[humanser] Questions about practicum and documentation

[Ericka Short via humanser]

Sandy is right.  You need to spend time with each one.  I used to work at a 
nursing home in activities.  Though I have more sight thanyou, I can't see 
at a distance.  In group activities I would walk around and  interact 
directly with them.  I worked often with  residents who had dementias or 
speech issues.  If you are able --some don't want to be touched, You can can 
use your hands over theirs to help them do an activity.  This gives you some 
idea of what they are capable of.  If they have stressed muscles or are slow 
to move then you know they are able to do some part of the  movement.  I 
remember in your message some part where you walked around thus the 
residents didn't get feet movement.  Can the residents be in a circle or 
semicircle instead of a group exercise class?  We had residents in a semi 
circle and they could see what was going on plus I spoke what I was doing so 
it was able to be understood by those who couldn't see my actions.  I was 
chewed out a few times in the beginning, but I ignored them and went to 
certain residents and did actions with them, making the resident the 
"assistant". This allowed me to know what they could or couldn't do.   I had 
had all abilities in my group exercise class which it doesn't sound like you 
did.

I can understand why you feel it is the professors' responsibility but in 
the end your success is determined by what youdo, not what they choose to 
do.  For this next  practicum, talk to the music therapist directly.  This 
is a great resource because she has done it before.  You are very blessed to 
have this  role model and person to  bounce ideas off.  I've never had that 
.  I did my internship in social work twice too.  In the first situation I 
was not given  any direction or responsibility so I learned nothing.  I 
learned more from the two days I worked with the activity director.  The 
supervisor at the nursing home didn't want me there because the other person 
was  on maternity leave and didn't want a disabled person to train.  She 
just wanted someone to dump work on without worries.  Disabled Student 
Services did nothing to help me nor did myprofessor.  It was awful and I 
felt abandoned.  At that time I didn't know anyone in the NFB to call.  My 
second one was better because I did it in my hometown where people already 
knew me and supported me.  I spent some days with the adut day program and 
the rest  at the county aging department.  In WI each county has an Aging 
and Disability resource center.  I  spent the days with the county  going on 
home visits and helping create the ADRC for my home county.  I also  helped 
update the  resource directory.  It was a much better situation all around 
and I  did much better because I had people who wanted to work with me. 
They  didn't  really know what I could or couldn’t see, but they realized  I 
was a person with a heart for the job.  I hope  the people you work with 
second time around think of you as a person first.  It makes a big 
difference!  I like JD's suggestion of having a NFB rep there at the meeting 
with the profs.  I also think you need to meet the  director of the program 
you do your practicum with  beforehand.  Get a feel for what you will be 
doing and what she/he expects out of you.  This would give you both time to 
get advice from the  blind MT, but also allow you to advocate for doing more 
than the bare minimum.  You want to know all of the typical days 
responsibilities and try them out there.  If you don't you will be miserable 
doing your internship.  I've also been through elementary ed practicums and 
I can sympathize with  Sandy's comments.  The only thing I did well was with 
the preschoolers.  The second time I was in a middle school LD resource 
classroom and again wasn't given anything to do.  The teacher didn't want me 
there. It was just awful. Advisor or teacher would talk to me.  I tried to 
meet with the advisor at least because I wasn't asked to do anything.  He 
wouldn't.  This was way before I found my advocacy voice.  I never had 
trouble with teachers until then either.

You will get through the second with flying colors!

Ericka J. Short

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". Philippians 4:13
"No hand is too small or too big to do good in this world." EJ. Short