What's On Your Mind

Scene: Sitting inside in an armchair with a cup of herbal tea, while outside it is 39 degrees and snowing.  The script is contemplative and more personal as to my own frame of mind in this more chaotic state of being of our society. 

Script

What’s on your mind?  This is the daily question I encounter when I pull up Facebook in order to read what others have posted randomly throughout their day; and yet as I sit here typing I cannot help but feel that it is nothing more than an endless puzzle.  A Mobius strip that goes in a loop back in on its self.  How can I simply answer a question such as this when I, myself, have no concrete answer from one hour to the next?  Shall I talk about cats?  Politics?  Truthfully I rather not talk about politics. 

Everywhere I look I see negativity.  I will tell you a secret.  I avoid the news.  The state of humanity as a whole and what we feel the need to report, or maybe it is the sensationalism that accompanies the journalism makes me sad.  I could care less about Kayne West, or Kim Kardashian.  I do not care who marries whom or why someone did something on Twitter. 

So what is on my mind?  Maybe I need to see something positive. A reminder, that amongst all that we have going on in this crazy, insane world, there is still good.  Am I a believer in religion?  Not by choice.  Do I discourage others from believing?  Not at all.  Who or what you choose to believe in is your choice.  Believe in gummy bears if it makes you feel good.  If it can make you walk up to someone who needs help just by opening a door for them, do so.  Remember what it means to be human.  Look around you.  Give someone passing you a smile.  Did it hurt? 

This is what is on my mind; the idea that we as humans are so quick to judge, and less quick to forgive and understand.  Remember when the holidays were not about Black Friday or commercialism.  They were about families and friends.  They were about putting aside differences and reaching out to show someone you care.  Let’s care once more.

Extra:

The following poem was not added due to time limit, but has been added to the script.

Yes We Can! - Shannon Mulstay

When the world watched the birth of a nation and wondered, the people of this new nation looked over the blanket of snow with freedom lighting their eyes and their hearts screamed "Yes We Can!"

When civil unrest split the young country in two the world looked and wondered "Will they survive?" The people turned to each other, stopped fighting, and once more became one stating "Yes We Can!"

When the call to move westward flowed over this nation, the world watched and wondered "Will they achieve?" The people settled in wagons and moved forward with fists raised high "Yes We Can!"

When war came to the world, not once but twice, the world stopped and wondered "Can they lead us to freedom" The American People stood strong and proud, the light of freedom, that in the past shown so brilliantly in their ancestors eyes, now in theirs as they stared the enemy in the face and announced with determination "Yes We Can!"

When a man stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and declared he had a dream of equality for mankind in this glorious nation, the world paused and wondered "Can they succeed?" The people of this nation smiled with friendship, compassion, humility, and integrity to its neighbor and said "Yes We Can"

When the Twin Towers fell to the greed and illogical ideals of others the heart of America was struck cold. The world stopped and wondered "Can they go on?" The American People's hearts wept, but the light of freedom and unity as they held one another showed once more. With fierce determination and conviction the American People looked to the world and declared with defiance "Yes We Can!"

Now with the sweeping economic crisis, global warming, reformation, political uncertainty, military unrest in the Middle East the world stops and listens as the question pours forth from so many uncertain hearts "Can we stop the hate and learn to care about our fellow man once more?” My answer is a single voice echoing the voice of a nation. "Yes We Can!"

Interview with Cassie about Schenectady ARC

Scene:

This scene takes place in my apartment living room with Cassie, sitting across from me on the sofa.  Both of us are dressed casually in jeans and shirts, though Cassie is wearing a knee brace as she just returned from the Bone Doctor, having suffered from popping her knee out of place.  Outside is raining and grey so the scene needed to take place indoors, instead of out at around the picnic table as originally planned.

Script:

Good morning everybody.  So, for today’s mobile story we are going to talk with Cassie Cox, who is a Direct Support Professional (DSP) and Evening Staff Member for Schenectady ARC.

Schenectady ARC is a chapter of NYSARC, Inc. a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities and their families throughout New York State.  Schenectady ARC was founded by parents of children with intellectual and other developmental disabilities in 1952, and has been providing an expanding array of supports and services since that time.

Today, Schenectady ARC is focused on supporting individuals with a wide variety of options.  Using a very person-centered planning process, Schenectady ARC staff work with people (and their family members or other advocates) to find the right combination of supports and services that will help the individual achieve his or her goals and dreams.  Schenectady ARC supports individuals seeking employment, residential services, day services, medical or other clinical services, recreation programs, and respite services.  Schenectady ARC operates programs throughout Schenectady County that offer options and support for individuals of all ages and abilities.

