Advocate For The Severely Disabled
Hello readers. My GR friend, Rick Friedman, the moderator of the excellent group, THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB, is an extremely supportive and caring person. He had been working at an agency for people with disabilities but was forced to resign. The other day, Rick sent this message to his many friends. I would like to share it:
To My Fellow Friends
This is the single most important letter I will EVER write to you- AND I NEED YOUR HELP AND EVERYONE WHO YOU KNOW - as this involves the most vulnerable amongst us-those with severe developmental disabilities (Autism, Mental Retardation, Cerebral Palsy and Spinal Bifida) and unfortunately - the only way to bring attention to the matters I will discuss is to have as many people cut and paste what I write- along with you own thoughts(if you so wish to include- if not just cut/paste what I have already documented below) to APD- AGENCY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES - YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF Florida- SIMPLY A PERSON WHO CARES ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF OUR DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED CITIZENS.
PLEASE EMAIL THIS TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS WHO CARE ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF OUR DISABLED CITIZENS AND ASK THEM TO CUT/PASTE AND EMAIL TO the APD LINK- ONLY THOUGH A LARGE INFLUX OF EMAILS FROM THOSE FROM ALL LOCATIONS- U.S. AND ABROAD- CAN APD NOT TRY TO "SWEEP" THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE UNDER THE RUG.
WE MUST ADVOCATE FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES!!
CUT/PASTE AND EMAIL TO THIS LINK
APD_info@apd.state.fl.us
I was forced to resign from position at the HABILITATION CENTER OF BOCA RATON as a result of several reasons that, in all good conscience, I could not accept. I will list these for you- and please with you to cut/paste what I have written and email to the link above. This is the only way to make sure that action is taken, as there is a culture a severe fear among the staff to speak out- The Center Director has everyone scared that they will lose their jobs are be targeted if they do so.
PLEASE CUT AND PASTE AND SEND TO
APD_info@apd.state.fl.us
_______________________________________________CUT/PASTE_________________________
I had very serious concerns about my own safety and that of our 120-175 clients when they left the Center to enter the buses at dismissal. It is an extremely hazardous situation- with buses and vans parked on both sides- and a small narrow gap for extremely developmental disabled people to cross- many in wheelchairs and walkers. I myself was almost hit by vehicles coming around a blind turn several times (documented) This caused me immense stress - heat exposure as I was most often the Only person trying to insure safety. There is no Awning covering the exit- it was blown off during Hurricane Wilma and never replaced- I witnessed (as did other willing to testify) clients being soaked to the bone as they waited for their wheelchairs to be lifted onto Palm Tran vehicles-up to 15 minutes in duration- I myself was often soaked- resulting in illness- and a visit to my Doctor- The slate became very slippery causing clients to fall - the most recent being on 6/29/11 (documented) I suffered severe panic as a result of the severe threat posed to our clients due to lack of coverage and logistics of dismissal. Many times I would be running from bus to bus, and at the same time- running over to a vehicle that was headed towards a client- due to the blind spot- in order to stop the vehicle from hitting the client.
I have copies of documented emails sent to my supervisor expressing my concern- The first is dated 11/3/10- the last June 28, 2011. I even drew up a diagram in which we could insure client safety by placing 4 staff members in strategic places- as the exit is heading South- when clients leave- but vans must head North and then make a quick-blind turn South. I have copies of these emails as well as other staff members, parents and DOE officials who witnessed the hazards I outlined above. I write this with great trepidation as the Director of the Center (WHO HAS THE USE OF A CENTER VEHICLE- I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS REGISTERED FOR HIS PERSONAL USE-OR TO TRANSPORT CLIENTS WHO NEED RIDES- BUT HE IS THE ONLY ONE ALLOWED TO USE IT- WHEN HE IS ON VACATION- THE CAR IS GONE- SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK HE HAS IT FILLED UP WITH GAS AND HAND WASHED BY THE MAINTENANCE MAN- IT WOULD APPEAR TO ME THAT THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE DOCUMENTED AS INCOME- BUT THAT IS A MATTER FOR THE IRS- AS I AM NOT SURE HOW THE CENTER DOCUMENTS THE VEHICLE- JUST THAT AN OLD STATION WAGON IS AN ODD CHOICE FOR A DIRECTOR'S PERSONAL USE CAR)has his employees working under such fearful conditions(they are petrified they will lose their jobs for expressing concerns) that they will say anything he tells them- yet- I have documentation, witnesses willing to testify AS the truth in my favor as to the working conditions and issues at the Center- I was threatened that if I challenged the "status quo"- I would be subject to rumor and innuendo-Other staff can and will confirm the atmosphere of fear of complaining about issues. I spoke to my Supervisor on many occasions and was fed the "company line" "The Drivers have to come into the dining room to pick up the clients" Again- I can produce many witnesses willing to testify that this is simply not the case. I also have memos confirming how well I performed that I can produce. I, simply, could not take the stress that the near misses documented, heat exposure ect would cause me greater harm than it already has.
