the community. There are families all across the nation fighting to get their sons and daughters with severe disabilities out of institutions and get them the home and community based services they need. Their perspective, and that of advocates in the disability rights movement, would have added balance to the show. Your viewers need to understand the history of oppression of people with severe disabilities in the country and how far we’ve come. The viewer has no idea of the dark history of the eugenics movement in the United States and globally because you didn’t show it.

The Arc is the largest national charity federation advocating for and serving people with I/DD, including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy and other diagnoses. The Arc has a network of over 700 chapters across the country promoting and protecting the human rights of people with I/DD and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes and without regard to diagnosis.

We can serve as a resource for future shows, providing technical assistance and suggesting guests (experts in the I/DD field, self-advocates, professional support staff, and families) to help explain the complex issues facing people with I/DD for the audience who may have no interaction with people with disabilities in their daily lives. The result of your failure to include this perspective left the impression on your millions of viewers that Jeffrey, Janet, and other citizens with disabilities don’t have a voice and rights. They do.

The Dr. Phil show has a responsibility to get it right for your viewers, including people with I/DD. On behalf of people with I/DD and their families, we ask that you plan another show that would demonstrate this history, illustrating how people with severe disabilities who were previously relegated to institutions have defied all expectations.

The timing is right for you to put these issues in the living rooms of Americans, as fifty years ago, President Kennedy made a call to the nation to help bring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities out of the shadows, to give them opportunities to lead productive, quality lives. We are also approaching the 30th anniversary of the state of New York announcing the closure of the nation’s most notorious institution, Willowbrook, which was an overcrowded, filthy, deplorable warehouse for thousands of children for decades and the site of a highly controversial Hepatitis A study starting in the mid-1950s through the 1970s.

The Arc stands ready and willing to assist you in preparing a program that accurately portrays the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, shows the rich history of this movement, and makes the public aware of just how similar people with severe disabilities are to you and me.
I hope you take The Arc up on our offer to be a resource for you so that you can live up to your duty as a journalist and so that people with I/DD have a seat at your table in upcoming episodes.

Sincerely,
Peter V. Berns
CEO, The Arc of the United States

TASH Webinar for Adults with Disabilities

TASH has a training opportunity on positive behavior support in community settings for adults with disabilities. It’s a webinar called Changing Reputations by Building Relationships & Responsibilities, and it focuses on the role of PBS and self-management in creating an environment where people take control of their lives and support services.

They will be offering this webinar May 7-21, and the cost starts at just $35 for more than a full hour of content. During that two week period, you can view this webinar as many times as you like, or ask questions via a forum on our website. The webinar features Toby and Jose, two self-advocates from California who have experienced positive outcomes in their communities, along with Scott Shepard, director of Avenues Supported Living Services.

If you know someone who would benefit from this content, please forward this message to them. You can find a registration form here (click to download) or visit www.tash.org/webinar.

Georgia Inclusive Post-Secondary Education Consortium

Georgia Inclusive Post-Secondary Education Consortium

 Statewide Meeting

  Tuesday, April 24, 2012

 9:30am Registration

 10:00am-12:30pm Meeting

 Indian Creek Lodge

 900 South Indian Creek Drive
Stone Mountain, GA 30083

 

 This engaging day will include:

 Karla Wade, Transition Specialist

 Chris Hunnicutt, Sr., Parent

 Chris Hunnicutt, Jr., KSU Graduate

 Stacey Ramirez, Center for Leadership in Disability

 The Georgia Inclusive Post-Secondary Education Consortium seeks to create opportunities for students who have historically not had access to post-secondary education. We are committed to providing resources for individuals, families, colleges & universities, and agencies around the goal of inclusive-post secondary education.

 To Register:

 http://aprilpostsecondarymeeting.eventbrite.com

SAVE THE DATE: May 17, 2012, Making It Happen: Post-Secondary Education in Georgia with Cate Weir, Think College

Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/178276312254418/

Be Yourself!: Living with a Disability in the Workplace

I remember the first time I entered the workforce; I had to complete an internship in order to receive my Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Georgia State University. I was extremely nervous because I didn’t really know how my future co-workers would treat me because of my physical disability. To my delight, they treated me with the utmost respect, and even made accommodations for me as I needed them. As the weeks passed, I became more comfortable around my colleagues and my anxiety soon subsided.  As a woman living with Cerebral Palsy, I would like to share my experiences and impart some helpful tips so others with developmental disabilities can better adjust and be more comfortable in the workplace.

1.  Be Yourself- People tend to have more respect for you when you are being genuine (while still being professional, of course)!  Being yourself shows that you possess integrity and confidence.  Nobody can be a better you than you!
   
   
2. Be Approachable- I don’t know many people who prefer working with someone who is unfriendly or unapproachable. Try to have a positive attitude at all costs!  Your attitude may be an important factor that brings the raise you so desire or that promotion you have been waiting a year to get. Your temperament says a lot about your character especially when dealing with adversity and conflict within the work place. Though it may be a cliché, it’s true that your attitude can determine your altitude.  Be the person who puts a smile on your co-workers’ faces— it leaves a lasting impression and can help when collaborating in the future.
   
3. Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help- Don’t let your disability discourage you from asking your colleagues for help when there is something you are unsure about.  Co-workers ask each other for assistance all the time and you will find that they will probably need your help with something they may not understand!
   
4. Be Confident- While in the work place, be confident in your skills and knowledge.  Do your assigned work to the best of your ability. If your supervisor criticizes your work, understand that they are trying to help you become better at what you do.  Someone who is confident should be able to take constructive criticism and use it to perfect their craft.

