Interviews

1. Conversing with Colen
2. Conversing with Venn
3. Conversing with Dr. Twohy
4. Conversing with Whiteny
5. Conversing with Ailmen

We make it our business to see that the clients reach their fullest potential by evaluating their needs. Some have the mental capacity to attend college while others are equipped to perform simple art assignments at various adult training centers. After our evaluations are completed, we create individual plans based on the clients' needs. Take for example, some never graduated high school and so, we help them earn their diplomas. Those clients, who have trouble communicating, are provided with Light Talkers [voice machines]. We teach all of the clients how to direct their personal care, be assertive, etc. Once they have completed our program, we place them in appropriate settings (Colen, 1988).

My ears were burning because his noble words were impressive; however, behind those words spelled tragedy. Staring into Colen's eyes caused me to question him, "How do you accurate evaluate the clients to determine what short and long-term goals they should accomplish? What if the evaluations are not valid? In other words, do you test clients, who did not perform well due to unfortunate circumstances, over again?"

He glanced up at the ceiling and bellowed,

We recently hired an academic teacher, who communicates fairly well with the physically disabled, to carefully screen each client through a series of standardized tests. These tests accurately measures the clients' academic skills, ability to reason, and etc. If clients cannot verbally speak, our speech therapist gives them a Light Talker or a communication board. [a board with the letters of the alphabet, various words, and numbers] Furthermore, we never had any problems. We allow our clients to choose what they want to accomplish by presenting them with numerous options. A perfect example would be we find handicapped accessible apartments for those who want to live independently. Our purpose is to give the physically disabled opportunities to lead as close to normal lives (Colen, 1988).

Then, I decided to question Colen further about providing daily transportation for those attending college. He bashfully replied, "We cannot provide transportation due to lack of funds, but we are working on it" (Colen, 1988). Tears suddenly moistened my pale cheeks as I began to mumble, "So, what kind of activities are provided for those pursuing college?" Colen (1988) responded, "We prepare our college bound clients by teaching them computer technology, algebra, job skills, and world history." Consuming to this information was difficult to swallow; furthermore, I continued asking him, "Do the clients live here and how many care takers are hired?" quickly changed the subject. Colen (1988) chuckled, "Yvonne, you should know we have twenty clients occupying the north wing. We hire three personal care attendants to personally assist the clients." After that, I boldly questioned him, "What happens if the care takers physically and verbally abuse the clients?" His entire face lit up like a fire engine as he struggled for the following words:

Once we carefully select the PCAs [personal care attendants], they are immediately placed in a training program. We teach them proper techniques such as practical ways of transferring, feeding, etc. We also stressed that it is vital to spend time listening to the clients. So, our clients have never been abuse in any way" (Colen, 1988).

I have been living at this center practically all of my life. After I turned 21, I enrolled in Life \ Work. I do not like it because the PCAs treat me like trash. They are careless and throw me around like a sack of potatoes. Sometimes, black and blue marks appear on my body because they handle me roughly. The staff members forced me to use this communication board. They believe it is too hard for people to understand my speech. I begged my mother to bring me home, but she could no longer care for me. So, I had to follow the rules (Venn, 1988).

I was speechless for I was a helpless victim too; however, I managed to ask him, "Do you think that you will have the opportunity to attend college? And why don't you participate in the activities?" Christopher immediately responded,

All of the staff members think physically challenge[d] people do not the intelligence and the determination to lead productive lives. So, they just make us more handicap[ped] by forcing us to use unnecessary adaptive equipment. They purchase this equipment from companies and dealers. If the staff can convince the clients to use the equipment, the school makes [a] profit (Venn, 1988).

The interview was suddenly terminated because a care taker whisked him to his bedroom. I was just completely dumbfounded to realize that many physically disabled people are brilliant. Nevertheless, they have never received love, positive reinforcement, and the opportunities to contribute their talents to society due to their institutionalized lives. It was horrible to personally witness professionals, who were specifically qualified to help the physically disabled to build independent lives, screaming bloody murder, 'You will never amount to anything! You better learn how to count change!' to their clients.

