[humanser] Logistics and keeping personal belongings safe at work

Mon Jul 11 02:00:42 UTC 2016

Hi, Kaiti:

>From where did you get your cane holster? This concept appeals to me.
Thanks!
Warmest Regards to all,
Susan Tabor

-----Original Message-----
From: Humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kaiti
Shelton via Humanser
Sent: Saturday, July 9, 2016 5:42 PM
To: Human Services Division Mailing List <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [humanser] Logistics and keeping personal belongings safe at
work

Hi all,

I think I found a solution now that I have my cane holster.  Now that I have
actually seen the thing, it looks like a lot of my problems are solved.
First, I think the two ways of fastening the holster to you are just
difficult to understand through an explanation over the phone.  Not that the
guy I spoke to didn't do a good job, but I didn't quite get the set up just
hearing him talk about it but do see what he meant now that I can feel it.
As it turns out you don't need to specifically have a belt loop for it to
clip onto like he was talking about, although I can tell that's what it was
primarily meant for.  It clips just as easily to a wasteband or simply
around the strap of a bag without a problem.  Second, there is another type
of loop on it through which I think I can put a carribeaner with a small
change purse or something attached to it.  Having something dangling isn't
ideal, but it should at least keep the medication close to me and secure
without getting in my way.  As long as I get a little change purse or pouch
that zips shut, it should be just large enough for the eye droppers but
small enough to be out of the way.  Sorry if this seems redundant to those
who already know what a cane holster is like, but I wanted to follow up to
say I found solutions to my logistical concerns.

On 7/9/16, Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Not really.  I haven't seen this site yet but it will from what I do 
> know about it be basically an open room for us to lead sessions in.  I 
> do know that the women will be sitting in a semi-circle or a circle so 
> we can facilitate from either the front of the group or among them as 
> a group, but the facility probably won't have any place for us to 
> leave personal belongings.  Generally students are instructed to leave 
> personal items in their cars during sessions, but I can't do that 
> since I need to take the drops at least twice during the set up, 
> session, and debriefing process.
>
> On 7/8/16, Christina Moore via Humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Is there a drawer that you can put the medication in?
>>
>>
>>
>> God bless.--Christina
>>
>>> On Jul 8, 2016, at 16:43, Kaiti Shelton via Humanser 
>>> <humanser at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> I realize this might be a bigger issue for me than for probably most 
>>> people in some respects, but I think everyone has to deal with this 
>>> in at least some way.  I'm wondering how you all have dealt with 
>>> keeping personal belongings safe and out of harm during sessions.  
>>> As a background for those who might not know me, I'm a music therapy 
>>> student and a lot of my work requires me to be very mobile around 
>>> the room and I usually have my hands full either assisting a client 
>>> or playing an instrument myself.  Most of my past clinical 
>>> experience has been with children, particularly with blind kids and 
>>> kids with visual impairments and other disabilities, and children on 
>>> the Autism spectrum in a public school self-contained classroom, but 
>>> this fall I will be working in a practicum at a behavioral health 
>>> facility for duel diagnosis mental and substance abuse disorders.
>>>
>>> I was doing some of my summer reading, and one note in the chapter I 
>>> read yesterday stressed the importance of making sure *all* 
>>> materials are collected at the end of each session.  Many objects 
>>> used for music therapy sessions could be dangerous in the hands of 
>>> psychologically unstable patients if they are smuggled out past 
>>> supervision, and I can see how even objects like mallets used to 
>>> play drums and other percussion equipment could be used to inflict 
>>> self-harm.  It occurred to me that leaving my cane propped in a 
>>> corner as I usually do probably would not be the best idea in this 
>>> setting, as someone in psychosis might see that as just a long metal 
>>> stick they could use for their own intentions.  I purchased a cane 
>>> holster thinking it would probably be helpful for this setting, but 
>>> also in my work with children since I can keep my cane on my person 
>>> now.  Before I go on, I will say that I am fully aware that my 
>>> supervising professor will be there at each session, as well as my 
>>> practicum partner.  Furthermore, we're not supposed to be left alone 
>>> in the room with the residents without a staff member from the 
>>> facility present.  However, my professors don't know all the ins and 
>>> outs of adapting the work to my circumstances and have encouraged me 
>>> to seek this information where I can.  I also am trying to treat 
>>> each practicum situation as if I were already working professionally 
>>> in the field and realize that if I were going to work on this type 
>>> of a unit as a professional without the support I have the luxury of 
>>> having as a student, these considerations might be important.
>>>
>>> The other issue I'm confronting is how to deal with personal 
>>> medication.  I have 3 different types of drops I give myself 
>>> throughout the day.  Two of the drops just need to be given 4 times 
>>> a day, and although I try to keep to a set schedule with those I can 
>>> move them around a bit to accommodate things like sessions or brief 
>>> meetings.  The other needs to be given every half hour.  This wasn't 
>>> the biggest problem before, but especially now that I'm going into 
>>> this unit and also thinking about my future internship, I don't 
>>> always want to lug around a purse like I have been doing everywhere I
go.
>>> I'm already going to be bogged down carrying instruments, and 
>>> sometimes just doing that with a cane can be challenging enough.  
>>> I'm honestly considering paying homage to the 80s and getting myself 
>>> a fanny pack or some sort, especially since a lot of the 
>>> professional attire for women that I own doesn't even have belt 
>>> loops for the cane holster to clip to.
>>>
>>> I would be interested to hear how these kinds of things are handled 
>>> by those of you who are itinerant, who work with populations who 
>>> might take advantage of things like a cane laying around for 
>>> self-harm or other purposes, or who are very mobile but have to also 
>>> manage personal medications and keep them on your person.  Also, for 
>>> the women who might be in professions where you need to dress 
>>> professionally but also in clothing that allows you to move freely 
>>> and easily to do your job, please let me know any tips you might have.
>>> I'm not sure of how unique my situation is on this group with having 
>>> the need to look professional while also getting down on the floor 
>>> and moving about the group on my knees to play eye level with small 
>>> children and such, or to facilitate movement-based therapeutic 
>>> experiences, but it's definitely a logistic I'm trying to work 
>>> around at the moment and would appreciate suggestions on.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> --
>>> Kaiti Shelton
>>>
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>>
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>
>
> --
> Kaiti Shelton
>

--
Kaiti Shelton

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