Best Practice: DevelopmentalDisabilities

HSP 303Rosey Keeler -Reis

Johnna Keck

Anyone who has a mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life

activities

Limitations only go so far.-- Robert M. Hensel

Gaining Independence!!

Late 1800’s-Early 1900’sPut them away and forget about them

• Was believed that developmentally disabled people were invaluable, not able to be educated, and a threat to society.

• Intent of institutions was to protect society not to make the disabled better.• There could be up to 100 people in a room, living conditions were awful• They would sterilize people institutions without the consent or the person or

their family.• Electric shocks and straight jackets were used often because people thought

they had no other choice and there was nothing else they could do.

Times are ChangingDuring 50’s through 70’s

• Parents began keeping their children at home instead of admitting them to an institution.

• Special education programs began to be established.• More than 1000 people on waiting list for government assistance• Yakima Valley School• Fircrest School• Medicaid and Medicare began to include the DD in their funding• Arc was established- National Association of Parents and Friend of

Mentally Retarded Children• Rehabilitation Act

80’-present

• Education for all law passed- Public education must be offered to all children with disabilities

• People began being moved out of institutions and into community living facilities.

• American with Disabilities Act• Schools began integrating DD kids into public school

classrooms

Looked at differently

• Most mentally challenged people are capable of obtaining jobs and functioning independently in the community.

• DD individuals are rebelling against the notion that they are incapable of living independent lives.

• The focus is now to make individuals as independent as possible, with jobs and houses of their own.

• People realize that it is possible to get DD individuals to their own most capable place.

MODELS USED TO HELP PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE

• Interactive Behavior Therapy-4 Stages

• Self Determination Model– Set goals– Take action– Adjust plan as needed

• Post Secondary Education Model– Mixed/hybrid – Substantially separate– Inclusive Individual support model

Best Practices• Job training and Employment (PSE and Self Determination)

– Cascade Vocational Services– DSHS Bellingham Department of Vocational Rehabilitation– DVR Worksource

• Independent Housing– Evergreen Supported Living

• Activities in the community ( Mostly IBT)– Marianne’s House– Arne Hanna Aquatic Center– Max Higbees Center

• Education and Family ( PSE)– ARC of /Whatcom County– Bellevue College– DSHS/DDD

ARC of Whatcom

• Structure was built in 1905• Boutwell family purchased it in 1956• Dan Godwin Community Center • Education Programs• Implements the Interactive Behavior Model

Independent Living

• Evergreen Supported Living• Established in 1982• Non profit• They offer life skill programs• Group Homes• 20 plus group homes in area

Employment

• Cascade Vocational Services• DSHS/DVR• Pathway to Employment Services

Activities• Marianne’s House• 501c3 organization• Provides respite care• Max Higbee Center• 501c3 organization• Offer 3 programs• Wknd Drop in Fri/ Sat nights• Community Access Program Mon-Fri Afternoon• Provides spin dances

• Arne Hanna Aquatic Center• Offers adapted aquatics

Education

• Bellevue College• Offers an Associate in Occupational and Life

Skills• It’s 90 credits designed to be completed in

4yrs at 9 credits a quarter• Implements the Post Secondary Educational

Model

Family Services

• DSHS/Division Development Disabilities• Getting personal care• Receiving medical & or behavioral support in

the community• Transitioning back into the community from

institutions• Services for care givers/respite care• Public transportation

References• American News Service. (1997, November 4). Developmentally disabled fight back for independence. Retrieved from

http://www.villagelife.org/news/archives/11-4-97_disabledfight.html• Bellevue College.(1-15-11) Associate Degree in Occupation & Life Skills. Retrieved from http://www.bellevuecollege.edu• Cascade Vocational Services. Retrieved from http://www.cascadevoc.org• City of Bellingham. (1996-2012).Arne Hanna Aquatic Center. Retrieved from http://www.cob.org/ahac• Evergreen Supported Living. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.evergreenhome.org• Felty, D. (1998). A brief history. Retrieved from http://www.keystonehumanservices.org/about- us/history• Hamilton, S. (2011). Better world quotes. Retrieved from http://www.betterworld.net/quotes/disabilities-quotes.htm• Johnson, P. (2008, Sept 09). Eeoc. Retrieved from http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/fs-ada.html• The Arc of Whatcom County. Retrieved from http://www.arcwhatcom.org• The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities. (2010, January). Learning lessons from the past.

Retrieved from http://www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/history/intro.html• The NADD. (1998). The interactive model for group counseling for people with mental retardation. Retrieved from

http://www.thenadd.org/cgi-bin/checkmember.pl?page=pages/membership/bulletins/v3n6a3• Marianne’s House.(2011) Retrieved from http://www.marianneshouse.org• Max Higbee Recreational Center. Retrieved from http://www.maxhigbee.org• Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. Division of Developmental Disabilities.(2-1-12) Retrieved

from http://www.dshs.wa.gov/ddd• Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Retrieved from

http://www.dshs.wa.gov