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
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