[humanser] Questions about practicum and documentation

[Sandy via humanser]

Kaiti,

During cooking dinner and freezer fingers looking through the frozen 
stockpile of food, it occurred to me that you maybe could have a recreation 
assistance at the nursing facility assist you, and the same type person 
might do that at an adult day health.  I did a work study at an adult day 
help and know there are those kinds of people, and I used some assistance 
there with some activities I did.


Sandy


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From: "Ericka Short via humanser" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 2:15 PM
To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [humanser] Questions about practicum and documentation

> 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
>
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