[humanser] ACCOMODATIONS

Mon Dec 30 21:22:02 UTC 2013

Shannon,

I agree with your statement that it is okay to use sighted help as needed. 
One of my supervisors would take a form to the home to have it signed as she 
said she did not have good results mailing them and getting them returned. 
In this case, the client was a child seen by a clinician who went to the 
child's school each visit.

Best,

Sandy

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Shannon Cook" <SCook at sccb.sc.gov>
Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 3:39 PM
To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [humanser] ACCOMODATIONS

> Hello.
>
> This will respond to several posts in one message...
>
> I use a driver to do in-home client visits.  I am not able to mark forms 
> ahead of time, because I am entering the information on their plan of 
> service while in the home on a live web form.  Depending on the 
> information given, the signature line may be in different locations on the 
> page once printed.  I do not have enough vision to find the line myself; 
> therefore, my driver is in charge of collating the pages as they come out 
> of the portable printer we have to take along with the laptop to the home. 
> He removes the pages that come out blank.  He then shows the client where 
> to sign using the signature guide, and lines the guide up for my signature 
> as well. We have two copies to sign: one for the client and one for my 
> file.  This particular driver does not overstep his bounds as the driver. 
> He has only agreed to help in this case; because, I have asked that he do 
> so, to be as efficient as possible.  I feel that being able to do my job 
> sometimes means using the resources available to me.  If I did not use the 
> driver for this purpose, I'd have to come back to the office, print the 
> plan, send them a copy to sign and one to keep, have them return one copy 
> to me, and then be able to begin their services.  This could delay their 
> service for several more weeks.  It would also be against the policy of 
> our agency.  We are now required to print the plan and have the client 
> sign the plan while in the initial interview.
>
> There are many times the client will ask him a question about their 
> services, but he always lets them know that he is the driver and I am the 
> counselor, and they need to direct service related questions to me.
>
> Now, I have had drivers in the past who did take over, and they did not 
> remain my driver for very long.  In the first 2.5 years of this job, I 
> went through 5 drivers.  Three did not work out and two left on their own 
> due to low pay.  This driver has been my driver for almost 7 years and is 
> a retired federal employee.
>
> As a SC state employee, we have the benefit of using state-provided cars. 
> The agency that I work for also pays the driver.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Carly 
> Mihalakis
> Sent: Sunday, December 29, 2013 8:32 AM
> To: Human Services Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [humanser] ACCOMODATIONS
>
> Good morning, Serena,
>
> Is that not where the resippiant of said service comes in, to educate
> a prospective driver/tutor as to the bounds of his role?
> for today, Car
>
> 05:50 PM 12/28/2013, you wrote:
>>I can see one drawback about hiring a driver for home visits.  Would
>>the driver know anything about the blind social worker's specific home
>>visit requirements, I.E., what the sw has to assess for or monitor?
>>Or would the driver simply be a driver?  A driver's knowing about the
>>specific requirements of the home visit could be detrimental to the
>>sw.  The driver could try to take over the assessment/monitoring
>>process.  Similar to how some human readers who know about the course
>>material blind students are studying try to act as tutors.
>>
>>Serena
>>
>>On 12/28/13, JD Townsend <43210 at bellsouth.net> wrote:
>> >
>> >
>> > ON ELECTRONIC RECORDS:
>> >
>> > My hospital is moving rapidly into electronic records for mental health
>> > services.  Their idea is for me to dictate as do our psychiatrists.  I 
>> > used
>> > to do this when the hospital had medical transcribers.  To work in the
>> > electronic records it will require a bit of new software and some 
>> > scripting
>> > work, however I do believe that this solution will provide me with the
>> > independence and freedom to get that part of my job done.  Always
>> new skills
>> > to learn.  Some clinicians who are less computer savvy are having more
>> > trouble than I am.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > DRIVING:
>> >
>> > I took a job in Brooklyn that required me to visit families in their 
>> > homes
>> > over half of my work time.  Once I moved into the City I was able to do 
>> > all
>> > my visiting using buses, subways and my feet.  Of course traveling 
>> > around
>> > via these methods in a rural setting would not be possible.  Often we 
>> > need
>> > to move to where the work is, rather than to wait for the opportunity 
>> > to
>> > come to us.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > I know of one blind social worker who works in hospice.  She travels 
>> > with
>> > her team as they do their assessments together.  The job required that
>> > driving license, but she went for the interview anyway and won the
>> > supervisor over with her professional, competent, engaging manner and 
>> > they
>> > decided to make an exception to their rule.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > A blind supervisee is doing her assessments over the telephone rather 
>> > than
>> > doing the required home visit, she feels that the information would be 
>> > best
>> > taken in the home, but this is the adaptation the agency she works for 
>> > has
>> > agreed upon.  Sometimes there are compromises to be made on both our 
>> > parts.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > I have not known anyone who made home visits who regularly used a 
>> > driver,
>> > but people do suggest that option from time to time.  For me a bus, my
>> > Braillenote with GPS, and time to do my notes, would take preference. 
>> > I do
>> > like to do things on my own, sometimes a good thing, sometimes not.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > JD Townsend LCSW
>> > Helping the light dependent to see.
>> > Daytona Beach, Earth, Sol System
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
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>
>
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>
> October is Home Eye Safety Month. Over half of all eye injuries occur 
> while doing everyday household chores. The South Carolina Commission for 
> the Blind offer the following tips if you get a chemical in your eye: 
> flush you eye with water for 20 minutes, wash your hands with soap and 
> warm water, seek emergency medical assistance. For more information about 
> how the SC Commission for the Blind can help you or a loved one, please 
> visit us at www.sccb.state.sc.us or give us a call at 803-898-8731.
>
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