Two Arc Directors on Recreation/Work Skills

Lance Scott is Director of Recreation and Socialization at The Arc San Francisco and one of the service designers of Friends Like Me, The Arc’s new after-hours recreation program. Terry Goodwin is Director of Employment Services. The two discussed the barriers to more healthy social opportunities for people with developmental disabilities and the benefits of work/life balance.

Q  Lance: What are the barriers that prevent clients of The Arc and other individuals with developmental disabilities from accessing recreation and social activities?

A  Our clients have very limited spending money and many events and activities are too expensive. Plus, trying to figure out how to plan and pay for different events can be difficult—what bus do I take, where do I go when I get there, what should I expect? These are all things that can cause anxiety and fear. Also, going to new places can be intimidating if you are alone. A baseball game or an outdoor concert can be crowded, noisy and overwhelming.

Q  Lance: How does Friends Like Me address these issues?

A   Friends Like Me is an after-hours program at The Arc that offers games, big screen movies, snacks and a movie night three evenings a week. We invite drop-in guests and encourage participation at whatever level you are comfortable with. Some clients like to sit and watch others play Wii baseball or bowling, others are real competitors. We encourage teamwork, mutual support and fun in a place that is safe, casual and comfortable.

Also, we have community outings twice a month. As a group, we’ll take the ferry to Angel Island or visit a museum or enjoy a ball game.

Q  Lance: How are clients benefitting from Friends Like Me?

A  In addition to combatting the isolation and loneliness our cleints experience, we are also helping clients improve their social skills. Friends Like Me is an environment where communication, teamwork, problem-solving, conflict-resolution are all encouraged, and this build confidence. Plus, when you are playing a game, it reduces stress. We all need more work/life balance in our lives.  Ultimately, it provides a foundation for seeking out new experiences on your own. It’s a path to more self-determination and independence.

Q  Terry: Why are social skills so important in the working world?

A  Many individuals with developmental disabilities are fearful of busy work environments with new faces. Friends Like Me is a good place to learn how to be more flexible, how to better connect with co-workers socially and break down barriers.

Q  Terry: Can a better social life impact job performance and job satisfaction?

A  Sure it does. If you keep to yourself and don’t have an opportunity to learn how to interact with others, it’s very isolating and lonely. Plus, it can limit your growth potential and keep you from enjoying all that the work environment has to offer. Having the skills to be with others is normalizing. It fosters more interaction with co-workers and can lead to better performance on the job, and higher job satisfaction because you feel like you belong.  Everyone needs diverse experiences. It helps you understand the world and the importance of your place in it.

 

For more information about Friends Like Me, contact Lance Scott at lscott@thearcsf.org. To learn more about our Employment Services, contact Terry Goodwin at tgoodwin@thearcsf.org.

Police Work at Developmental Centers Lacking (SF Chronicle)

Sacramento --
The in-house police force at California's developmental centers has frequently neglected to interview victims of abuse, photograph crime scenes or collect statements from suspects and witnesses, according to a state audit released Tuesday.

The state auditor's report detailed numerous shortcomings in how the force, called the Office of Protective Services, protects roughly 1,500 patients with cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities at five board-and-care institutions in Sonoma, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and Tulare counties.

"Investigative deficiencies, such as those we observed, may allow for continued abuse at the developmental centers," the report said. Auditors said they had reviewed 48 investigations by the department and found 54 deficiencies in its police methods.
State lawmakers ordered the audit last year in response to stories by the Center for Investigative Reporting detailing how the force routinely failed to do basic police work when patients were abused, including suspicious death and sexual assault cases.
The Office of Protective Services was set up specifically to protect the developmentally disabled living in the state's remaining board-and-care centers, but few violent crime cases at the institutions have resulted in criminal charges.
Dozens of women were sexually assaulted inside state centers, but police investigators didn't order "rape kits" to collect evidence, a standard law enforcement tool, the Center for Investigative Reporting found. Police waited so long to investigate one sexual assault that the staff janitor accused of rape fled the country.
The police force's inaction also allowed abusive caregivers to continue molesting patients.
The Office of Protective Services' records indicate the force sent 82 patient abuse cases to district attorneys for possible prosecution. However, auditors determined much of the data on the entire caseload were "not sufficiently reliable" to verify that number.
The auditor faulted management of the facilities for failing to provide specialized training for officers in interviewing the developmentally disabled patients, many of whom cannot speak or communicate clearly.
The Department of Developmental Services, which operates the centers and police force, agreed with the findings and said many of the prescribed fixes are already under way. The department declined to comment and referred to its formal response in the audit.
While hailing the auditors' work, Greg deGiere, public policy director for the Arc of California, which advocates for the developmentally disabled, said the police force should be independent of the Department of Developmental Services.
"The whole thing is clearly still under the department's thumb," he said. "There is a code of silence (at the centers), from both the top and the bottom."

