Alabama`s Wounded Warriors return home

Transcription

ACDDAdvocate
A L A B A M A CO U N C I L F O R D E V E LO PM E N TA L D I S A B I L I T I E S
Volume III Number 2, Summer 2008
Alabama's
Wounded Warriors
return home
Th e Fed er al D efin it ion of
Developmental Disability
•
A. The term “developmental disability” means a severe, chronic disability of an individual that is:
• attributable to a mental and/or physical impairment
• is manifested before the individual attains age 22
• is likely to continue indefinitely
• results in substantial functional limitations in 3 or more of the following areas of major life activity:
(1) self-care
(2) receptive and expressive language
(3) learning
(4) mobility
(5) self-direction
(6) capacity for independent living
(7) economic self-sufficiency
• reflects the individual’s need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic services, individualized supports, or other forms of assistance that are of life
long or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated.
B. Infants and young children:
An individual from birth to age 9, inclusive, who has a substantial developmental delay or specific congenital or acquired condition, may be considered to have a developmental
disability without meeting 3 or more of the criteria (listed above) ... if the individual,
without services and supports, has a high probability of meeting those criteria later in life.
From the Developmental Disabilities
Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, 2000
Reauthorization, Public Law 106-402,
S. 1809-7(8).
2
Alabama Council for Developmental Disabilities
ACDDAdvocate
Vol. III, No. 2
Spring 2008
The ACDD Advocate is published quarterly by the
Alabama Council for Developmental Disabilities.
Serving our
WoundedWarriors
COUNCIL OFFICE:
RSA Union Building
100 North Union Street
P.O. Box 301410
Montgomery, AL 36130-1410
(334) 242-3973 or 1(800) 232-2158
FAX: (334) 242-0797
Website: www.acdd.org
5
ACDD STAFF:
Elmyra Jones, Executive Director
Cheryl Bartlett, Planner
Debra Florea, Information and Referral
Queena Folmar, FiscalManager
Jayne Chase, Partners in Policymaking Coordinator
Shunqulla Moore, Office Manager
Council Members:
Philip B. Young, Parent/Advocate, Council Chair
Johnna Breland, Parent/Guardian
Ruth Brewbaker, Family Member
Vivian Brown, Consumer
Irene Collins, Senior Services
Michael Collins, Consumer
Barbara Crozier, Governor’s Office on Disability
Richard Dorrough, Department of Children’s Affairs
Karen Dixon, Center for Excellence
Beverly Gardner, Family Member
Mitch Garrett, Epilepsy Foundation
Vickie Gillian, Family Member
Ellen Gillespie, Alabama Disabilities Advocacy
and Protection
Carolyn Greene, Parent Advocate
Reginald Guilford, Consumer
Carol A. Herrmann, Medicaid Agency
Britnee Hittle, Family Member
John Houston, Mental Health/MR
Anne Evans, Designated State Agency
April Ikner, Consumer
Col. (Ret.) Stefan Eisen, Family Member
David Lowery, Consumer
Angela Jones McNeal, Family Member/Guardian
Frances Blake Murphy, Family Member
G. Hugh Nichols, Parent Advocate
John O’Malley, Parent Advocate
Jim Pitts, Family Member
Gaylen S. Pugh, Local Agency
Nancy Rhodes, Parent Advocate
Steve Shivers, Rehabilitation Services
Graham Sisson, Jr., Governor's Office on Disabilities
Shelia A. Smalley, Guardian
Joan Smith, Consumer
Elizabeth Turner, Consumer
Page Walley, Human Resources
Mabrey Whetstone, ALSDE-Special Edu. Svs
DaLee Chambers, ALSDE
Donald E. Williamson, Public Health
Sharis LeMay, Deptartment of Public Health
Operation Lima Foxtrot
Birmingham facility helps severely wounded
veterans get back to living
14
Noah Galloway
12
Wounded Warriors Program
Heroic veteran describes his experiences at
Operation Foxtrot
Carlatrena Walker is the Soldier Advocate for wounded
soldiers and their families in the Birmingham area.
20
BioTech Limb and Brace
22
Get 10 Program
26
Brenda McComb strives to see all Alabamians have access
to full, meaniful employment.
Department of Public Health program strives to get
Alabamians prepared for emergencies
Councilwoman Miriam Witherspoon
Councilwoman makes Birmingham City Hall
accessible after becoming elected.
Contents
Letter from the Governor............................................2
Letter from the Council Chair.....................................3
Letter from the Executive Director..........................4
Operation Lima-Foxtrot...............................................5
Noah Galloway.................................................................9
Ronda Jarvis-Ray...........................................................11
Wounded Warrior Program......................................12
BioTech Limb and Brace.............................................14
Estate planning for those with special needs...16
Shoals area ACDD grant.............................................18
New Council Members.............................................. 20
Public Health emergency planning..................... 22
Hurrican planing...........................................................24
Eleventh Annual Autism event............................... 25
Miriam Witherspoon Councilperson................... 26
DISCLAIMER: All direct quotations and other information represented through interviews in this magazine
are the opinions of the speakers, and do not necessarily represent the position of the Alabama Council for
Developmental Disabilities or the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation.
T h e ACDD A d vo ca t e
S u m m e r 2008
1
Letter
from the
Governor
Bob Riley, Governor
State of Alabama
Greetings
With all the excitement over the upcoming Presidential election and the concern of over high gas
prices, it is sometimes easy to forget the sacrifices that are being made every day by the men and
women in our country’s Armed Forces.
In spite of our relatively small population, Alabama has the second highest deployment of soldiers in the Global War on Terror. These brave men and women are serving valiantly, and are willing to sacrifice everything
in the line of duty.
This issue of the ACDD Advocate looks at what happens to these men and women when they return home to Alabama
after being injured or wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. While the going can be and is often difficult, we have many nationally-recognized resources in place to serve our Wounded Warriors.
Birmingham’s Lakeshore Foundation is one such place. Here, soldiers who were wounded in the Global War on Terror
can come, free of charge, and experience thrilling, rehabilitative, and competitive activities designed to help them reintegrate into their communities. These unique activities promote physical and emotional strength, guided by Lakeshore’s
dedicated professionals and made possible by generous support from Alabama businesses and individuals. Lakeshore’s
Lima Foxtrot Program has a well-deserved national reputation, and has vastly enriched the lives of countless injured veterans. Read inside for examples of how lives are being changed for the better.
Alabama also houses the United States Army’s Wounded Warriors Soldiers Advocate program, with offices in Birmingham and Huntsville. Soldiers from across the state can turn to these caring advocates for help in negotiating their nonmedical social needs as they return home after being injured in the line of duty.
We even see in this issue how our private businesses are stepping up to the challenge of caring for our veterans by providing not only excellent, compassionate service, but also by employing the most innovative, effective technologies to
help our injured soldiers readapt to the world of work. By designing and manufacturing the most modern and technologically-advanced prosthetics and orthotics, BioTech in Birmingham is helping to give new life to those who need it most.
These are just more good examples of how the public and private sectors can work together to create opportunities to
serve, and to change lives for the better. Let’s remember our veterans who have sacrificed in the line of duty, and do all we
can to welcome them back to the state that they call home.
Bob Riley, Governor
2 2 AA
l albaabm
a aC o
e veevleol p
e ne tnatla lD D
i siasbaibliiltiiteise s
am
Cu
on
uc
nicli lf of r
o rD D
om
pm
from the
Council Chair
Philip Young, Council Chair
Alabama Council
for Developmental Disabilities
“Segregation distorts the soul and damages the personality. It gives the segregator
a false sense of superiority and the segregated a false sense of inferiority. Segregation...
is not only politically, economically, and sociologically unsound, it is morally wrong
and awful.”
Martin Luther King
Forty years ago I was playing a spring training football game when I heard Dr. King had been shot. His
words and actions have moved our country and the world forward in the understanding and growth of
all individuals. Unfortunately we have failed to utilize all of our available resources to end segregation in
the world of developmental disabilities. The restrictions and barriers of segregation continue to limit the
contributions of many of our citizens with developmental disabilities – contributions that can and would
improve all of our lives.
My son turns twenty-two this month and he has been a great joy in my life. Nineteen years ago, upon
his being diagnosed with a developmental disability, my awakening to a new world quickly changed from
football to real world situations. Blocking and tackling changed to early intervention, occupational therapy, speech therapy and a whole new maze of life.
We have a choice to make when we are jolted awake. Standing still is not an option. We are called to
build capacity with our attitudes and actions. It is difficult to move from where we are to where we need
to be. But it is only after everyone pulls his or her individual weight that we can continue forward. This
forward way leads us toward ending the stereotyping and discrimination and segregation of the developmentally disabled.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve on the Alabama Council for Developmental Disabilities for the
last eight years. And thank you especially for the privilege of spending the last five years as Chair. It has
been a great honor and privilege to serve in this challenging role. Thank you for the friendship and motivation that drives me to help make a difference.
Let’s all push forward for change and choice in making our world more inclusive.
S u m m e r 2008
3
A L A B A M A
C O U N C I L
F O R
D E V E L O P M E N T A L
D I S A B I L I T I E S
A Letter
from the
Executive Director
Elmyra Jones, Executive Director
Alabama Council
for Developmental
Disabilities
As part of our public awareness campaign – which focuses on helping Alabamians see abilites instead of disabilities – the Alabama Council for Developmental
Disabilities has undertaken several simultaneous efforts to reach more people with
our important message.
Over the last several months we have sponsored billboards statewide – an example of which was featured on the cover of our Winter 2008 issue. The billboards
have a very plain message:
Look at my disABILITY.
We have also worked hard to better develop our mailing list. This updated and greatly expanded list was used for
the first time with the mailing of this issue of the ACDD Advocate. You may very well be receiving this issue for the first
time, though we are now in the middle of our third year of publication – though it seems like we just started yesterday.