Let’s learn from Cassie a little bit about what it means to work for ARC, and how it has changed her life since she began working for ARC.

Cassie,

1.       What brought you to ARC?

“About three and a half years ago I was beginning to start college, and I wanted something more meaningful for a job.  My family friend, Jodi Rossman, actually pointed me in the direction of ARC, as she used to work for them.  She knew I liked to help people, and thought this would be a good fit.  I applied and I was hired.”

2.       What does your job at ARC entail?

“There is a lot of training you go through, plus refreshing training year round, every couple of months.  You counsel the guys (individuals living within the group homes) and even though it’s not in the official job description, you become one of their best friends and a part of their family.   

 You become someone they rely on and someone they trust.  They will come to you to solve problems.  You cook and clean.  You are their nurse.  You are their med-administrator.  You are their taxi-cab.  Really you wear a lot of hats, so you’re anything they want you to be, anytime of the day.  I have had my residents call me off shift when they were upset, and I have had to talk them down from it.  I do not get paid for it, but I do this because I love them.” 

3.       It sounds like ARC has very much become a part of your personal life, and not just a job.  Can you tell us what ARC stands for?

“In 1952 ARC was actually given a different name.   It was called the National Association of Parents and Friends of Mentally Retarded Children.  It was more centered on the child aspect back then.  Since then it’s changed.

 They have recently taken the word “retard” completely out of the agency.  The individuals hate being labeled as that.  It really upsets them.  We call it the “r” word.  We do not use it at all, in any sense of the word.  It was called the Association for Retarded Citizens of the United States, but now it’s just ARC, as the ARC encompasses all the services underneath it that the individuals get.” 

4.       Can you tell us what kind of services and resources Arc provides to those with disabilities and those in need?

“In my agency they are provided a variety behavior service through an ABSS who helps them learn about their behaviors, find coping mechanisms, and helps them understand anger management, so they do not have to have interventions.  They are provided psychology services that help them if they are having psychiatric problems.  They are offered social work as counselling.  They have their own health clinic at the main office.  They are able to go there for flu shots, blood work, and other things they may need. 

They have advocates who stand up for their rights, and make sure they are receiving the proper care.  I just recently just became an advocate for one of my individuals who moved out of my house, whom I have a really good relationship with him and his family.  They have various day programs depending upon the level of independence of the individuals.   They are provided job coaches if they are ready for that.  They have something called Community Living Program, which if they are at the level to live independently on their own they are placed into an agency apartment where staff can monitory the individual.”

5.       How has ARC changed the way you looked at the world?

“I am a lot more understanding than I used to be.  I tend to look at it more with an open mind now. I take into consideration that this person might have a lot more going on than they are letting show. I definitely gained a lot more patience through this job, so I am able to handle situations a lot better in work, school and personal life; and it’s just made my personality more caring than it already was.”

6.       Would you say ARC has impacted your personal life since working for them?

“Absolutely, I have good days and bad days; but there is not one day where I am not looking forward to going there and spending time with my individuals.  We are not supposed to look at them in the family since, but they have definitely become a part of my family. “

7.       When you graduate from SUNY Cobleskill will you continue with the career path you have begun at ARC?

“I am definitely moving towards that, and I am hoping that it works out.  I have begun looking into getting an internship with ARC so I can continue along that career path.  I do not want to continue with Direct Support for the rest of my life as it is a very wear and tear job and it burns a lot of people out.  I would like to move on to the psychology aspect of that life so I can continue to serve my individuals differently.”

Thank you to Cassie Cox for sitting with me and for the Schenectady ARC website for all their information.  For further information on how you can be of help to those in need please go to: http://www.arcschenectady.org/about.html

The Mad Brain aka National Epilepsy Awareness Month

Scene:

For this scene it will take place in my living room, in front of my laptop with the company of my ever rambunctious and loyal companion, Sofia the kitten who thinks she is a guard dog.  My hair will be down, yet pushed back with a striped white and blue hair band.  I will have no make-up or accessories on except my glasses.  My clothing will be relaxed and casual in jeans and a navy blue boho shirt.  My couch has numerous pillows for comfort but also in case of a seizure, same reason for the comforters.

Script:

In today’s scene I will pay tribute to National Epilepsy Awareness Month and discuss the different forms of Epilepsy.  I will also read to everyone a post my daughter, Cassie, wrote on Facebook as a tribute to me of her own experience with my epilepsy. 