OTHER ISSUES
1. Clients are being billed at either a 5-1 or 10 -1 client to staff ratio- yet in my two rooms, I had between 45-53 clients and the vast amount of time, the ratio was 25-1 and many times- I was the only one in the room- making the ratio 50-1
2. Developmentally Disabled Clients are used to change and clean other clients that have serious toileting accidents as well as clean out bathrooms that on a regular basis overflow- exposing them to infectious waste and materials.
3. Confidential Client records are left lying around in open places where anyone can see them- breaking HIPPA Laws
4. Before I became a teacher, my Supervisor was listed as "Teacher" even though she continued with her regular job and was almost never in the room. The APD and DOE record keeping was done by the Educational Aide and Para and signed off by the "Teacher" Fern Laskin. I was told that for many weeks at a time, there was just a Para or Aide in the room- yet billing to APD and DOE reflected 5-1 and 10-1 staff to client ratios.
5. We have regular tours by Foundations and Business Groups- and when these occur- we are pre-warned to make sure that the clients are "actively engaged in work" Interns, high functioning clients and social service workers are brought in to give the illusion that there is more coverage that is actually the case- they leave immediately after the tour passes through. Most egregious- on a recent tour- we had a job for the clients to do- and they kept asking "when are we going to work"- the Tour was delayed and we were told by Supervisors to hold off giving them the job- allowing them to sit doing nothing for about an hour- once the Tour was coming toward the rooms- we had to rush to hand out the materials so it would appear that the clients were already working- not the actual case - they sat and did nothing until the Tour came through. My Supervisor makes sure she is in the classroom"working" with clients- only during the Tours- goes right back to her other duties as soon as the Tour is over- same with the other "plants"
6. As a Habilitation Center- the aim is to teach clients to be as independent as possible-so they can go into the community and work- I had many clients who my Supervisor described my role as "babysitting" as they were so severely disabled that any honest appraisal would dictate that a Hab Center was not the place for them- except that they bring in revenue for being in the program.
7. During our Annual Meetings with clients- many who are unable to answer even the simplest of questions- there is a question as to "Work Tolerance" in which the Supervisor writes "very low"- or something to that effect- so that- as she explains it- if I don't write this in specific way- APD will wonder why the client is still in the Center and not in the Community so I have to word this right.
8. Clients are viewed as objects, ways to bring in revenue, I simply - ethically- could not go along with treating our fellow human beings as objects and not people- with their own feelings, strengths and values- I complained many times about the fact that "I am not a factory foreman- I am a Teacher" and was told that we needed to get as much work done as possible as that was the main goal of the Center- Productivity over Clients
I have documentation for much of the above and have several staff members willing to testify as to the truthfulness as long as they are free to tell the truth without fear of retribution..
PLEASE LET APD KNOW that if they do not undertake a SERIOUS INVESTIGATION/AUDIT as to the above facts- WE WILL NOTIFY OUR CONGRESSMEN, DOE AND THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CHARGED WITH THE CARE OF THESE MOST PRECIOUS OF PEOPLE.