The quarterly magazine seeks to show the work of the Council in many areas, especially by focusing on how our
efforts make a positive impact on our state’s citizens with developmental disabilities. We do this through a series of
profiles of Alabamians with disabilities, showing how they impact their communities through leadership, employment
and advocacy. We visit with university presidents, foundation leaders, medical and clinical researchers, philanthropists,
legislators and other policymakers, and municipalities, businesses and industries that employ people with disabilities
and engage with the disabilities community in a variety of ways. In future issues we hope to work collaboratively with
other state departments and our sister agencies in the state’s DD Network to show the “big picture” of how we all work
together for the greater good. And of course each issue starts out with “Greetings!” from the Governor, who reviews
the contents in relation to his or her larger role as Alabama’s chief executive.
Finally, we have also undertaken efforts to develop a website (www.acdd.org) that will serve as a reliable, useful
destination for people seeking information and resources relevant to their unique needs. We hope our extended community will use the website to stay abreast of breaking news, learn about grant opportunities, find times and locations
of meetings and public hearings, and add their name, address and email to our database so we can keep in touch with
them. We have also archived all of the past issues of our magazine on the website. The site is a work in progress and we
welcome your input for how to make it better.
Thanks for keeping in touch, and if this is the first time you’ve heard from us, let us know what you think. Come visit
us at www.acdd.org.
4
Lakeshore Foundation’s
Operation Lima-Foxtrot
Birmingham Facility Helps
Veterans
With Severe Injuries
Get Back to Living
L
akeshore Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Birmingham, Alabama, is dedicated to enhancing the lives
of individuals with physical
disabilities. More recently, its Lima Foxtrot
programs were developed for severely
injured military
veterans who have
sustained injuries in
Iraq or Afghanistan.
Such injuries typically include blindness
or serious visual
impairment, traumatic brain injury, or
loss of one or more
limbs. Many of these
veterans are also experiencing polytraumatic conditions, or Post-traumatic Stress
Disorder. Lakeshore’s unique programs
offer injured servicemen and women a variety of fun and challenging recreational
opportunities which, under the guidance
of Lakeshore’s professionals, also open the
door to life after injury.
“Lakeshore Foundation has served veterans for years, but with the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts we felt uniquely positioned
to offer this service,” said Ronda Jarvis-Ray,
formerly Lakeshore’s Chief Program Officer,
who this month joined a full-time vet rehab
program called Wounded Warriors. “We
focus on a variety of recreational opportunities that are most helpful to particular
injuries. Lakeshore Foundation’s had several events and each caters to the veterans’
unique situations. The veterans who come
here have a desire to compete and learn
and challenge themselves. We provide that
opportunity through our years of professional expertise and adaptive environments. Our programs are pretty unique and
have gotten a great response from participants and their families.”
All Lima Foxtrot programs are provided
at absolutely no cost to the injured serviceman or woman, as
well as one guest.
This includes air and
ground transportation, meals and lodging, and the events
themselves.
“Our first operation
was held in September of 2006,” said Ray,
a champion skier and
former star in international wheelchair basketball competition (see sidebar).
“Our focus on sports and recreation
helps the veterans learn about adaptation.
Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). So far
We hope that once they participate in our
in these two combat fronts we’ve had over
programs, they will be able to repeat and
31,000 U.S. injuries. More lives are being
use what they learned here back home,
saved than in previous wars and that’s the
and share that ability with other injured
good news. The flip side is that many more
veterans.”
of our veterans are coming home with perThe total number of injured veterans
manent, severe, disabling injuries. These
served by Lakeshore’s various operations is
now around 200. The first one
had 26 vets from 16 different
states.
Lakeshore’s unique programs offer injured
“Our participants have exservice men and women a variety of fun
perienced a variety of injuries
and challenging “extreme” recreational
- burns, amputations, blindopportunities which, under the guidance
ness, polytraumatic (PTSD)
conditions - but by far the
of Lakeshore’s professionals, also open the
signature injury from these
door to life after injury.
conflicts is traumatic brain
injury, most often caused by
S p r i n g 2008
5
are mostly young people who must live with these injuries for the rest of their lives. Lakeshore Foundation is
trying to enrich and strengthen those lives.”
“Many more vets are coming. We go from what
they can’t do to what we can do. We focus on ability rather than disability.”
Thus far, according to Ray, Operation Lima
Foxtrot has been “incredibly successful.”
“We have received an outpouring of calls from
case workers, clinicians, therapists, VA professionals, anyone who
works with these
“In addition to the
vets. It’s transformachallenging events
tional. They all want to
in which the veterans
know the same thing:
participate, there
‘When is the next
event?’ Our president,
is also a unique
Jeff Underwood, asked
networking opportunity.
me to develop a yearThere is a sense of
round comprehensive
belonging to be with
program so we could
others like yourselves,
serve more people. We
call it Operation Ento have a mutual
durance.” As listed beunderstanding of
low, there have been
what
you’ve all
a variety of camps,
been through.”
some that are more
diagnostic-specific
than others.
“Take Operation Night
Vision, for example. Vision
loss has its own unique issues, and most often comes
from shrapnel blast injuries, so
there is also a strong association with PTSD. In addition to
the challenging events in which
the veterans participate, there is
also a unique networking opportunity. There is a sense of belonging to
be with others like yourselves, to have a
mutual understanding of what you’ve all
been through.”
Ray said all of the camps, regardless of disability, are grounded in sports and outdoor
and aquatic recreation, and are based on Lakeshore’s mission of using recreation to help people
lead active, independent lives after becoming
disabled. In addition to its Lima-Foxtrot programs,
Lakeshore is also an official U.S. Olympic and Paralym-
“We have received an outpouring of calls from case workers, clinicians, therapists,
VA professionals, anyone who works with these vets. It’s transformational. They all
want to know the same thing: ‘When is the next event?’”
6
Among the various Lakeshore events for
veterans injured in Iraq or Afghanistan that
have been held or are in the development
process are:
Operation Rise & Conquer. This threeday event in September will help injured veterans
learn how to adapt recreational activities so they
may continue to enjoy these things with family
and friends at home, outside of the Lakeshore environment. It is open to veterans with amputation,
visual impairment, spinal cord injury, traumatic
brain injury, burns, and other service-related injuries. Activities include bass fishing, clay and skeet
shooting, scuba diving and water skiing. It will be
held at an accessible camp on Lake Martin.
Operation Night Vision. This recent
event was specifically designed for military veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan and suffered significant vision loss or blindness. Held on
Birmingham’s Lakeshore campus, events included cycling, archery, shooting, fitness, rock climbing, and kayaking, among others.
Operation X-Sports. This three-day event
is designed to appeal to servicemen and women
with a variety of injuries – including spinal cord
injury, TBI, amputation or visual impairment
-- who have an interest in extreme sports. Such
activities include mountain biking, competitive
sports, rock climbing, wakeboarding, and others.
pic Training Site. The U.S. men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams competed in international competition at Lakeshore
last month as part of their paths to the 2008 Paralympic games in
Beijing, China. The men’s wheelchair rugby team also participated
in international competition at Lakeshore in June.
“Besides the Lima-Foxtrot programs and our close and longstanding association with U.S. Olympic and Paralympic training,
Lakeshore is really like a health club for people with physical dis-
Operation Endurance. This camp makes
Lakeshore’s world-class daily programs and services available to any veteran injured in armed
conflict who lives in the Birmingham area. This
includes fitness workouts and classes, aquatic
exercise, individual and team sports, paddling
lessons, rock climbing, strength and conditioning
instruction, and fitness assessments.
S u m m e r 2008
7
“In spite of its relatively small
population, the state of Alabama has
the second-largest deployment of
soldiers in these two conflicts, just
behind Texas. So we’ve got a lot of
veterans right around this area. Our
unique ability to help these injured
veterans is getting a lot of national
attention.”
Speaker Pelosi, Congressman
Davis praise Lakeshore, veterans
On Friday, May 2, the same day that ACDD Advocate staff
writers were touring Lakeshore, U.S. Representative Artur Davis of
Alabama joined Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy
Pelosi at the Lakeshore Foundation. The two met with veterans
participating in the Lima-Foxtrot programs. The visit was nonpartisan, focusing strictly on honoring Lakeshore’s commitment
to serve injured veterans, and to praise the bravery and sacrifice
of the soldiers themselves.
Davis said of Lakeshore, “The Lakeshore Foundation and its
facility for rehabilitating injured American soldiers is one of
Alabama's proudest accomplishments.”
Speaker Pelosi thanked Congressman Davis for inviting her
to Alabama and said she “enjoyed meeting with the heroic men
and women who have served our country with distinction and
bravery. Just as our troops pledge to leave no soldier behind on
the battlefield, we pledge to leave no veteran behind when they
return home. The Lakeshore Foundation's Lima Foxtrot Program
is an exemplary model for the rest of the country that honors this
sacred commitment to our nation's veterans.”
The 110th Congress has championed veterans' issues, passing
a 3.5 percent across the board pay raise for all service members,
expanding VA research on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,
increasing the mileage reimbursement rate for rural veterans
traveling to the VA, and passing a law allowing 100 percent
disabled veterans to receive both their military retirement
benefits and VA disability compensation.
Speaker Pelosi concluded, “Congratulations to Lakeshore
Foundation for your tremendous leadership. What I see here
today shows so much respect for people with disabilities, but
also so much respect for our veterans by the magnificence of the
facility, by the care and concern of the staff, and by the support of
the community.”
8
abilities,” Ray said. “Our military and international
training programs bring people in from across the
country, but our day-to-day program draws its membership primarily from a five-county area around Birmingham.”
Ray said there is a special reason for focusing on
serving Alabama veterans who have been injured in
Iraq and Afghanistan. “In spite of its relatively small
population, the state of Alabama has the secondlargest deployment of soldiers in these two conflicts,
just behind Texas. So we’ve got a lot of veterans right
around this area. Our unique ability to help these injured veterans is getting a lot of national attention.
We’ve even helped the staff at Walter Reed Army Hospital integrate injured soldiers back into civilian life.