I was extremely fortunate that my parents could still care for me at home. I will never fully understand why Christopher and the other clients did not have the courage to go on strike to demand for better human services. When I was there, I simply refused to participate in the activities because the staff labeled me as mildly mentally retarded due to unfair testing conditions. They insulted me by constantly asking, "What is nine times nine?" and it was impossible to speak to these people because they wanted me to use a communication board. Since I could not point to the communication board, the staff coldly ignored me.

Furthermore, I spoke to at least a dozen trustees and cried while watching television in the children's section. Although protesting did not work, I felt and still feel that I made a difference in some way. Maybe if I did not demand for a better life, then I would not have had the opportunity to write this paper. However, if my parents could not afford to bring me back home, it would be impossible to lead a fulfilling life. Some people have told me, 'If you had been institutionalized all of your life, you just would not stand up for your rights because you would think that receiving harsh treatment is normal.' This may explain why Christopher and the other clients did not complain. Nevertheless, I am still not convinced that this concept is one percent true. Ruth Sienkiewicz-Mercer suffered for many years from abusive treatment, but she never adapted to this life style.

Conversing with Doctor Twohy

Adaptive Services is a program that enables physically challenged adults to either afford to enter the work force or college level classes. My job is to provide my students with the necessary computer skills. Basically, I evaluate the students to see what kind of assistance they need. Then, they are placed in the COS 91H or advance[d] class (Twohy, 1992).

Our interview was briefly interrupted because she had to take an important telephone call. After that, I continued asking Dr. Twohy about what kind of computer skills are taught? She casually remarked, "I teach word processing, data entry, basic programming skills, and touch typing" (Twohy, 1992). Then, I asked, "How many students are enrolled in Adaptive Services?" She replied, "I am currently teaching approximately 350 students, which is remarkable! The disabled population keeps growing every year" (Twohy, 1992). It was remarkable that so many disabled people could benefit from this program. My next question was, "How do you manage to teach all those students?" Dr. Twohy (1992) exclaimed,

Well, some students are enrolled in credit level courses. So, they do not require so much attention. I have a teaching assistant who teaches a few of the computer classes. Some students attend my non-credit workshops while others seek provided tutoring.

I questioned her further about what kind of assistance do you provide for those who are enrolled in college level classes. She clearly explained the following:

I accommodate students according to their needs. For example, some need special tables, some need interpreters, some need additional time on tests, etc (Twohy, 1992).

Asking, "Do you provide transportation?" put Adaptive Services into a brighter light of hope. Dr. Twohy (1992) responded, "Many students use the Monmouth SCAT Busing Company and others are perfectly capable of driving." Before I ended the conversation, I finally asked, "How do you inspire disabled students to accomplish their goals?"

I have discussions with students to find out what the problem really is looking at all sides. Often channels of communication need to be opened. I ofter to help develop the communication process and help in any way possible (Twohy, 1992).

Attending Adaptive Services just gave my life brand new meaning. Taking tests on the computer to demonstrate my knowledge was a fair evaluation. Typing all of my profound thoughts on an IBM Personal Computer was one hundred percent better than failing to point to a communication board. After the evaluation was completed, Dr. Twohy encouraged me to enroll in college level classes. I thought that I was living in a dream world because suddenly, I went from being mildly mentally retarded to being an intelligent young lady! "It took me one hour to find out how smart Yvonne was." inspired me to become a productive member of society (Twohy, 1992).

Although I was hesitatant to become a part-time college student, I was tickled pink to be recognized as an intelligent young lady instead of a dunce. Dr. Twohy made it possible for the physically disabled to succeed at Brookdale by personally speaking to professors. Explaining to them how to accept and to treat the disabled as normal students helped many professors expand their socialization skills. For instance, I had one teacher who was so afraid of me that she insisted I should drop her class. As a result, she complained to Dr. Twohy about dismissing me from class. She was successfully able to calm this professor down by carefully explaining my disability. Also, she made it possible for those students, who cannot write and speak, to compete their homework assignments and tests on computers.

