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Thursday, May 28, 2020
Its Boot Camp Time, Folks!
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Pandemic!
A great article HERE about some of the things we can learn from this dreadful pandemic, mainly about how most families and friends function in isolation even when they're not in the middle of one.
After being in isolation, I find little change in my life and responsibilities except for a looming threat of a Covid-19 hanging over my head and invading my body if I go out in public. But, I think a lot of families operate in "pandemic" mode all the time or at least that's what I've observed in a lot of families.
We are isolated in many cases not by choice, but by circumstances beyond our control. Our loved ones in independent care facilities and nursing homes are there because caring for them is beyond the scope of what their family can provide. Some of our families who have children or adults with mobility challenges can't get out of the house. Most times it's very difficult to physically get your son or daughter out of the house because the wheelchair is too heavy to lift into the car. Assuming there is a car that can be used to safely transport an individual with special needs. And everything takes so much time just getting them ready by dressing and cleaning them up to be presentable.
There doesn't have to be a pandemic present for ongoing wiping up and disinfecting after our children and adults especially for the ones who are always fidgeting with their tongue, mouth, clothing, and fingers. It's just what they do. Even with the countless therapies to which they are subjected, redirecting the self- stimming it is still very much a part of how we interact with them and who they are and who they will remain to be.
This pandemic is serious. We can't make light of it. If it hasn't turned your life on end, then count yourself lucky. All our children and families are being compromised in some way and hopefully, we are reaching out in ways that the pandemic will not allow us. For example, I needed bleach to clean and a neighbor's work associate shared her stash with us. We're making masks for each other. We are helping a young widow grieve for her young husband. We are taking dinners to families. We are trying to keep it together while some of us are having to say goodbye to our friends, family, jobs, and income. Some of us are even losing hope and faith.
Hopefully, this pandemic will bring us all closer together in understanding the barriers that people faced while trying to survive it. The people who were already isolated and socially distant from us.
After being in isolation, I find little change in my life and responsibilities except for a looming threat of a Covid-19 hanging over my head and invading my body if I go out in public. But, I think a lot of families operate in "pandemic" mode all the time or at least that's what I've observed in a lot of families.
We are isolated in many cases not by choice, but by circumstances beyond our control. Our loved ones in independent care facilities and nursing homes are there because caring for them is beyond the scope of what their family can provide. Some of our families who have children or adults with mobility challenges can't get out of the house. Most times it's very difficult to physically get your son or daughter out of the house because the wheelchair is too heavy to lift into the car. Assuming there is a car that can be used to safely transport an individual with special needs. And everything takes so much time just getting them ready by dressing and cleaning them up to be presentable.
There doesn't have to be a pandemic present for ongoing wiping up and disinfecting after our children and adults especially for the ones who are always fidgeting with their tongue, mouth, clothing, and fingers. It's just what they do. Even with the countless therapies to which they are subjected, redirecting the self- stimming it is still very much a part of how we interact with them and who they are and who they will remain to be.
This pandemic is serious. We can't make light of it. If it hasn't turned your life on end, then count yourself lucky. All our children and families are being compromised in some way and hopefully, we are reaching out in ways that the pandemic will not allow us. For example, I needed bleach to clean and a neighbor's work associate shared her stash with us. We're making masks for each other. We are helping a young widow grieve for her young husband. We are taking dinners to families. We are trying to keep it together while some of us are having to say goodbye to our friends, family, jobs, and income. Some of us are even losing hope and faith.
Hopefully, this pandemic will bring us all closer together in understanding the barriers that people faced while trying to survive it. The people who were already isolated and socially distant from us.
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Emergency!