We’re good at it and it has become a major focus at
Lakeshore.”
“As I said earlier, we focus on ability rather than disability. And we will continue to do so.”
Noah Galloway
‘Lakeshore teaches you to enjoy life!’
regains positive perspective
N
oah Galloway was
born in 1981 in
Birmingham, Alabama, and grew up in nearby Midfield. He dropped out
of school in the eighth grade
to work as a landscaper, and
by the age of 19 became
the youngest person ever
to become a crew leader at
an area plant that produced
high-heat intensity smokestack liners. This independent, “get ‘er done” streak led
Galloway at age 20 to leave a
fledgling college career and
enlist in the United States
Army. The date of his enlistment: October 2, 2001.
“There have been a lot
of military members in my
family but I knew it wasn’t
for me because I never did
like authority,” Galloway said.
“But after 9/11 I felt suddenly
there was a real reason to
join up so I did. I wanted to
go into the Marine Corps but
they wouldn’t guarantee me
Airborne training so I joined
the Army and went almost
immediately to Fort Benning
for 16 weeks of basic training
and then completed jump
school.”
Galloway was then
shipped to Ft. Campbell,
Kentucky with the prestigious 101st Airborne Division. From there one brigade
went to Afghanistan while
Galloway’s went to Kuwait
S p r i n g 2008
9
waiting, as he said, “on the word to go into
Iraq.”
“Our commanders assumed it would be
a tank operation like our first Kuwait invasion, but it turned out to be an infantry
campaign as everyone knows. We went on
foot all the way into Baghdad, moving so
fast the supplies couldn’t keep up with us.
We were dehydrated and hungry and
looked horrible, but I was hooked. It was a
very exciting time and we truly bonded as
fellow soldiers in a common cause.”
Galloway re-enlisted to ensure he could
stay with the 101st, then under the command of General David Petraus. Between
deployments Galloway’s wife became
pregnant and their son was born prematurely and lost 75 percent of his small intestines.
“While the top specialists in the country were not sure if he would live, our son
amazed everyone by getting better. He just
got well. It was then my job to convince
commanders up the line to allow me to
return with my brigade to Iraq. The commanders all asked the same thing: ‘What
about your family?’ I replied: ‘What about
your family? We have a job to do!’ They let
me go.”
Re-deployed into that area commonly
known as the Triangle of Death, Galloway
said the region was really just too large to
cover and his company suffered a lot of
casualties. On one mission half the platoon
was sent to one village while the other half
went to a different village. They were traveling in armored Humvees. Two squads were
unaccounted for at the end of the mission
and Galloway volunteered to go find his
brothers-in-arms.
“It was 2 a.m. but we had to travel with
our headlights off so as not to broadcast
our presence to our enemies,” Galloway recalled. “I was wearing night vision goggles
and didn’t see a trip wire stretched across
the road.”
The resulting explosion sent the four-ton
vehicle flying into a roadside canal, and left
Galloway unconscious and up to his chest
in water. He woke up weeks later on Christmas Day and found himself back in the
States, at Walter Reed Hospital, surrounded
by family.
“They had to tell me what happened,
that in the explosion I had my left arm
10
blown off, my jaw shattered, and both legs
severely injured,” Galloway said. “It was a
tough thing to face, especially after they
had to amputate my left leg as well.
“My mentality was that I
was not going to hang out
there,” he said. “Although
I didn’t plan on it, my
attitude changed. If you’ve
ever seen it, you know that
the main building itself is
inspirational. But it’s the
staff that makes it almost
incredible. There’s a guy who
works there who is missing
all four limbs and he’s getting
the job done every day.”
But, my dad lost his left arm at age 18,
too, and everyone in those days told him
he was finished. He wasn’t. He pushed
himself and became a skilled construction
worker. I decided I was going to push myself, too.”
Galloway soon learned that wanting to
push yourself and actually doing it are two
entirely different things.
“As an amputee at Walter Reed you’re a
dime a dozen,” Galloway said. “Back home
you know what it’s gonna be like – it’s gonna be tough and it’s good to get out there
and start
accepting it.”
On what he called the start of “a long
road,” Galloway learned about Lakeshore
through a friend of his mother’s.
“My mentality was that I was not going to hang out there,” he said. “Although
I didn’t plan on it, my attitude changed. If
you’ve ever seen it, you know that the main
building itself is inspirational. But it’s the
staff that makes it almost incredible. There’s
a guy who works there who is missing all
four limbs and he’s getting the job done
every day.”
“Almost against my will I started working with them,” Galloway said. “They said
what I had to offer was that I could call up
other vets and tell them I’d been there and
it was OK and they should give it a try. I
thought I could do everything on my own
and they just asked me to help them help
others. I owe a lot to Ronda (Jarvis-Ray). I
mean, I’m not an emotional guy. Not at all.
But when I left that first camp I just broke
down. I never saw it coming. Skiing. Hiking
in the woods and sweating and just having
a good time. It’s the little things. It changes
your life.”
Galloway said he did things at Lakeshore
he never thought possible.
“What you do there … when they show
you you can do what you thought was impossible, it changes your whole life. They
have done that for me and so many other
guys. They asked me to help them and
then, without my realizing it, they helped
me. They taught me you can’t do everything on your own. I didn’t want friends at
Walter Reed. At Lakeshore, though, I quit
being arrogant and got to be friends with
all the guys. We help each other.”
“At Walter Reed – which is great in its
own way – they show you how to get back
into your life. At Lakeshore, they teach you
how to enjoy your life! I don’t know how
else to put it. The place is inspirational.”
Rhonda
Jarvis-Ray
follows passion, serves veterans
R
onda Jarvis-Ray, Lakeshore’s former Chief Program
Officer and one of the moving forces behind the
Lima-Foxtrot programs, grew up in Santa Fe, New
Mexico and loved sports from an early age.
“I had always been very athletic,” she said. “I had spinal
cancer and that led to a spinal cord injury. Since age 14 I
have been in a wheelchair. But sports – and especially basketball – gave me my life back.”
Ray received a hoops scholarship to the University of Illinois where she received her BS degree, and then went on
to gain her Masters of Social Work at Illinois.
“I returned to New Mexico and was playing basketball
by this time on an international level,” she said. “I was fortunate to be a U.S. Paralympic Basketball Team member in
Barcelona in 1992, and in Atlanta in 1996. I also love to water ski. So I feel like I can relate to what our veterans here
are facing when they start their rehabilitation.”
Ray heard about Lakeshore when she was entered in a
tennis tournament and interviewed for a job.
“It was all just so great,” she said. “I had a job and I could
keep training. So here I am having been in Alabama for
over ten years. I only have one problem: I’m still trying to
acclimate to the weather!”
(Ray recently decided to devote full time to veterans’ rehabilitation issues through the work of the Wounded Warrior
program.)
tDear Ronda,
e, came to an appoin
ett and his wife, Yvonn
nn
Be
k
Nic
,
day
ter
Yes
tact you and share my
I am compelled to con
nt.
me
art
dep
our
in
ment
ce. An
Adventure Experien
des on the Operation
felt
gratitude and accola
m
tea
ole
wh
that our
capture the emotion
he
email simply does not
(as
nd
eke
we
of last
red their recollection
Nick
as Nick and his wife sha
for
e
tim
a
t). It was
tion Adventure T-shir
selfproudly wore the Opera
not
s
wa
a time when he
sporting events, but
ento not only enjoy the
nt
otional). The eve
(both physical and em
e
conscious of his scars
head-on, in a totally saf
es
some of his disabiliti
e
fac
to
him
ed
irag
lim
cou
accommodate for his
o showed him how to
th
environment that als
Bo
le.
ilab
ava
t
bes
y the
and staff were clearl
The
tations. The facilities
nt.
eve
s
thi
in
ed
ored by being includ
hon
felt
o
als
e
wif
his
s so
Nick and
the registration proces
or to the event made
and
ar
work that you did pri
cle
y
ver
s
gements wa
nication on the arran
easy and the commu
many
informative.
s event. There are so
will able to repeat thi
h as
lt is my hope that you
suc
efit from an event
d women that could ben
d
sen
other servicemen an
other opportunity to
informed if there is an
be
to
e
lik
uld
wo
I
s.
thi
more of my patients.
Sincerely,
Jo Lee Coleman
t
Clinical Nurse Specialis
tation
bili
ha
Re
d
an
a
Polytraum
ter
Cen
al
dic
Me
VA
Roudebush
2
20
46
IN
Indianapolis,
S u m m e r 2008
11
Wounded
Warrior
Program
Carlatrena Walker
SoldierAdvocates
serve those who sacrifice
T
he United States Army’s Wounded
Warrior Program was established on
April 30, 2004, to assist and advocate
for wounded soldiers and their families.
Carlatrena Walker is the Soldier Advocate
for the Wounded Warrior Program in Birmingham. Until the Army recently added
another position in Huntsville, Walker was
Alabama’s only such Advocate.
“The Program came into existence once
the ‘Shock and Awe’ phase of the Iraq war
was over and we realized this was going
to be a long-term commitment and we
were going to have a lot of wounded soldiers who would need ongoing assistance,”
Walker said. “And these are not necessarily
medical needs. Medical issues are generally
handled by the VA and Army hospitals. We
focus on helping our wounded soldiers return to the community, or employment, or
reenlistment.”
“Our advocacy extends to helping soldiers and their families obtain all of the VA
and veterans benefits to which they are
entitled, assisting with healthcare once a
soldier has retired from the Army, financial
12
counseling, and career and employment
opportunities, among other things.”
The Wounded Warrior program is administered by a private military contractor,
Serco, Inc., which employs thousands of
civilians around the world. The Wounded
Warrior advocates, according to Walker,
typically have military experience so they
bring a more authentic understanding
of what the wounded soldier is going
through. Walker herself was on active duty
in the United States Navy, and she later
used the GI Bill to obtain a degree in Social
Work at UAB.