Most people here the word “Seizure and have no idea what it actually means.  My own description I have used since being a teenager, in hopes of making them feel a little bit at easier, and not to mention making them laugh, was to tell them “Picture a fish out of water, flopping around on the ground.  Now mix the fish with the little girl staring at the television from the movie Poltergeist and possessed girl in the movie Exorcist.  Now you have an idea of what a seizure is like.”  Grant you this is a bit of an odd description, but it is actually not that far off. 

According to WebMD Epilepsy is the occurrence of sporadic electrical storms in the brain commonly called seizures. These storms cause behavioral manifestations (such as staring) or involuntary movements (such as grand mal seizures).

There multiple types of seizures that being diagnosed in today’s society.  A few of those that have been discovered are:

·   Myoclonic seizures (sudden and very short duration jerking of the extremities)

·   Absence seizures (staring spells)

·   Generalized tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal seizures)

One of the things to keep a look out with an epileptic is headaches.  If you know the person you work with or are associated with is feeling weak or stuttering, perhaps clutching their head its usually a sign they are not in a good place at that moment.  Ask them if there is anything you can do for them.  Get them a drink of water, some juice is usually a helpful addition.  Clear away anything that may be harmful to that person.  If they do go into a seizure, DO NOT INTERFER.  Let the seizure ride out and call 911.  The age old myth of an epileptic swallowing their tongue is not true.  What is more likely to be true is the epileptic will hurt the person attempting to touch them while they are seizing.  We have no concept of our strength at that time, nor of what we are doing to those around us. 

After the seizure an epileptic will be very weak and the juice will help, so will sleep.   The EMTs will check their vitals, but truthfully, unless we are actually hurt, an epileptic will want to go home, so if you know the person’s emergency contact number in order to help them get home, this would be the best solution.

Now to end this I would like to read to you what my daughter wrote as I feel this will give a true feeling from the outside of what it is like to live with an Epileptic.  “It's Epilepsy Awareness month! I have seen firsthand the difficulties epilepsy can cause a person, as I have watched my mother struggle to gain control over this disease every day of her life. I've seen her seizures, the injuries they cause, different medications she's been put on to attempt to manage them, surgeries she's undergone, and watched as this disease claimed some of her independence. I have seen her in the hospital hooked up to various machines, I have seen and intervened each time she received improper medical care and first aid, some of which almost took her from me a few times. Each event has taken its toll on her, but she never gives up. She is so strong and always fighting through this disease. I have seen her look up to the sky, and ask "is this all you got?" And then continue on to make so many accomplishments. I have seen people make assumptions and judgments about her after finding out about her diagnosis, and then seen her happily prove them wrong. She refuses to be labeled as having a disability, instead choosing to be noticed for her abilities. There is not yet one definite cure for epilepsy, but often it can be managed and controlled. Do yourself and others a favor, and educate yourself on this disease. Educate yourself on the proper first aid treatment and care necessary. You never know when it will save someone's life.” (Cassie  Cox, Facebook)

I hope this helps bringing a bit more understanding of those who suffer from this condition to the world around us.  Remember, you never know what the person next to you is going through or what their story is unless you ask.  Support National Epilepsy Awareness Month.ervened each time she received improper medical care and first aid, some of which almost took her from me a few times. Each event has taken its toll on her, but she never gives up. She is so strong and always fighting through this disease. I have seen her look up to the sky, and ask "is this all you got?" And then continue on to make so many accomplishments. I have seen people make assumptions and judgments about her after finding out about her diagnosis, and then seen her happily prove them wrong. She refuses to be labeled as having a disability, instead choosing to be noticed for her abilities. There is not yet one definite cure for epilepsy, but often it can be managed and controlled. Do yourself and others a favor, and educate yourself on this disease. Educate yourself on the proper first aid treatment and care necessary. You never know when it will save someone's life.ervened each time she received improper medical care and first aid, some of which almost took her from me a few times. Each event has taken its toll on her, but she never gives up. She is so strong and always fighting through this disease. I have seen her look up to the sky, and ask "is this all you got?" And then continue on to make so many accomplishments. I have seen people make assumptions and judgments about her after finding out about her diagnosis, and then seen her happily prove them wrong. She refuses to be labeled as having a disability, instead choosing to be noticed for her abilities. There is not yet one definite cure for epilepsy, but often it can be managed and controlled. Do yourself and others a favor, and educate yourself on this disease. Educate yourself on the proper first aid treatment and care necessary. You never know when it will save someone's life.