The independent, nonprofit Center for Investigative Reporting is the country's largest investigative reporting team. For more, visit www.cironline.org. E-mail: rgabrielson@cironline.org

http://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/Police-work-at-developmental-centers-found-lacking-4655775.php

CDC: Autism Rate Now 1 in 50 Children

March 20, 2013

The prevalence of autism has increased, researchers say, now affecting 1 in 50 children.

The latest estimate released Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention comes from a national telephone survey of nearly 100,000 parents conducted in 2011 and 2012.

Parents were asked a number of health questions about their children including whether they had ever been told by a doctor that their child had an autism spectrum disorder. The results suggest that autism is occurring in 2 percent of school-age children.

That’s substantially higher than prevalence numbers the CDC just last March which put the rate of autism at 1 in 88 American children. That previous estimate relied on a study of health and education records collected on 8-year-olds. The current research included children ages 6 to 17, but is considered by some to be less reliable since it is based on parent-reported information.

Federal officials say the increase is largely due to better diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders. The jump in prevalence was most pronounced among older children with milder forms of the condition.

Consistent with previous findings, the survey found that boys were four times more likely than girls to have autism.

The new estimate released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would mean at least 1 million children have autism.

The new study has has tremendous significance for the nation’s service and public health systems.

“These statistics represent millions of families across the country that are looking for resources and answers to help their children. But meanwhile, the across-the-board budget cuts in Washington are hampering the vital efforts offederal agencies like the CDC and the National Institutes of Health,which are working to find the underlying causes of autism,and could have real consequences in our society,” said Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc, Washington D.C.

“And these are not the only threats – lifeline programs like Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare are on the table for real cuts that may impact the ability of these families to get services in the near and distant future for their children, as well as hurting adults with ASD who depend on those programs today. It is not enough to say we want a balanced approach to deficit reduction - we must stand together and say that we cannot simply cut our way out of this situation. We need more revenue to pay for critical investments like prevention and treatment, as well as services and supports for people with autism,” added Berns.

Dr. Glenn Motola, CEO of The Arc San Francisco, said, "This new data underscores the critical need for support services for not only children with autism, and the adults they are becoming."

See CDC's full report online at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr065.pdf

Courtesy of Shaun Heasley, Disability Scoop and The Arc United States

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

    March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness month across the United States and we are so proud of the achievements of people with Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy and other disabilities. During this month, The Arc San Francisco is making a special effort to educate the public about issues and concerns related to disability.
    Said Dr. Glenn Motola, CEO, “The biggest factor holding people in this population back is a lack of understanding of their abilities. With the right support, people with developmental disabilities are terrific employees, reliable tenants and civic-minded citizens who make valued contributions to our communities—not only as taxpayers but as volunteers.”

    In late March, The Arc San Francisco’s WorkLife Awards celebrate the work and life achievements of people with developmental disabilities and the businesses that champion their success. Find out how you can be a part of this wonderful story of self-determination, self-reliance and achievement as a sponsor, a donor or a volunteer.
    For more information, contact Terry Goodwin, Employment Services Director, at (415) 255-7200 x148 or tgoodwin@thearcsf.org.

Fiscal Cliff Averted: I/DD Community Says New Battle Awaits

    The New Year's Day deal averting the "fiscal cliff" lays the groundwork for more painful struggles in Washington over taxes, spending and debt in the next few months.
     While the newly passed legislation does not include any cuts in benefits for the entitlement programs, this issue is expected to take center stage in the coming weeks as it becomes a bargaining chip in the upcoming debt ceiling negotiations. In the first three months of 2013, additional legislation will be necessary to address other aspects of the nation’s fiscal situation, including an increase in the debt ceiling, the end of the 2-month extension of the sequester (automatic cuts), and appropriations for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2013.
     These deadlines will set the stage for additional negotiations between the Congress and the White House. There will be mounting pressure to generate additional revenue and to cut the entitlement programs (Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare) as well as the discretionary programs (such as housing, education, employment) that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) rely on to live in the community. The Arc will remain actively involved in seeking a balanced approach to deficit reduction by advocating for increased revenue and protecting critical spending programs for our constituents.
     Learn more about the fiscal cliff deal at The Arc’s Center on Budget and Policy Priorities website http://www.cbpp.org/ and view statement on the Arc US blog.
(Courtesy of The Arc United States, 1/3/2013)