“I used my degree to work in a program
serving homeless veterans and their families, and then I had an opportunity to work
with Serco as an education counselor with
the 81st Regional Readiness Command in
the Army Reserve,” she said. “From there I
went to a family readiness program before
becoming an Advocate in the Wounded
Warrior Program. So I’ve had a lot of
military experience, as well as experience
working with military personnel in an advocacy role.”
Walker, a small-town girl from Dadeville,
Alabama, said the program serves an important need.
“When I left active duty service I realized
very quickly how much I didn’t know about
the resources and opportunities that were
available to me,” she said. “I now have a real
desire to help our wounded veterans make
informed decisions about education, job
opportunities, benefits, and transitioning
back into the community. And this local
resource expertise extends to the soldiers’
families, as well.”
The soldier advocates for the program
are located at major military treatment
facilities ad VA centers. To qualify for the
program, soldiers must have suffered from
injuries or illness incurred after September
10, 2001, in support of the Global War on
Terror, and receive or be expected to receive a 30 percent or greater disability rating by the Physical Disability Rating System
for such injuries as vision loss, loss of limb,
spinal cord injuries, severe burns or permanent disfigurement, traumatic brain injury,
or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
This same disability rating would extend to
soldiers with fatal or incurable diseases and
any other condition requiring extensive
hospitalization or multiple surgeries.
“The primary problem I see in my caseload is PTSD,” Walker said. “The soldier may
come in the first time with a family member. When a soldier returns to the community, he or she is typically shut
off from family and friends and just
wants to be left alone. When it becomes obvious they do not want to
be bothered the family member
becomes concerned – they know
something’s not right –they contact
us. On the medical front we link the
soldier up with the VA but we also
ensure they have all their benefits in
place and then we continue to
provide assistance.”
Walker said PTSD can be difficult to
recognize and diagnose. Some have
all the symptoms listed in the DSM
IV – memory lapses, difficulty with
crowds, darkness or low ceilings, fireworks or loud noises triggering bad
memories – and some may just have
a general feeling of being ill at ease,
feeling insecure, or isolated. She said
some can talk to other soldiers about
it but most feel it’s something no one
else could ever understand – especially family members.
“We try to assist in general terms
on issues of self-determination. We
want to see our soldiers gainfully
employed but as advocates we also
know there are limitations. So we
try to counsel them to lean toward
things at which they have a better
chance of success. Overall I’d say
housing and education and an independent life – complete with all the benefits to which our Wounded Warriors are
entitled -- are our goals as advocates.”
Next to PTSD, Walker said traumatic
brain injuries (TBI) are the next most common injury she sees in her office. These
symptoms often take a while to manifest.
And there are multiple diagnoses. Often
with TBI there is loss of vision. But sometimes the injuries cannot be seen.
“Those we call the walking wounded,”
Walker said. “We of course don’t try to de-
cide if it’s mild or severe. We let the VA do
that. As I’ve said, we focus on help, education, and resources. We want our soldiers to
know someone is there for them wherever
they are, no matter how many years later.
Our Warrior Ethos states it plainly: ‘I will
never leave a fallen comrade.’ That’s the
belief we adhere to here at the Wounded
“Our Warrior Ethos
states it plainly: ‘I will
never leave a fallen
comrade.’ That’s the
belief we adhere to here
at the Wounded Warrior
Program.”
Warrior Program.”
Referrals come from various places: the
VA, community agencies, Social Security,
and community relationships.
“We also have a call center so when a soldier comes in contact with a central location he or she is referred to us,” Walker said.
“As of July 2008 we have over 3000 soldiers
in our program. But we are constantly adding more. Our goal is to average 30 soldiers
per advocate but we are presently at 42:1. I
personally have as of today 45 clients.”
Regardless of the caseload, Walker said
the advocates will remain critical to the
total re-integration program for wounded
soldiers.
“We have a strong collaborative relationship with the VA, which handles things on
the medical front,” she said. “But we are the
constant. We are here to support our soldiers and their families for however
long they need us. And that can be
for the rest of their lives.”
“We form strong relationships with
our clients,” she continued. “We reach
out and have contact at least every
30 days. If you ask one of them ‘Who
is Carlatrena Walker?’ they might say,
‘She is a friend. She checks on me and
I and go to her when I need help.’ I
might know about a problem they’re
having and go ahead and contact a
service provider on their behalf. They
might or might not know I did all that
for them, but we do what we must to
ensure they get what they need.”
Nationally, there are now 61 advocates in the Wounded Warrior Program, serving over 3,000 soldiers. According to Global Security.org, there
have been over 30,000 American
military wounded in Iraq alone since
March 2003 (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_casualties.
htm). From that number it’s pretty
easy to understand that caring for
those who have sacrificed themselves
in the line of duty is very expensive,
and will continue to be for decades
to come.
“It seems like we don’t have a budget,” Walker said. “We do whatever it
takes. We grow by 21 advocates per
year, and this growth is limited by
Serco’s annual contracts. As the number of
wounded continues to grow, we continue
to need more advocates. When I started
this job 18 months ago I had 33 soldiers
and that number has been as high as 61.
As long as we reach out and find soldiers
and connect with them, those numbers will
continue to grow.”
For more information on the Wounded
Warrior Program, call 1 (800) 237-1336, or
visit its website at www.AW2.army.mil
S u m m e r 2008
13
BioTech
Limb
Brace
and
“The bonds last a lifetime”
I
“Our soldiers in Iraq and
Afghanistan experience the
kinds of explosions that can
cause them to lose arms or legs,
and often both,” Eisenberg said.
“Unfortunately, we are working
with soldiers who have the need
for every service we offer.”
14
n the general population, fairly little
thought is given to the process of designing and fitting artificial limbs for amputees. But in modern warfare more and
more combat soldiers are able to survive the
catastrophic explosions most commonly
associated with IEDs. As a result, increasing
numbers of these soldiers need prosthetics
and orthotics.
Alabama has
the second largest deployment of
combat soldiers
in Iraq and Afghanistan in spite
of its relatively
small population.
Fortunately for
these soldiers, the
Yellowhammer
State also boasts
a homegrown
prosthetics and
orthotics business
that combines
deeply personal,
caring service
with the very latest in materials and technologies. That business is Birmingham’s BioTech Limb and Brace.
“Prosthetics is the field of designing, fitting, and fabricating artificial limbs,” said Eric
Eisenberg, BioTech’s president and founder.
“Orthotics is the design, fitting and fabricating of braces.”
For most civilian uses, braces would be
placed on the foot, leg, or spine. Civilian prosthetic uses are typically associated with the
lower extremities (leg) as a result of circulatory or vascular problems.
The same is not true for returning combat
veterans.
“Our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan experience the kinds of explosions that can
cause them to lose arms or legs, and often
both,” Eisenberg said. “Unfortunately, we
are working with soldiers who have the
need for every service we offer.”
The process begins, Eisenberg said, with
a physician’s referral. The soldiers frequently have battlefield injuries besides amputations so they have been cared for and stabilized before coming to BioTech.
“When a patient comes to us for an artificial arm or leg, we begin of course with the
design process. We look at the individual’s
strength and weaknesses, skin conditions,
things like that. A lot of our soldiers have
been badly burned, so there are many
things to take into consideration in the design process.”
He points out that no two artificial limbs
are the same – each prosthetic designed
and manufactured by BioTech is completely unique to that individual soldier.
“Each person is a different size and shape
and has different contours,” Eisenberg
said. “Furthermore, the traumatic injuries
our soldiers sustain frequently leave them
without a full range of motion, skin grafts
must be taken into consideration, things
like that. When we are in the measuring
and design phase we have to take each of
those things into account because we want
each of our soldiers to be as comfortable
and functional as possible. And for someone with multiple injuries missing limbs
might be the least of their problems: visual
problems, weakness in a hand, there are so
many things to consider and help the soldier adapt to.”
Once the measuring and design phase
has been completed, the professionals at
BioTech begin the manufacturing process,
which takes place in the company’s own
laboratory right there on 4th Avenue South
in Birmingham.
“The first step here is what we call the diagnostic interface: that’s the socket that fits
over the remaining anatomy. The material
we use is clear like glass and allows us to
see where we are, what areas are pressuresensitive and which are pressure-tolerant,
and ensure that the anatomical contour
is correct. In the case of lower extremity
prosthetics, every person stands and walks
differently so we must
“Our soldiers
take their unique style
in Iraq and
and characteristics into
Afghanistan
account. Of course it
experience
requires much more
the kinds of
energy to walk with a
explosions that
prosthesis than with
can cause them
a regular leg so we
to lose arms
work hard on energy
or legs, and
efficiency. Alignment
often both,”
is critical; everything
Eisenberg said.
must balance.”
“Unfortunately,
From all of these
we are working
diagnostics BioTech is
with soldiers
able to produce a limb
who have the
that caters to the indineed for every
vidual soldier’s needs
service we
and functional fitting.
offer.”
The biggest change
in past 20 years in
the industry is materials, according to
Eisenberg. The underlying scheme hasn’t
changed much in 150 years but modern
materials are superior to those from even
a few years ago. Feet and knees are more
lightweight and stronger and give more efficient energy returns.
“We use every material you can think
of,” Eisenberg said. “Alloys, plastics of every
description, titanium, wood, aluminum,
composite carbon fiber, fiberglass, a lot of
elastomeric gels, and many different kinds
of silicones -- we use them all in our manufacturing process“
Perhaps an even bigger technological
advancement in the world of prosthetics is
the use of microprocessors.
“Basically, the microprocessors function
in the human body like they do in computers: they do the thinking for you,” Eisenberg
said. “In knees, they make the walking
smoother and especially assist when the
person is going down a descent. In the past
a person with an artificial knee would avoid
stairs, ramps or downward inclines of any
kind. But not now.
“Elbows with microprocessors have
more speed. The accuracy with which an
amputee can place a hand is more easily
accomplished. The very newest innovation
is called the ‘I Limb.’ In this artificial hand
each finger has a microprocessor and motor. As a result it more closely resembles the
action of a human hand.”