EMERGENCY: Urge Senators TODAY to Include Nonprofits in 3rd Relief Package of $1T+Please join Flat Rock Homes in supporting the United Methodist Association and Lutheran Services in America in efforts to protect member nonprofit organization with business continuity during the current crisis. Your speedy participation is needed TODAY with regard to the third relief package of over $1 trillion currently being negotiated in the Senate.Negotiations are taking place in the Senate now on a $1 trillion-plus economic rescue package to offer relief to businesses and nonprofits through loans and grants. This draft legislation currently contains a provision which would make nonprofits with over 500 employees and those that receive Medicaid payments ineligible, including senior living facilities, child welfare organizations, organizations serving people with disabilities, and many others.We ask that you and your friends call and email your Senators today to urge them to remove this language before voting on the bill. We are also asking Senators to include additional financial support for nonprofit organizations serving seniors and people with disabilities as they navigate this crisis with the individuals in their communities. In the attached link, you will find and additional link to email your Senators, as well as suggested phone script language and a sample tweet for your use. There is strength in numbers, and the more people who can reach out to Senators today, the better. Decisions on this rescue package are expected to move incredibly quickly, and we urge you to make this a priority today.Ways You Can Take Action· Option 2: Contact your lawmakers by phone using the suggested talking points below. You can find your Senators and their phone numbers in the provided link below. Suggested messaging you may wish to use during your call:
- I’m calling in regard to the Senate’s negotiations underway today on the third coronavirus relief package of over $1 trillion. I support Flat Rock Homes [OR ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT YOU WISH TO INCLUDE] that serves 76 adults with developmental disabilities, many with major underlying medical conditions [OR SENIORS, IF USING WITH ANOTHER ORGANIZATION] and receives approximately 95% of our funding from Medicaid. I am gravely concerned that the bill currently excludes my organization and other nonprofits that receive Medicaid payments from zero- and low-interest small business loans available to other organizations. Like many nonprofit health and human service organizations, we are on the front lines caring for Americans during the pandemic and are in crisis mode. We are incurring additional expenses and our cash reserves and margins already are tight. The fact is we cannot retain our employees and provide our services that help so many vulnerable people in our state without this support. I urge you to include nonprofits that receive Medicaid payments as eligible applicants for these much-needed small-business loans. While Flat Rock Homes only has 145 employees, I also ask that you expressly include charitable nonprofits that employ over 500 employees in the bill and include additional financial support for all organizations serving people with disabilities and senior living communities as they navigate this crisis with the individuals in their communities. So many people in our state are relying on our organization, and we’re relying on you.
· Option 3: Since lawmakers’ staff consistently monitor their social media pages, reaching out via their Twitter pages is also useful.o You can find your lawmakers and their twitter handles in the attached link.o Suggested tweet:
- [Insert your lawmaker’s Twitter handle here] #Coronavirus relief bill MUST make nonprofits who get Medicaid reimbursements eligible for $ relief + support aid for nonprofit serving seniors, people with disabilities and child welfare agencies. We are on frontlines of fight & under severe financial stress.
Please share with your contacts. Original link with more details and tools: https://www.lutheranservices.org/content/1-trillion-senate-stimulus-billThank you for your efforts!
Need more information? Please contact Sarah Dobson, Lutheran Services in America Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, at sdobson@lutheranservices.org or 202-499-5832 or Dania Douglas, Lutheran Services in America Director of Policy and Advocacy, LSA-DN at ddouglas@lutheranservices.org or (202) 499-5831.KarenKaren L. KilgoPresident and Chief Executive OfficerFlat Rock Homes, Care Center, and Community Services7353 N. County Road 29, P. O. Box 1
Flat Rock, Ohio 44828Phone: (419) 483-7330 x1104Fax: (419) 483-5616Connect with me on:
ICF ACTION
URGENT - PLEASE ACT TODAY - PLEASE FORWARD TO FAMILIES OF ICF RESIDENTS AND THEIR FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS
Senators are not understanding that the vital care that is provided by Medicaid-funded non-profits like ICFs is supported to a great degree with significant private donations - in other words, Medicaid funding does not cover all costs. The coronavirus crisis and the workforce shortage are creating added financial burdens on ICFs, meaning more financial stress on these organizations. The Senate bill excludes private non-profit ICFs from relief at a time when ICFs are on the front lines fighting the virus.
Please contact Ohio’s senators, Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown TODAY:
https://www.portman.senate.gov/index.php/meet/contact or call 202-224-3353
https://www.brown.senate.gov/contact/email or call 202-224-2315
Tell them:
"I’m calling in regard to the Senate’s coronavirus relief bill. The bill excludes non-profits that receive Medicaid funding like [NAME OF YOUR NON PROFIT ICF] that provide health care and residential services to vulnerable adults and children with developmental disabilities, many with major underlying medical conditions. I am gravely concerned that the bill excludes Flat Rock Homes ICF from crucially needed financial relief, such as zero- and low-interest small business loans. Flat Rock Homes ICF and other health and human services organizations are being excluded from relief when they are on the front lines fighting the virus while caring for fragile Americans. These organizations are in crisis mode. They are incurring additional expenses and their cash reserves and margins are already are tight. They cannot retain employees that provide direct care to Ohioans with developmental disabilities without the financial aide that is in the relief bill. I urge you to include nonprofits that receive Medicaid payments as eligible applicants for the much-needed small-business loans that are in the relief bill. I also ask that you expressly include charitable nonprofits that employ over 500 employees in the bill and include additional financial support for all organizations serving people with disabilities and senior living communities as they navigate this crisis while serving the health care needs of the most vulnerable Americans. So many people in our state are relying on these organizations, and we’re relying on you."