RICHARD FRIEDMAN
_______________________________________________CUT/PASTE_________________________
Please cut/paste the above- add any comments you wish and send to
APD_info@apd.state.fl.us
WE MUST ADVOCATE FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
To My Fellow Friends
This is the single most important letter I will EVER write to you- AND I NEED YOUR HELP AND EVERYONE WHO YOU KNOW - as this involves the most vulnerable amongst us-those with severe developmental disabilities (Autism, Mental Retardation, Cerebral Palsy and Spinal Bifida) and unfortunately - the only way to bring attention to the matters I will discuss is to have as many people cut and paste what I write- along with you own thoughts(if you so wish to include- if not just cut/paste what I have already documented below) to APD- AGENCY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES - YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF Florida- SIMPLY A PERSON WHO CARES ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF OUR DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED CITIZENS.
PLEASE EMAIL THIS TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS WHO CARE ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF OUR DISABLED CITIZENS AND ASK THEM TO CUT/PASTE AND EMAIL TO the APD LINK- ONLY THOUGH A LARGE INFLUX OF EMAILS FROM THOSE FROM ALL LOCATIONS- U.S. AND ABROAD- CAN APD NOT TRY TO "SWEEP" THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE UNDER THE RUG.
WE MUST ADVOCATE FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES!!
CUT/PASTE AND EMAIL TO THIS LINK
APD_info@apd.state.fl.us
I was forced to resign from position at the HABILITATION CENTER OF BOCA RATON as a result of several reasons that, in all good conscience, I could not accept. I will list these for you- and please with you to cut/paste what I have written and email to the link above. This is the only way to make sure that action is taken, as there is a culture a severe fear among the staff to speak out- The Center Director has everyone scared that they will lose their jobs are be targeted if they do so.
PLEASE CUT AND PASTE AND SEND TO
APD_info@apd.state.fl.us
_______________________________________________CUT/PASTE_________________________
I had very serious concerns about my own safety and that of our 120-175 clients when they left the Center to enter the buses at dismissal. It is an extremely hazardous situation- with buses and vans parked on both sides- and a small narrow gap for extremely developmental disabled people to cross- many in wheelchairs and walkers. I myself was almost hit by vehicles coming around a blind turn several times (documented) This caused me immense stress - heat exposure as I was most often the Only person trying to insure safety. There is no Awning covering the exit- it was blown off during Hurricane Wilma and never replaced- I witnessed (as did other willing to testify) clients being soaked to the bone as they waited for their wheelchairs to be lifted onto Palm Tran vehicles-up to 15 minutes in duration- I myself was often soaked- resulting in illness- and a visit to my Doctor- The slate became very slippery causing clients to fall - the most recent being on 6/29/11 (documented) I suffered severe panic as a result of the severe threat posed to our clients due to lack of coverage and logistics of dismissal. Many times I would be running from bus to bus, and at the same time- running over to a vehicle that was headed towards a client- due to the blind spot- in order to stop the vehicle from hitting the client.
I have copies of documented emails sent to my supervisor expressing my concern- The first is dated 11/3/10- the last June 28, 2011. I even drew up a diagram in which we could insure client safety by placing 4 staff members in strategic places- as the exit is heading South- when clients leave- but vans must head North and then make a quick-blind turn South. I have copies of these emails as well as other staff members, parents and DOE officials who witnessed the hazards I outlined above. I write this with great trepidation as the Director of the Center (WHO HAS THE USE OF A CENTER VEHICLE- I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS REGISTERED FOR HIS PERSONAL USE-OR TO TRANSPORT CLIENTS WHO NEED RIDES- BUT HE IS THE ONLY ONE ALLOWED TO USE IT- WHEN HE IS ON VACATION- THE CAR IS GONE- SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK HE HAS IT FILLED UP WITH GAS AND HAND WASHED BY THE MAINTENANCE MAN- IT WOULD APPEAR TO ME THAT THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE DOCUMENTED AS INCOME- BUT THAT IS A MATTER FOR THE IRS- AS I AM NOT SURE HOW THE CENTER DOCUMENTS THE VEHICLE- JUST THAT AN OLD STATION WAGON IS AN ODD CHOICE FOR A DIRECTOR'S PERSONAL USE CAR)has his employees working under such fearful conditions(they are petrified they will lose their jobs for expressing concerns) that they will say anything he tells them- yet- I have documentation, witnesses willing to testify AS the truth in my favor as to the working conditions and issues at the Center- I was threatened that if I challenged the "status quo"- I would be subject to rumor and innuendo-Other staff can and will confirm the atmosphere of fear of complaining about issues. I spoke to my Supervisor on many occasions and was fed the "company line" "The Drivers have to come into the dining room to pick up the clients" Again- I can produce many witnesses willing to testify that this is simply not the case. I also have memos confirming how well I performed that I can produce. I, simply, could not take the stress that the near misses documented, heat exposure ect would cause me greater harm than it already has.