A huge study now going on in the field
focuses on Targeted Muscle Nerve Reenervation; in hands, fingers, and elbows
, for example, there are ways to get even
more information into these individual
areas. Eisenberg said the study, which is
being conducted in Chicago, is for all practical purposes completed and the technology should be on the market in 12 to 24
months.
“All the person needs to do is think, and
the limb does it. The future is now.”
Why all the new technology all of a sudden? Some of it is the natural evolution of
the marketplace, but the marketplace, unfortunately, is also being driven by events
in the Middle East.
“The last big push in prosthetics research
was during the Vietnam era,” Eisenberg
said. “The Department of Defense is now
involved, putting money into R&D, because
of all the upper extremity injuries we’re seeing over there from IEDs and other similar
explosive techniques to which our soldiers
are exposed.”
The American Board for Certification
in Orthotics and Prosthetics is the licensing board for professionals in the industry.
Training for the board examinations is typically gained through postgraduate work.
In spite of the difficult nature of their
work, Eisenberg and his colleagues at BioTech Limb and Brace find great rewards
in their efforts through the lifelong bonds
they form with the soldiers and other patients they serve.
“It’s just an incredible feeling,” he concluded. “This is the most rewarding career
I can think of. Someone comes to you injured. Psychologically they feel they will
never walk again. No amount of money
can compensate for the feeling that both
of you have. They love you for it. The bond
is professional, but it is also personal. And
since only The Big Guy upstairs can make
a limb that works forever without adjustments, these bonds between us continue
over the years. We truly establish relationships that last a lifetime.”
S u m m e r 2008
15
�pecial �eeds
ESTATE
Planning for
F A M I L Y
M E M B E R S
he Wall Street Journal has accurately summarized the
dilemma faced by parents of children with special needs
who contemplate estate planning. It is like “trying to construct a safety net while gazing into a crystal ball.”
Will my child need continuing assistance throughout his
life or will he or she be able to function as an independent
adult in today’s society? Where will my child live, and does he
or she need a guardian or conservator? Should I disinherit my
child so that he or she will qualify for Medicaid? Should I leave
a greater percentage to my special
needs child than to
When a family member with
special needs is involved, the estate his siblings?
When a famplanning process takes on a new
ily member with
level of emotional choices.
special needs is
involved, the estate
planning process
takes on a new level of emotional choices. Feelings of fear,
worry and confusion coexist with feelings of love, duty and
16
compassion. Information about government benefits may be
sketchy. Too often families respond by doing nothing.
Alternatively, some parents disinherit the child with special
needs, hoping their other children will supplement the disabled sibling’s government benefits. A number of problems
exist with this approach. The parents’ funds in the hands of
the other children are subject to the other children’s (and their
spouses’) creditors. Moreover, the other children have no legal
duty to support their sibling with a disability.
It is critical for families to assess a child with a disability’s
long-term needs for assistance after both parents’ deaths. This
assistance requires implementation of a flexible estate plan
that preserves options and provides for decision-makers for the
child’s lifetime. The first step is to consult with a skilled professional about establishing a plan and making a will.
Preservation of Government Benefits.
A major factor to consider is the need to preserve eligibility
for government benefits. Government programs are necessary
for many people with disabilities. Long-term care is expensive
and can rapidly deplete a family’s finances. The child with a dis-
ability may not be able to work and obtain
group health care coverage. Often he or
she cannot purchase private health care
insurance either. Preserving eligibility for
Medicaid, which provides for comprehensive medical and long-term care coverage,
is vital.
The key to government benefits for a
persona with a disability comes with qualification for Supplemental Security Income
(SSI). In Alabama, individuals who are
eligible for SSI automatically receive Medicaid. Of equal importance, admittance to
many group homes and meaningful work
programs is often restricted to SSI eligible
individuals. Indeed, a full support program,
including federal housing benefits, social
workers, and educational programs, may
sometimes only be available to individuals
who qualify for SSI. Individuals who lose SSI
upon the death or retirement of a parent,
and instead receive Social Security Disability, may still be eligible to retain Medicaid
under Alabama’s Disabled Adult Child
Program (DAC) if the child does not have
resources over the minimal limit.
Severe financial resource and income
tests must be met for a person with a disability to qualify for SSI. An inheritance of
as little as $2,000 (whether outright or in
a conventional trust or custodial account)
may cut a child off from SSI eligibility or
DAC and other needed programs until that
amount is exhausted.
A carefully drafted special needs trust
recognizes that the child’s government
benefits are primary and directs the trustee
to provide supplemental benefits for the
child’s “special needs.” The trust defines
special needs as those items that are not
provided through public or private assistance. The trust should contain an extensive list of examples, such as payments for
companions, special education programs,
enrichment opportunities, transportation
(including vehicle purchase), electronic
equipment, supplemental medical and
dental care, flexible housing options, pets,
adaptive equipment, clothing and personal
expenses.
The beneficiary of the special needs trust
must not have any control over the trust.
All discretion concerning payments resides
with the Trustee. The document also may
specify that the trustee has the authority
to obtain a court ruling that the trust is exempt for eligibility purposes, and it should
allow the trustee to amend its terms to
comply with future changes in the law, a
change of circumstances of the beneficiary,
or to change trustees. In addition, the trust
should provide a continuity of management that would include either a corporate
trustee or a sufficient line-up of individual
trustees who are capable of providing financial management as well as guidance
regarding the beneficiary’s personal care
and enrichment needs.
The Special Needs Trust
Solution.
Tailor Plans to the Special
Needs.
The solution for most families is a “special
needs trust.” This trust, which can be set
up under a will or as a separate document,
functions to supplement (not replace) government benefits for which the child may
otherwise be eligible.
The wording of the special needs trust is
very important. For example, language requiring the trustee to provide for the child’s
“support, maintenance, and welfare” may
cause the assets of the trust to count as a
resource for benefit eligibility purposes.
The Social Security Administration and
Medicaid generally will view a trust with
those words as a primary support fund for
the child and will insist that the trust monies be depleted before the child receives
government support.
Another important consideration is how
much of a family’s resources should be allocated to benefit the special needs child.
Projections should be made of the sum
required to fund the disabled child’s lifetime needs, both with and without government assistance. Parents and advisors
should be educated about the nature and
severity of the child’s medical condition so
that the estate plan can be tailored to the
child’s individual and financial needs. For
example, if a child’s resources are already
so large as to preclude eligibility for government assistance, or if a child’s disability
is not severe enough to meet the Social
Security Act’s definition of “disability,” then
a variation of a conventional trust may be
more appropriate.
Sources of funding for the special needs
trust should be considered carefully. Insurance on one or both parents may be
directed to the special needs trust along
with other resources of the parents. It is important to examine whether other family
members plan to provide for the child with
special needs. The wills of grandparents
and siblings should be coordinated with
the parents’ estate plan to direct any inheritance for the child to the special needs
trust. A well-meaning but poorly directed
gift under one of their wills could have a
devastating effect upon the careful plan.
While special needs planning typically
involves parents of children with special
needs, it may also be of benefit to children
who have elderly parents, or a spouse with
special needs. A child providing supplemental support to a parent with a chronic
illness—like Alzheimer’s Disease—can
set up a special needs trust under his will
that would not interfere with the parent’s
eligibility for government benefits, such as
Medicaid. Similar considerations may motivate a plan for a disabled husband or wife.
The goal is to create a flexible support
network to be in existence for the family
member with special needs following the
death of his or her chief provider, and to do
it in a way that maximizes all benefits that
may be available—including governmental benefits.
About the Author:
Katherine Barr is a
shareholder in the
Birmingham-based
law firm of Sirote & Permutt, P.C., practicing
estate planning and
estate administration.
Her estate planning practice is heavily involved in disability and special needs planning. She was invited to become Alabama’s
first member of Special Needs Alliance
(specialneedsalliance.org), and is a Fellow
in the American College of Trust and Estate
Counsel and in the American Bar Foundation. As a Supervisory Counsel Member of
the ABA’s Real Property, Trust and Estate
Section, she oversees the ABA’s committees on elder law and disability planning.
Ms. Barr may be reached at (205) 930-5147
or [email protected].
S p r i n g 2008
17
ACDD grant
Shoals citizens benefit
from
“We wanted the people
we serve to be able to
spend nine months there
learning culinary skills
and be able to spend time
with and learn from the
entrepreneurs who were
there at any given time.
We thought if they could
learn to make teacakes or
cheese straws and just
general kitchen operations it might lead to employment opportunities.
Plus, it would show the
citizens of our area that
people with developmental disabilities also have
many abilities.”
T
ina Scott, development coordinator
at The Arc of the Shoals in Tuscumbia,
said some “unexpected results” from
an Alabama Council for Developmental
Disabilities grant is giving people from The
Arc and Shoals-area residents great opportunities to learn about themselves and
each other.
“This grant has worked wonders for our
people and our community,” Scott said.
“The grant period was supposed to end
in May but we requested a no-cost extension from the Council to keep it going until
September. No additional funds were involved, but we wanted to keep the grant
period active because we are on the verge
of really breaking through with some great
things.”
18
In a nutshell, the grant was developed to
allow The Arc of the Shoals people to spend
time at the Shoals Culinary Center to learn
from up-and-coming food industry entrepreneurs about cooking foods on a large
scale and about general kitchen operations with the ultimate goal of developing
The Arc’s own line of jams and jellies. It has
done all that, and more.
“The Shoals Culinary Center is part of a
larger, entrepreneurial incubation center,” Scott said. “We wanted the people we
serve to be able to spend nine months
there learning culinary skills and be able to
spend time with and learn from the entrepreneurs who were there at any given time.
We thought if they could learn to make
teacakes or cheese straws and just general
kitchen operations it might lead to employment opportunities. Plus, it would show
the citizens of our area that people with
developmental disabilities also have many
abilities.”