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
OT/PT Research Update: Gait and Cerebral Palsy
This two-day course is designed for physical therapists that work with individuals with cerebral palsy and wish to enhance their clinical decision-making skills when assessing and treating for movement and gait disorders. Video and interactive cases will be used to demonstrate the common gait patterns of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Research updates related to gait in children with cerebral palsy and clinical suggestions for physical therapy interventions will be presented.
Objectives:
At the end of the course, the learner will:
1) Describe the kinematics, kinetics and electromyography (EMG) of the mature gait cycle and the development of gait in children.
2) Analyze atypical movement patterns and critical impairments interfering with gait in children with cerebral palsy with a focus on differentiating primary impairments from secondary compensations.
3) Discuss the evidence in the literature related to interventions to improve gait in children with CP.
4) Collaborate with colleagues to develop treatment strategies based on clinical experience and best available evidence to improve movement and gait in individuals with CP.
Registration Items
- Onsite Registration$275.00
Early Bird Registration: (May 8th, 2020 and before): $275
Standard Registration: (after May 8th, 2020): $325
Tuition must be received before a participant can be registered. Enrollment is limited, please register online early to reserve your spot.
If you do not receive an e-mail confirmation, please call (513)-636-4651 for verbal communication. Refunds (less $35 processing fee) will be made only if notice of cancellation is received in writing by May 8th, 2020. Should the program be canceled, tuition will be refunded.
The application has been made for approval by the Ohio Physical Therapy Board for 12 hours.
Saturday, March 7, 2020
More DDX3X News
Elisabeth is in the group of severe cases showing "functional changes" in DDX3X which resulted in her missing corpus callosum and polymicrogyria, an abnormal folding pattern on the surface of the brain. Follow the link HERE to read the article.
Thursday, February 27, 2020
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
When it turns out that the person we trust the most...
The words of those who have testified bring to light a troubling part of L'Arche history, a part of history involving sexual predation and abuse, but it also gives us an opportunity to move forward better equipped to face the challenges of our time.
The news is about Jean Vanier.
The news is about Jean Vanier.
Jean Vanier was the person who started L’Arche. He did many good things and we are grateful for that.
Last year he died.
We have now learnt some things we did not know about him.
Six women told us that Jean Vanier has hurt them. These women said that when they were meeting Jean Vanier alone, to talk about their spiritual life, he touched them in a sexual way. He abused them.
They did not want this. They did not like this. It upset them.
L’Arche says very strongly that what Jean Vanier did was wrong. Our community says that what Jean Vanier did was wrong. We say that what Jean Vanier did was wrong.
L’Arche International is working to make sure everyone in l’Arche is safe. Our community is working to make sure everyone here is safe. We are working to make sure that nobody will sexually abuse anyone. We all need to be safe. Safe and respected.
This news shocks us.
HERE
Saturday, February 15, 2020
ABC Pediatrics Offering Free Screening
ABC Pediatric Therapy has this handy interactive tool to make sure your child is meeting his or her milestones! Follow the link HERE!
Sunday, February 9, 2020
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Looking to return to work?
A former colleague and friend sent this to me last week after hearing about all the challenges I've been facing returning to work after caregiving the last 25 years. It's been an interesting journey returning to work, finding only part-time positions at best. A journey that continues to be even more difficult than the one Elisabeth took us on 25 years ago.
Path Forward is a nonprofit organization on a mission to empower people to restart their careers after time spent focused on caregiving. They fulfill this mission by working with companies to create and run mid-career internships — also known as “returnships” — that give women and men a jump start back to a professional career while giving companies access to a diverse, untapped talent force.
Path Forward is a nonprofit organization on a mission to empower people to restart their careers after time spent focused on caregiving. They fulfill this mission by working with companies to create and run mid-career internships — also known as “returnships” — that give women and men a jump start back to a professional career while giving companies access to a diverse, untapped talent force.
Since 2016, they have worked with more than 50 companies to create a return to work programs, including Walmart, Netflix, Apple, SAP, NBCUniversal, Verizon, PayPal, Intuit, and others. More than 80% of the participants in their programs have been hired by the companies where they completed their returnships.
Looking to return to work?
"It’s important to reconnect with your professional self. In our culture, our identities are so tied up with what we do. When you’re working you describe yourself as, “I’m an accountant, I’m a lawyer,” and when you aren’t working, you have to describe yourself in a different way. Re-training helped me start recognizing myself in a professional context, but what really helped me was connecting with former colleagues. Just talking with old coworkers and people in your network helps you reconnect to that version of your life and a sense of identity around your career. It will help you interview well, be more confident, and project a professional, capable image." - Beth Frasco
Beth Frasco, Senior Business Analyst NBCUniversal, took a 16-year break from her wireless engineering career to support her growing family through several big moves. She talks about her returnship experience in the Act Two program at NBCUniversal, how she prepared for her return to work, and the steps she took to reconnect with her professional self.
