[humanser] Client handwriting, accessibility, and Confidentiality

[Kaiti Shelton]

Hi all,

I sent a reply to Dr. Duff which unfortunately did not go to the list
for some reason, and it clarified a few things.  I am aware that
discussing disabilities and vulnerability can be powerful between a
client and therapist, and it has been for us.  I had a discussion with
him about my blindness on the first day of sessions, and I also
pointed out some ways he could help me and hhow we would work together
to start the ball rolling with creating a partnership.  He has
responded well to it and understands as well as he probably can given
his cognitive functioning what I can and can't do.  He also gets some
self-affirmation and success out of having some responsibility for the
sessions instead of being in the passive role of a client the entire
time.  He sometimes gestures by pointing because I think that's how he
sometimes communicates, but I've been sure to remind him that I can't
see where he's pointing and he'll verbalize it then.  The client sees
my cane all the time, has seen a notetaker a few times, and thinks
voiceover on my phone is hilarious.  I use my phone to play recorded
music for us to dance to, and if he hears it he thinks it's the
funniest thing.

I also told her that I am fearful of being reliant upon human readers
because I very well might not have that option.  If I am working in a
hosppital setting like I would hope to my colleagues will be busy with
their own caseloads, and it will be a far different situation than
being able to run to classmates as I am doing now.  I also would not
have anyone if I worked in private practice, which is something I am
considering doing on the side (E.G, work in a hospital 5 days a week
and see private clients in my home on Saturdays).

I love Sarah's suggestion of recording lyrics, and think that in
general it will be a good fix.  I don't know if it would work with
this particular client with his delayed processing and speech
difficulties, but it is a good idea I can use that won't typically
take a lot of time or put undue burden on the client.  It definitely
does beat typing things out, and I can always do that from the
recording if I feel like I need to see/hear the words in the context
of a lyric sheet.  All my sessions are video recorded so I do have
some of his lyrics available to listen to, but they're not clear on
the recording.

On 10/11/15, Carly Mihalakis via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Afternoon, Sarah,
>
> I think that one is a fabulously productive suggestion, you can
> gather a plethora of insight regarding client's psychology if he
> speaks in a way he initially scribed those lyrics.
> CarAt 03:09 PM 10/11/2015, Sarah Meyer via humanser wrote:
>>Hi Kaiti,
>>I'm so glad you posted this question, as I am sure I will be facing
>>similar ones very soon when I enter into my practicum next semester.
>>I wonder if another approach, rather than even typing the lyrics as
>>the client reads, would be to record (with his permission) his reading
>>of the lyrics out loud; perhaps this way you might even be able to go
>>back and interpret some of the emotional cues.
>>
>>I love what Dr. Duff pointed out about how having this open
>>conversation about disability could open up new doors for
>>vulnerability and further therapeutic work.
>>
>>I am curious if other professionals in this field use readers or
>>sighted colleagues for similar situations at times when scanning just
>>won't work, as in cases with hand-written materials.
>>
>>Thanks for introducing this topic, Kaiti!
>>
>>--
>>Sarah K. Meyer
>>Graduate Student, Clinical Mental Health Counseling/Social Psychology
>>Ball State University
>>Board Member, Human Services Division of the National Federation of the
>> Blind
>>sarah.meyer55 at gmail.com
>>(317)402-6632
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>humanser mailing list
>>humanser at nfbnet.org
>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
>>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>for humanser:
>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/carlymih%40comcast.net
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> humanser mailing list
> humanser at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> humanser:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/crazy4clarinet104%40gmail.com
>


-- 
Kaiti Shelton
University of Dayton-Music Therapy
President, Ohio Association of Blind Students 2013-Present
Secretary, The National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts
Division 2015-2016

"You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back!"