The Arc people were, in fact, able to learn
at the culinary center and learn from local
entrepreneurs. But, as is often the case with
great adventures, “unexpected results” led
to something even better.
“We originally thought if this worked out
we would rent space in the culinary center,”
Scott said. “As it turns out, we were able to
gain local support for what we were doing,
and we got additional support from The
Arc’s Board of Directors that has enabled
us to renovate our existing kitchen at The
Arc of the Shoals and turn it into a commer-
cial facility that meets health department
codes. We are in the process of doing that
now. We have some great plans for what
we can do, and believe local support will
enable the ACDD grant to become selfsustaining.”
Scott said they are learning as they go.
For example, jelly-making has its own
complicated science, and you can’t just
take Granny’s old recipe, multiply the ingredients by a factor of ten, and produce
100 units instead of ten. Dr. Jean Weese of
Auburn University’s Agricultural Extension
Service is working with The Arc on a scientific breakdown of the product and certifying that it has the right acidity and texture
so the product can indeed be taken to an
industrial production level.
“This delayed us, but it’s a necessary part
of the learning curve,” Scott said. “No one
knew this was going to happen. It's another ‘unexpected result’ that is ultimately
going to turn into something good. It has
given us time between studying at the culinary center and gaining the confidence it
requires for us to do this on our own.”
“In addition to making our products for
sale, we also hope that in the same kitchen
we can produce lunches for the clients and
staff members here at The Arc. We are in a
bit of an isolated area so we are looking at
that and maybe even trying to find a way to
take orders and do lunch take-out orders.
This would provide yet another opportunity for the community to see our abilities.
We are really just open to anything we can
do to give our people ways to work and be
part of the community.”
Meanwhile, people participating in art
programs at The Arc are developing other
items like hand-painted trivets to go into
gift baskets. Individuals in the program are
also making local contacts as part of developing a marketing plan. They are trademarking the products as “Y’alls Southern
Sensations.”
“Another class taught us about horticulture, and we’ve planted our own peppers
here at The Arc to use for the pepper sauce,”
Scott said. “And much like the way funds
for the kitchen renovation came about
through local support, we were also fortunate to acquire a large greenhouse that will
allow us to grow our own pepper plants on
a much larger scale. One good thing has
led to another. It’s funny how things tie in
together, but that’s what happens when
the community is able to see peoples’ abilities and enthusiasm. People want to be
part of a good and positive thing.”
In addition to fruit jams and jellies and
sweet pepper sauce and hot pepper sauce,
indivudals involved in The Arc’s work center have been producing screenprinted
items such as t-shirts and aprons. All of
these items, along with the group's existing
cookbook and a lotion mix developed by
The Arc's group homes, can go into the gift
baskets that the Arc will sell directly and
through local gift stores.
“Instead of trying to do this on a Wal-Mart
type scale, we want touse local businesses
so the whole thing will have a low-scale
production and local flavor instead of being commercial and generic. People like to
send gift items that reflect the local area
they live in.”
“At our recent Music In The Park event and
especially at the W.C. Handy Blues Festival
our folks set up tables and gave people
taste samples of what they have been doing,” Scott said. “We asked for peoples’ opinions after they sampled the food and we
got a great response. They rated the prod-
ucts and we learned that the pepper sauce
is the big one. People loved it. For those
who like things really hot and spicy it was
a little sweet, so we have also developed
a ‘super hottie’ for those who like to ‘bring
the heat.’ This kind of direct marketing gets
people excited and is a wonderful way to
share with the community what people can
do. It's another way to focus on abilities.”
Scott feels very strongly that the ACDD
grant money has made a very positive impact.
“Oh my gosh!” she exclaimed. “You want
to talk about positive outcomes! This initial
seed money will live on for years to come. It
has helped our folks determine if they want
to go into food production, gardening and
horticulture, marketing, or many other
areas. It has enabled them to determine
where their strengths are as far as the many
facets of this project go. And, of course, it
has done wonders in helping us do what
we try to do every day: show people our
abilities instead of focusing on disabilities.
And besides all of that, it’s just a lot of fun
for everyone involved. I feel like this grant
was a great success, and will live on and
on and make help make our community a
stronger place.”
“You want to talk about positive outcomes! This initial seed money
will live on for years to come. It has helped our folks determine if
they want to go into food production, gardening and horticulture,
marketing, or many other areas. It has enabled them to determine where
their strengths are as far as the many facets of this project go. And, of
course, it has done wonders in helping us do what we try to do every day:
show people our abilities instead of focusing on disabilities.”
S p r i n g 2008
19
New Council Members
Joe Eversole
Charlie Jordan
Joe Eversole lives
in Pelham and is
retired after more
than 25 years as
a counselor/ supervisor with the
Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services.
He spent time in
his career as the
agency's liaison
to University Hospital and later became a Birmingham Area Unit Supervisor and Office Administrator.
“Since retirement I have been teaching a master’s level program for rehab counselors through San Diego State University
and the University of North Texas. I am also involved with a local chapter of an organization (AMBUCS) that raises money to
provide therapeutic adaptive tricycles for children with developmental disabilities. So far we have given away over 150 such
trikes. It is truly a great feeling to see a kid be able to ride and
have mobility for the first time ever.”
Eversole himself was born with cerebral palsy, and he said he
would have had stronger legs and have developed better balance and mobility if these trikes had been available when he
was young.
With his extensive background Eversole was already generally familiar with the work of the Council but is particularly
interested in the grantmaking process. He said he likes to see
money go to applied, practical projects such as employment
programs for young people with developmental disabilities.
He also feels that the extensive contacts Council members
have in the various communities will help him identify children
who might benefit from the therapeutic trike program.
“Being on the Council enables me to learn, and increase my
involvement in the community, so it’s a great natural fit. I look
forward to continuing involvement with the Council.”
Originally from
Tennessee,
Charlie Jordan
(pronounced
JUR-den) is a new
Council member.
He became interested in developmental disability
issues when his
son Andy, who
turned 30 last
month, was born
with Down syndrome.
"When Andy was young we would cheer for his brother and
his sister at their ball games," Jordan recalled. "Andy always
asked us, 'When do I get my uniform, so they can cheer for me?'
Through the Exceptional Foundation in Birmingham Andy was
able to become involved in recreational and social experiences
that were really great for him and for our whole family."
Jordan said Andy's schools did a great job for him academically, but that as the children grew older his friends began to
separate and go on to other things in life.
"He was in the high school band, and they got to play at
Carnegie Hall, and he had lots of positive experiences, but his
after school social scene was limited. This became even more
prevalent after he got out of high school. For Andy, the Exceptional Foundation is the way. Instead of three or four friends in
school, he is now surrounded by 200 friends.
So now, after all, we can go and cheer for him just like he always wanted."
Jordan was nominated for Council membership by the Exceptional Foundation.
"Parents of kids with disabilities all too often do not know
where to go," Jordan said. "Here, within the Council, knowledge is abundant. It's a great place for resource dissemination.
When a child is born with a disability it is traumatic for the parents. They need resources. And this is especially true in smaller
communities. I want to help the Council take the collective
knowledge it has, and find ways to spread this knowledge to
the community."
20
Joe Kemp
Lewis McAllister
A Leeds attorney
with a general
civil law practice,
Joe Kemp is a
recent Council
appointee. He became interested
in disability issues
when his daughter was born with
Down syndrome
on May 20, 2006.
Kemp, who has
been active in
Republican political circles, was sought out to suggest nominees for a Council
opening. He obliged and made some suggestions. As it turned
out, Kemp himself was asked to take the spot and he gladly did
so.
“This (the annual meeting) is my second Council meeting,”
he said. “I was at last quarter’s meeting in Montgomery. I enjoyed meeting the other Council members and look forward to
learning more about the Council’s work.”
“My particular interest is in the area of early intervention,” he
said. “Also, as an attorney, I want to see more work being done
with estate planning for people with disabilities. There are really a lot of issues associated with that. A congressman in Florida
right now is trying to pass a law to create a 529 plan so families
can have access to money when they need it. A grandmother,
for example, may have unique needs to care for her special
needs granddaughter, but because of restrictive laws cannot
access the money necessary to do what she needs to do. So
that is a unique area that I believe has lots of room in which we
can work.”
In terms of early intervention, Kemp particularly feels the
need to have early intervention services available in more
communities.
“Here is Birmingham we have the Bell Center, but what
about people in Anniston or Mobile? There’s a lot of time and
expense involved in travelling so far, so we need to look at
more community services.”
Kemp said his wife is fond of horses and would maybe someday like to become active in therapeutic riding (see ACDD Advocate Vol. III, No. 1 for more on equine therapy).
As Executive
Vice President of
Coral Industries
in Tuscaloosa,
Lewis McAllister
is involved in
sales, management and manufacturing of the
company’s line of
shower doors, tub
enclosures and
related products.
As a new member
of the Alabama
Council for Developmental Disability, McAllister wants to take
the knowledge he has learned in business and in his personal
life to “make the world a better place.”
“I was involved in a three-wheeler accident t when I was 18
years old,” McAllister said. “As a result I lost the use of my arms
and legs and have been a quadriplegic since that time. Along
the way I have become older and wiser. I have a wife and two
children and this helps me keep things more in perspective.”
McAllister’s family has long been involved in Republican
politics.
“My father was the first Republican elected to the Mississippi
legislature since Reconstruction,” he said. “And now that Governor Riley has asked me to serve on the Council I want to take
my past experiences and help in every way I can.”
McAllister’s main focus is on research and development.
“When you live with a disability there is either improvement
or a cure. There are cures for some disabilities, others have no
cure. So, I am interested in seeing the Council focus on improving the lives of people with disabilities. There is a lot of diversity
and experience on this Council and I want us to use that experience to make the world a better place.”
S u m m e r 2008
21
Department of Public Health
program strives to
get
Alabamians
prepared
T
he mission of the Alabama Department of Public Health is to
serve the people of Alabama by
assuring conditions in which they
can be healthy. In the past several
years, the Department’s mission
has evolved to also include ensuring that the state and its citizens will
be able to respond effectively during
emergencies.