Interviewing Whiteny

We have six boys currently living here. It is very hard for them to adjust to the home because they have been practically raised in an institutionalized setting. So, we have to train them to care for themselves. For instance, they do not know how to wash their hair or brush their teeth.

Then, I told him, "I bet the neighbors do not like having mentally retarded people living on their block." He stated, "The neighbors just ignore us, except when one of the boys decide to go for a walk in the nude" (Whiteny, 1991). I shook my head in disbelief and frankly asked, "How many aides are presently employed and don't they keep an eye on the boys?" Michael briefy explained,

We have three aides to care for the boys. Since each boy requires so much attention that the aides cannot watch everyone at the same time. Let me put it to you another way. Our boys are just like babies. They are not totally aware of their surroundings and it takes them a long, long, long time to remember how to perform simple tasks (1991).

I then firmly asked him, "What is a typical day like?" He stated,

We get the boys up at 6:00am so that they have at least two hours to get ready for work [Hackensack Adult Training Center]. At 8:00am, I drive them to work and teach them daily living skills such as cooking, counting money, going to the bathroom, to do their laundry, painting, building bird houses, sorting nails, etc. It is an interesting place to meet people from other group homes and ICF [intensive care facility (state institution). Then, I take the boys home at 3:00pm to relax. That's basically the routine (Whiteny, 1991).

Listening to this made me question Michael further, "Do the clients go out to the malls, movies, or anywhere they desire?" He stated, "Since my boys need constant supervision, it is too difficult to take them out. What if we lose one of our boys" (Whiteny, 1991)? I just could not believe what was being said, but it was all true.

Spending four days with Michael's boys and attending the Hackensack Adult Training Center was like serving a death sentence. This human service program was absolutely terrific for the mentally retarded; but nevertheless, it was not appropriate for the physically disabled. Why did I attend this program? The Division of Developmental Disabilities decided to allow the physically disabled population to take advantage of their programs because there were not enough human services designed to assist this growing population. Furthermore, DDD could not adapt their programs to meet the physically disabled's needs due to lack of funds.

Even though I received excellent physical care, I dreaded not being able to plan my own life. Observing how the staff members treated the residents and how the activities were taught was exactly like living at the New Jersey Achievement Center. It did not matter if I was mentally or physically disabled because I received the same negative attention. It took a lot of courage and will power to maintain a positive attitude for I was extremely frightened that my parents did not have the strength to bring me back home.

Conversing with Ailmen

Listening to phrases such as, "You have to put tootpaste on the toothbrush. Please, take down your pants before going pe-pee." all day drove me completely insane. This life style did not inspire me to achieve my goals for it did not offer any opportunities to attend college, obtain a meaningful career, watch the ocean rush to the shore, and have healthy relationships with others. I asked John, "Do you mind spending all of your time in this place? Don't you ever become depressed, angry, and frustrated observing these mentally retarded people attempting to perform simple tasks?"

You have understand that I do not have much choice. My family cannot keep me home forever. In fact, my mother recently died from lung cancer. I love to watch the others here because it is entertainment. This is so much better than being alone (Ailmen, 1991).

"But, you never have the freedom to go mall shopping, to take a stroll on the boardwalk, to dine in restaurants, or just to admire a beautiful sunset. I do not understand how you can stand being here day after day, month after month, and year after year." John whimpered a sad moan and study the features of my face, but all he said, "Wow, you are one smart cookie. No, we hardly see daylight. I just roll with the punches" (Ailmen, 1991). I completely understood his point, which was, "It is impossible to lead an independent life, especially when you are forced to depend on the state and government for custodial care, economical support, transportation, social, educational, job training, and health services." However, it was mind boggling to witness John accept this life style because I could and still can not imagine living in his shoes.