OTHER ISSUES
1. Clients are being billed at either a 5-1 or 10 -1 client to staff ratio- yet in my two rooms, I had between 45-53 clients and the vast amount of time, the ratio was 25-1 and many times- I was the only one in the room- making the ratio 50-1
2. Developmentally Disabled Clients are used to change and clean other clients that have serious toileting accidents as well as clean out bathrooms that on a regular basis overflow- exposing them to infectious waste and materials.
3. Confidential Client records are left lying around in open places where anyone can see them- breaking HIPPA Laws
4. Before I became a teacher, my Supervisor was listed as "Teacher" even though she continued with her regular job and was almost never in the room. The APD and DOE record keeping was done by the Educational Aide and Para and signed off by the "Teacher" Fern Laskin. I was told that for many weeks at a time, there was just a Para or Aide in the room- yet billing to APD and DOE reflected 5-1 and 10-1 staff to client ratios.
5. We have regular tours by Foundations and Business Groups- and when these occur- we are pre-warned to make sure that the clients are "actively engaged in work" Interns, high functioning clients and social service workers are brought in to give the illusion that there is more coverage that is actually the case- they leave immediately after the tour passes through. Most egregious- on a recent tour- we had a job for the clients to do- and they kept asking "when are we going to work"- the Tour was delayed and we were told by Supervisors to hold off giving them the job- allowing them to sit doing nothing for about an hour- once the Tour was coming toward the rooms- we had to rush to hand out the materials so it would appear that the clients were already working- not the actual case - they sat and did nothing until the Tour came through. My Supervisor makes sure she is in the classroom"working" with clients- only during the Tours- goes right back to her other duties as soon as the Tour is over- same with the other "plants"
6. As a Habilitation Center- the aim is to teach clients to be as independent as possible-so they can go into the community and work- I had many clients who my Supervisor described my role as "babysitting" as they were so severely disabled that any honest appraisal would dictate that a Hab Center was not the place for them- except that they bring in revenue for being in the program.
7. During our Annual Meetings with clients- many who are unable to answer even the simplest of questions- there is a question as to "Work Tolerance" in which the Supervisor writes "very low"- or something to that effect- so that- as she explains it- if I don't write this in specific way- APD will wonder why the client is still in the Center and not in the Community so I have to word this right.
8. Clients are viewed as objects, ways to bring in revenue, I simply - ethically- could not go along with treating our fellow human beings as objects and not people- with their own feelings, strengths and values- I complained many times about the fact that "I am not a factory foreman- I am a Teacher" and was told that we needed to get as much work done as possible as that was the main goal of the Center- Productivity over Clients
I have documentation for much of the above and have several staff members willing to testify as to the truthfulness as long as they are free to tell the truth without fear of retribution..
PLEASE LET APD KNOW that if they do not undertake a SERIOUS INVESTIGATION/AUDIT as to the above facts- WE WILL NOTIFY OUR CONGRESSMEN, DOE AND THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CHARGED WITH THE CARE OF THESE MOST PRECIOUS OF PEOPLE.
RICHARD FRIEDMAN
_______________________________________________CUT/PASTE_________________________
Please cut/paste the above- add any comments you wish and send to
APD_info@apd.state.fl.us
WE MUST ADVOCATE FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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