Significant strides have been made to accomplish this mission. Alabama achieved
“green status” for its level of preparedness
to receive the Strategic National Stockpile, which is a special stockpile of drugs
and supplies which would be shipped
by the federal government to the state
if requested following an act of terrorism or other large-scale event. More than
2,000 pharmacists, nurses and social
workers have been trained to deploy the
stockpile.
The Department has also worked with
statewide partners to address the needs
of the special population communities, including those persons who are blind, deaf,
physically impaired, and those persons with
cognitive/developmental disabilities. This
includes creating a Special Populations Task
Force and developing materials, including
booklets and Braille documents, specifically
targeted toward those in the state with special
needs. These materials have been distributed
statewide in partnership with various agencies
that work with special needs groups.
With Alabama in the hurricane season,
one recent goal of the Department is to
encourage individual preparedness.
22
es pack
Get 10 suggests famili
l items:
the following essentia
One of the ways the Department is doing that is
by launching the "Get 10" campaign. Get 10 offers
a simple plan on how to accomplish one key component of preparedness- creating an emergency
preparedness kit. The plan lists ten essential items
that all families need in their emergency preparedness kits.
“We are asking all Alabamians to join us in preparing. We want to be ready both individually and
collectively as a state,” said Andy Mullins, director
of the Center for Emergency Preparedness at the
Alabama Department of Public Health.
“Taking the first step to preparedness is sometimes the hardest,” said Mullins. “But, once families
get started they will find that preparing is not
as difficult as they thought, and the benefits are
enormous.”
In addition to creating an emergency preparedness kit, families should also take other precautionary steps such as learning about basic injury
and disease prevention. And, to ensure that everyone gets out of danger safely, create a family
preparedness plan that includes routes for escape
and emergency contact numbers.
For more information about Get 10 and emergency preparedness, please visit the Alabama
Department of Public Health’s Web site at
www.adph.org/Get10.
per
pply; at least one gallon
1. Water - a two-week su
ing pets
person per day, includ
ch person, - a two-week supply for ea
2. Non-perishable food
including pets
there is
al one that can be used if
3. Can opener - a manu
no electricity
none both prescription and
4. Medications - includ
ons
prescription medicati
, gloves,
should include antiseptic
kit
is
th
kit
aid
st
Fir
5.
d a thermometer
bandages, masks an
s
r to include extra batterie
6. Flashlight - remembe
io with a io - consider buying a rad
7. Battery-powered rad
weather alert feature
ar and
s and shoes - pack rain ge
ck
so
,
ing
th
clo
tra
Ex
8.
ent weather
outerwear for inclem
ne items
include cleaning and hygie
ms
ite
e
car
l
na
rso
Pe
9.
of these
s - keep electronic copies
10.Important document
/memor y stick.
as well on a flash drive
S u m m e r 2008
23
Preparing for
Mobile ILC Works with ACDD, Distributes Kits to Residents
Since these landmark
hurricanes, people
realize that they must
have their own plan.
Our local officials
cannot protect
every individual.
We must take on the
responsibility for our
own safety.
24
In recent years, emergency preparedness and hurricanes have taken on a new meaning for people along
the Gulf Coast. Names like Ivan, Katrina and Rita have
become household words. Before that time we marked
June 21st as the beginning of summer, now we also
mark June 1st
as the beginning of hurricane season.
In 2006 the
Independent
Living Center,
in collaboration with
the Alabama
Council for
Developmental Disabilities
(ACDD) initiated a program to help people with developmental disabilities
learn about and prepare for disasters. The program was
presented to individuals in the seven counties served
by the Independent Living Center of Mobile (Baldwin,
Clarke, Choctaw, Washington, Escambia, Monroe and
Mobile counties).
ILC stressed the importance of having adequate
medication and personal supplies for at least three to
five days. Other items included contact information and
important papers. We also shared information that suggested identifying family or friends that live outside of
the immediate area to stay with until the crisis is over.
In addition, “Hurricane kits” were distributed. These kits
consisted of easy to handle rolling suitcases filled with
items necessary for individuals to evacuate from their
homes to a shelter. Items included: pillow, blanket/
throw, first aid kit, pencil and pad, whistle, weather radio and batteries, can opener, and other related items.
The response from this program was great.
This year, through a grant from the Alabama Department of Public Health, the Independent Living Center
of Mobile has been able to expand this program to
include people with various disabilities in those seven
counties. After a recent segment on a local Mobile TV
station, the Center had an overwhelming response to
the program. People with disabilities and families are
now starting to think about how to evacuate and to
make a plan.
Since these landmark hurricanes, people realize that
they must have their own plan. Our local officials cannot protect every individual. We must take on the responsibility for our own safety.
Mobile County has developed a Special Needs Registry. It is a voluntary sign up for individuals needing
assistance to evacuate their homes and who have no
other means of doing so. The registry is not only important for hurricane preparedness, but other crises such
as chemical spills, fires, and other disasters that would
require evacuating individuals to safe areas. In the case of hurricane evacuation, individuals
would call into a designated agency to arrange a ride
to a shelter or staging area for transportation out of the
affected area. Counties are developing medical needs
shelters for individuals with medical needs that would
not require hospitalization. In the case of mandatory
evacuation of the area, the county along with the Alabama Department of Public Health will identify medical
needs shelters outside of the crisis areas. Counties are
also registering medical personnel that would be available to assist in these shelters.
Because of the impact of these disasters, we have
made great strides in disaster preparedness in our communities. There is still tremendous work to be done, but
with collaboration of our agencies as well as local and
state governments we are striving to educate our consumers and to be better prepared.
Prepared by Barbara Hattier, Independent Living Center
of Mobile
BringsCause
Autism Societ y of A l aba ma
to
Forefront
By Melanie Jones
W
ith autism affecting one in every
150 individuals and as many as
30,000 people in Alabama, this
six letter word has become a talking point
in the media, legislature, neighborhoods
and households alike. If you don’t know
someone with this disorder, chances are
you soon will. This is one of many reasons
the Autism Society of Alabama is passionate about making this cause known, voices
heard, and bringing changes to the forefront.
The Alabama Autism Task Force, now in
its second year, is responsible for making
recommendations to the Alabama Legislature. Task Force meetings are open to the
public and meeting minutes are posted
on the Autism Society of Alabama’s website (www.autism-alabama.org) after each
meeting. Subcommittees of the Task Force
include: Early Diagnosis and Screening,
chaired by Dr. Hanes Swingle; Interventions
(0-5), chaired by Dr. Elizabeth Griffith; Interventions (6-21), chaired by Mr. Jim Wrye;
Interventions (Adults), chaired by Mr. Joe
Carter; Medical/Healthcare, chaired by Dr.
Bama Hager; and Systems of Care, chaired
by Dr. Jennifer Sellers. Strong parent representation is essential in these work groups;
please consider attending a meeting. For
more information, contact Jennifer Muller,
Executive Director of the Autism Society of
Alabama, at (205) 383-1674.
In addition to supporting positive change
for autism in Alabama, the Autism Society
continues its mission: to improve the quality of life of individuals with autism and
their families through education, advocacy and support. Currently, there are 18
support groups in cities across the state: Shelby County Parents Educating Parents,
Huntsville Making Connections, Cullman,
Montgomery, Graysville, Jasper, Biomed 4
Autism, Prattville CAAST, Gadsden/Etowah, Glenwood Adults
with Asperger Syndrome, Dothan FASE, Baldwin County/
Fairhope, Hartselle/Decatur,
Monroe County, Lanett/Chambers County, North Alabama
Chapter, Mobile and Florence.
These support groups are led
by volunteers and have monthly meetings with a variety of
topics. Contact us if you’d like
to learn more or become part
of one of these groups.
Since March of this year, the
Society has received over 300
calls for information and referral. Calls vary, but usually assistance with a new diagnosis is needed according to Jennifer Robertson, the Society’s
resource coordinator. Scheduling an evaluation, seeking social skills groups, to IEPrelated questions are some of the concerns
for which parents seek advice. Jennifer may
be reached at (251) 259-5553.
Our Family Fall Camp is in its third year
and has become an enjoyable experience
for campers ranging from age six to 18. The
Autism Society offers this program at no
charge for the affected child and one parent at Easter Seals Camp ASCCA on beautiful Lake Martin. The camp offers a traditional setting with the supports needed
for success. Family Fall Camp is scheduled
for September 19 – 21. More information is
available by calling Anna Bloom, Program
Manager, at (205) 383-1673.
FUN-raising events have also created
much excitement in communities across
Alabama. To commemorate Autism Awareness Month in April, Walk for Autism took
center stage in Auburn, Alex City, Ashland,
Birmingham, Cullman, Decatur, Dothan,
Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Sheffield
and Tuscaloosa. Donations received from
the statewide effort totaled $210,000, and
over 2,000 volunteers participated. Other
events included the Montgomery Crawfish
Boil, Anderson Angels for Autism Golf Tournament, Lexington Rockin’ for Autism, and
the Graysville Giant Yard Sale.
On August 16th the Autism Society of
Alabama and its Board of Directors held
the 11th Annual FROG Affair. Why FROGS? For Research, Outreach and Giving Support to the autism and Asperger syndrome
community. The frog-themed event takes
place in Birmingham. Proceeds are used
to send kids to camp, provide funding
for programs and conferences, enhance
the lending libraries, update information
packets, provide scholarships for parents
to attend workshops, and much more. For
more information on this annual event and
how you can participate, contact Melanie
Jones, Development Director, at
(205) 383-1675.
S p r i n g 2008
25
Polymaker
A Series on
Profiles
Miriam
Witherspoon
Birmingham City
Councilwoman makes
City Hall accessible
A
“I really loved it there. I was
president of my freshman,
sophomore and senior classes,
and I graduated with degrees in
Political Science and History. My
junior year I was able to co-op at
the National Archives n Washington, D.C.”