I hope these four tips that I have discussed will better prepare you when it comes to working with your colleagues. If you are friendly, willing to learn and confident, then your abilities will shine through and your hard work will pay off!

Rosalyn graduated from Georgia State University with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work.  She volunteers with AADD every Tuesday and Thursday, assisting the development department with numerous organization projects and bringing creative ideas to AADD’s Social Media platforms, recently introducing Mythbuster Mondays on Facebook.  She is originally from Lithonia, Georgia, where she has lived for the past 24 years.  She is a self-proclaimed “book nerd”, who loves to read and watch movies.

LIFE Learning is for Everyone

LIFE Learning Is For Everyone: The True Story of How South Carolina Came to be a Leader in Providing Opportunities for Postsecondary Education to Young Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

By Donald Bailey

The True Story of How South Carolina Came to be a Leader in Providing Opportunities for Post-secondary Education to Young Adults with Intellectual Disabilities.

Ever wonder what happens to autism in other cultures?

I am looking for participants for my doctoral dissertation for Emory University
comparing experiences of autism in Kerala, India and the metro Atlanta area.
I have completed my research in India and am now collecting data in and around
metro Atlanta.

Who is eligible:
• Parents or guardians of children with autism under the age of 16
• Professionals who work with children with autism (i.e. therapists, educators,
   physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, etc)
   What is involved:
• A short (~ 1 hour) interview about your experiences with autism at a location of
  your choice
• Optional observation session

Please contact Jennifer Sarrett at jsarret@emory.edu or
(404) 438-0525 for more information or to participate.

Mi-Stories app plugs in disabled children, adults

• By GARY PULEO
  gpuleo@timesherald.com

PLYMOUTH — Speech pathologist Debbie Lord knew there was a more modern and relevant way to help the developmentally disabled adolescents and adults who come through KenCrest than asking them to refer to a story printed on a piece of paper in their moment of need. 

So she created a cutting-edge solution that encourages them to plug into the world around them via a video app for their iPhones and iPads called Mi-Stories. 

“We wanted a better way to deliver a social story that would also include strategies that we know are useful to people with autism...visual strategies with pictures,” explained Lord, who created the app, which was financed through grant money, in conjunction with Rowan University and software developer SemperCon. “But this is even better than a picture because it’s actually a movie. It provides a consistent model that can be viewed repeatedly and helps people face real or imagined fears in a safe way that they can practice without taking a chance of getting injured, like crossing the street. Continue Reading Here

Planning for Integrated and Supportive Housing in Your Community

AICP CM credits will be pursued for this course

The demand for housing options to meet the needs of older adults and persons with disabilities has increased dramatically.  Although efforts are under way to provide a range of housing options to meet the diverse needs of this population, local governments are finding that our cities, counties and neighborhoods are not designed for their needs and preferences. The objective of this course is to examine how best to provide places where older adults and  persons with disabilities can live throughout their lifetime with access to a full range of services, ensuring a high quality of life for all. 

  

Topics to be addressed include:

·         Legal and financial parameters that guide integrated and supportive housing

·         Trends in accessibility, affordability and integration

·         Trends in supportive housing such as personal care homes, assisted living facilities and community living arrangements

·         Integrated and supportive housing planning and zoning best practices

Sessions include:

How to Keep Your Home from Kicking You Out

Speaker: Eleanor Smith, Concrete Change

Regulations, Funds and Trends Surrounding Integrated and Supportive Housing

Speakers: Sue Burgess, Atlanta Regional Commission and Eric Jacobson, Executive Director, Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities

The Current Reality in Housing: Local Government Panel   

Rob Hossack, Planning Director, Cobb County, Dana Johnson, Deputy Planning Director, Cobb County, Jeff Watkins, Planning Director, Cherokee County

Tools for Change 

Speakers: Commissioner Patti Garrett, City of Decatur and Kim Grier from the Department of Human Services, Division of Aging

Online registration at http://supportivehousing.eventbrite.com

'Personal Growth' Mandate Passes Committee

By Kristina Torres
Atlanta Journal Constitution


A bill requiring "personal growth" activities for people who apply for food stamps in Georgia passed a Senate committee Monday, two days after the same committee approved drug tests for parents who seek welfare.

Changes to Senate Bill 312, however, could limit its reach. To get it passed, its sponsor, Sen. William Ligon, R-Brunswick, agreed that it could be implemented only once there was enough funding. Officials with the Department of Human Services have said they can't afford the program right now because of millions of dollars in state cuts to their budget.

Ligon agreed to only pilot the program in five counties to be selected later. He had to add a host of exemptions, including for anyone who worked at least 30 hours a week, had a child under the age of 6, was a student enrolled at least part-time, was developmentally disabled or who received unemployment. He also dropped a proposal to require the same for parents who seek welfare.

Activities mandated by SB 312 would include working toward a GED or high school diploma, receiving technical training, attending self-development classes or enrolling in adult literacy classes."If you are receiving a public benefit, you need to work to improve yourself," Ligon said.

It passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on a party line 8-3 vote. Democrats dissented, saying it was unnecessary and hurt people who were already struggling.

The committee also trimmed down the mandate Monday requiring drug tests for parents, removing Medicaid recipients from the bill. Senate Bill 292 would apply to applicants for the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. TANF provides temporary financial help to low-income families with children.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell, said it would save the state money and help addicts by identifying those who need assistance. Albers based the proposal on Florida's drug-testing law, which a federal judge has temporarily blocked. Albers said he felt he had properly addressed confidentiality concerns.