Beth Frasco, Senior Business Analyst NBCUniversal, took a 16-year break from her wireless engineering career to support her growing family through several big moves. She talks about her returnship experience in the Act Two program at NBCUniversal, how she prepared for her return to work, and the steps she took to reconnect with her professional self.
Questions? Check out their FAQ for answers. Looking for guidance on where to start? Get a free Career Restart Kit and find resources on job searching, career strategies, work/life balance, and more on our blog.
Sign up here to become a participant. You’ll get a weekly newsletter and job alerts when new return to work opportunities open up in your area.
Sign up here to become a participant. You’ll get a weekly newsletter and job alerts when new return to work opportunities open up in your area.
Looking to hire returners?
If you’re looking to tap into the diverse and experienced talent pool of people returning to the workforce, Path Forward can help you quickly and effectively start a return to work program at your company. Leveraging best practices learned from our work with more than 50 companies, we’ll deliver documentation and training for your staff, recruitment marketing support, and professional development support for the returners that you hire into your program.
Contact them Here
Contact them Here
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Emergency Preparedness
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Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Saturday, January 4, 2020
Another Reason Why We Need Protected Status
Labor Dept Says IEP Meetings Qualify For Family and Medical Leave
BY JESSICA WATSON DECEMBER 19, 2019
Ridofranz / Getty Images Pro
Parents with children in the special education system often struggle to balance work with the many appointments and school meetings kids with disabilities can require. Things just got a bit easier, thanks to a new Labor Department opinion that IEP meetings qualify for leave coverage under the Family and Medical Leave (FMLA).
IEP meetings, or Individualized Education Plan meetings, are normally held once a year to determine the course of special education services a student will receive through the school system. Those services often include therapy prescribed by a doctor like speech, occupational or physical therapy. Since family doctor visits fall under FMLA, it’s logical that IEP meetings should as well. But employers haven’t always interpreted the law that way.
A parent’s presence at an IEP meeting has long been a hot topic in and out of the classroom because IEP meetings can be held without the parent present. If a parent is unable to get time off of work they may feel pressure to let the meeting continue without them, missing out on being a valuable part of their child’s educational plan.
The new opinion helps underscore for employers the importance of IEP meetings. Parents of children with special needs often feel like they are taking more time off work than co-workers. Doctors appointments, therapy visits and school meetings can multiply quickly for children with special needs. The Labor Department’s blessing means parents may feel a bit less guilt in leaving work for yet another family-related meeting.
The FMLA doesn’t cover everyone — but for those covered, the new opinion will bring relief.
Janel Mills, mother of a daughter with autism, is cheering the change. “I’ve always felt conflicted on whether I could take time from work for IEP meetings, or if I would be forced to use vacation time that I couldn’t spare,” Mills says. “It’s great that there’s a clear message to employers that IEPs are critical for parents to attend, and parents don’t have to worry about whether or not they can request the day off.”
Stephanie Giese, a Florida mom with a child who receives special education services, says this shift will improve her family’s involvement in IEP meetings. “We’ve been fortunate that I am able to stay home, but I think this decision is awesome because it will help with the division of labor and bringing more dads or at-work parents into the education process.”
“Often education decisions can fall solely on the at-home parent which builds stress and isolation in a marriage,” Giese continues. “There have been many times I went to IEP meetings alone because my husband didn’t have enough vacation time built up at work.”
For a family whose child is receiving special education services, IEP meetings can be just as important as visits to a doctor or specialist. The Labor Department’s support for parental attendance at these important meetings is a welcome show of support for families who certainly deserve it.
Jessica Watson
Jessica Watson is a freelance writer, author and the blogger behind Four Plus an Angel. Mom to five kids, four in her arms and one in her heart, she tries hard to enjoy them every moment but sometimes dreams of a week alone with a pile of her favorite books. "Four Plus an Angel" - https://fourplusanangel.com/
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
When You're A Frequent Flyer for Guilt Trips
As I'm moving through all the preparations for today, tonight, and tomorrow, I am carrying each and every one of you in my thoughts, heart, and prayers to be kind to yourself. After finishing up Elisabeth's shower and dressing her just now, I prayed to get rid of this weight of responsibility I feel for her. I prayed to be released from all the expectations and guilt of never doing enough for her. I prayed for herculean strength to carry on because after doing this for 25 years, there are days I am exhausted, depreciated, and defeated. And our loved ones, abled and disabled, deserve their dignity and quality life. They deserve the very best from each and every single one of us. Their needs, their dignity, should not be something that weighs us down but lifts us up.
Children are a gift to the world and should be treated as such.
Children are a gift to the world and should be treated as such.
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