After taking a year off, Witherspoon enrolled in Myles Law
School.
“During law school I took a break and went to visit a friend
in Atlanta,” Witherspoon recalled. “I was in an automobile
accident there and suffered a spinal cord injury. I began my
rehab at the Rotary Rehab Center in Mobile but soon came
to Birmingham to the Spain Clinic. My back felt like crumbled
bricks, but it just never occurred to me that I wasn’t moving
my legs. When my mom asked at Spain if I would ever walk
s a girl growing up in Mobile, Miriam Witherspoon always worked
hard to be the best. And she wasn’t afraid of stepping out into
new roles. A role she never would have envisioned for herself was
becoming a City Council member and Council President Pro Tem
for Alabama’s largest city. Nor could she have imagined that she
would do it as a paraplegic.
“My father was a truck driver for Roadway and my mother
was a principal in the Mobile County School System,” Witherspoon said. “Education was always the top priority in
my home.”
As an honors graduate from Toulminville High School
(now LeFlore), Witherspoon was awarded a music scholarship at Mobile’s University of South Alabama but she wanted
to see a bit of the world. She chose instead to take a scholarship offer from Huntsville’s Alabama A&M University.
26
again it was a total shock. I had never even
considered that possibility.”
Witherspoon said she developed a very
negative attitude, asking the same question asked by countless young accident
victims: ‘Why me?’
“My attitude was basically negative,”
Witherspoon said. “My mom wanted me
to just give it up and come home with
her. A turning point for me came when a
young man came into my room and asked
if I wanted to see a movie. He was a walking quadriplegic; he had broken his neck
diving into shallow water. I told him no. He
just said: ‘I wish I could change places with
you.’ I said, ‘But you can walk.’ He replied,
‘But that’s all I can do.’ And then he turned
around and left. I never saw him again but
wish I could. I realized I had so much left in
my life. The next day I told the rehab staff
that I was ready to get to work. I said to
them, ‘Teach me.’ And they did.”
After a lot of hard work and even more
soul searching, Witherspoon was released
from Spain in a body cast. She returned to
law school but didn’t want her old friends
to feel uncomfortable.
“I got to class early on that first day and
realized that our classroom was not accessible. Very little was accessible in those
days, in fact. So we had class on the bottom
floor and I sat on the front row just like I
always had. The instructor welcomed me
back and I accidentally dropped my pencil.
Everyone in the class jumped up to get it!
I shouted to them, ‘You never did that before!’ The ice was broken by that, and from
then on it was a lot like old times.”
Since Witherspoon had been gone for
ten months she was in with a new group of
students. They had not known her before
she began using a wheelchair so they just
took her for who she was.
She graduated second in her class and
passed the bar exam on her first try. In her
first several job interviews employers focused on her wheelchair and accessibility
problems (which is now illegal) and Witherspoon really struggled to find someone
who would hire her for her abilities. After
several very painful interviews and rejections, she surprised herself by beating out
several experienced lawyers to get a job assisting attorney Mike Ballard who had won
the Jefferson County Senior Citizen contract. She was assisted in this placement
by her former Constitutional Law professor
Carole Ann Smitherman, to whom Witherspoon says she will be forever grateful.
Witherspoon was a natural fit for the
program. She reached out into the community, going to churches and neighborhoods
“My attitude was basically
negative,” Witherspoon said.
“My mom wanted me to just
give it up and come home
with her. A turning point for
me came when a young man
came into my room and asked
if I wanted to see a movie. He
was a walking quadriplegic;
he had broken his neck diving
into shallow water. I told him
no. He just said: ‘I wish I could
change places with you.’ I said,
‘But you can walk.’ He replied,
‘But that’s all I can do.’ And
then he turned around and
left. I never saw him again but
wish I could. I realized I had so
much left in my life. The next
day I told the rehab staff that
I was ready to get to work. I
said to them, ‘Teach me.’ And
they did.”
Witherspoon with her City Hall colleagues, Earnestine Williams, Jose Perry.
S u m m e r 2008
27
Council member Brown goes
way back with Witherspoon
ACDD Council member Vivian Brown met
Miriam Witherspoon several years ago when they
were both role models at the Spain Rehabilitation
Clinic. They mentored those people who were
new to the clinic, just coming to grips with the fact
that they must learn to live with a disability.
“She was still in law school in those days,” Brown
said. “But we just hit it off right away. She is very
intelligent and it was obvious even then. She is
a good speaker and she especially has a good
sense of humor. She tries to see the good side of
things. Really I’d just have to say she is just good
with people.”
Brown mentions several other characteristics:
Formidable. Hard-working. Upbeat. Tenacious.
Focused on goals.
“She has a good reputation around
Birmingham, and a lot of people admire her
for making the Council and City Hall accessible
for people with disabilities,” said Brown, who
also uses a wheelchair. “We go out and have fun
together. We go to plays, go to dinner. But when
we’re out on the town accessibility is always an
issue. Miriam helped that change that at City Hall.
We’re trying to do it on a larger scale at the ACDD.”
28
and wherever else she needed to
in the community. In 2005 she won
go to meet her clients. She said
– the only non-incumbent to win
she was seeing 5,000 clients a year,
without a runoff.
helping them with housing issues,
“Mine is the largest district in the
drafting wills, whatever her mostly
city in terms of land,” she said. “Our
low-income clients needed done.
growth opportunity is almost unShe also in 1989-90 won the Miss
limited. It’s a wonderful district. But
Wheelchair Alawhen I was elected
bama title, beI found I had a few
coming the first She graduated second
obstacles to face beAfrican-Amerifore I could work for
in her class and passed
can woman to
my people.”
the bar exam on her
do so. WitherThose obstacles
first try. In her first
spoon was on
were mostly about
several job interviews
a roll.
how to access Biremployers focused on
“I had begun
mingham’s City
transitioning
Hall. The beautiful
her wheelchair and
into my own
downtown buildaccessibility problems
private practice
ing, across from
(which is now illegal)
at night, after
Linn Park, was comand Witherspoon
working all day
pletely inaccessible
really struggled to find
with the senior
to people in wheelsomeone who would
citizens,” she
chairs.
said. “The pro“As far as I know I
hire her for her abilities.
gram got a new
am the first City Hall
administrator,
employee ever to
Linda Vice, a very attractive white
use a wheelchair. This building was
lady. I had about decided to go
completely inaccessible. I mean
into private practice full-time when completely. There were so many
Ms. Vice said she heard I was leavviolations in the building it was
ing. She just asked me one quesunimaginable. Mayor Kincaid was
tion: ‘What will it take to keep you
very nice and accommodating, as
here?’”
was the city engineer. Everyone got
Witherspoon worked well with
together and said to me: ‘What do
Vice, and expanded the program
you need?’Well, we needed everyby opening up a satellite office in
thing.”
Brighton. She eventually was able
There was no lift, no accessible
to hire another attorney who was a
bathroom, no automatic doors, no
former student (Witherspoon had
wide halls. The Council dais was
been teaching nights at Myles Law
so narrow she couldn’t get in. And
School)and a policeman.
there was certainly no way to get
“I knew I was getting ready to
up the narrow marble stairs to the
leave that work, partly because Ms.
Council chambers and offices on
Vice was leaving,” she said. “I needthe third floor.
ed to get someone in who I trusted,
“That’s all changed now and I
to whom I could teach about my
am very at home,” Witherspoon
templates and how to do a good
said. “I now am able to focus on
job, and especially someone who
my job, though it’s good to know
would love our people.”
that those who come after me will
With her health deteriorating
have a better time of it. This is not
from so much work, Witherspoon
a job you enjoy, but one you must
made a run for City Council. She
be committed to. It’s about advowas defeated, and managed her
cacy, improving the quality of life
private practice for the next four
for your constituents. I have always
years while continuing to network
been a community person and
Alabama APSE
celebrates ten years,
recognizes ACDD
now I can do that on a larger scale. My reward here
is to see people transform their attitudes – I want
people to see abilities, and not disabilities.”
“That’s all changed now and I am
very at home,” Witherspoon said.
“I now am able to focus on my
job, though it’s good to know that
those who come after me will have
a better time of it. This is not a job
you enjoy, but one you must be
committed to. It’s about advocacy,
improving the quality of life for your
constituents. I have always been a
community person and now I can do
that on a larger scale.
The Annual Alabama Association for Persons in Supported
Employment (AL-APSE) conference was held June 11 – 13, 2008
at the Marriott Renaissance Hotel in Montgomery. This year’s
conference theme – “Employment for All: A Winning Platform” –
provided excellent training opportunities for the more than 225
attendees, who were also
able to join Alabama
APSE in celebrating ten
successful years as a state
chapter of APSE.
One of the many
highlights of the
conference was the
Autism mini track.
Michael Chapman,
Director for the
TEACCH’s Supported
Employment Program,
provided practical
insight for agencies
faced with the
challenges of seeking
employment for
individuals with
Autism Spectrum
Disorders. Keynote speakers included Chris
Davies from Minnesota who encouraged the audience to think
positively and to “live where you are,” while Kent Radar closed out
the conference with humor as he explained the importance of
laughter in our lives.
A special highlight was the annual awards presentations. Winners
were recognized from across the state in multiple categories.
Following the presentations, a reception was held honoring the
winners. Attendees enjoyed delicious food, along with karaoke and
dancing. Birthday cake and ice cream celebrating AL-APSE’s ten
years added the finishing touches to the event.
AL-APSE President Byron White selected the Alabama Council for
Developmental Disabilities (ACDD) as the recipient of the President’s
Award. Alabama APSE has received tremendous support from
ACDD over the years and this support has enabled the organization
to achieve many of its goals. Myra Jones, executive director of the
ACDD, accepted the plaque on behalf of the Council.
The 2009 conference is tentatively set for June 24 -26, 2009 back
in Montgomery.
S p r i n g 2008
29
Let Us Hear from You!
Go to our
website and
click on
Contact Us
button
Read all
about us!
Go to
www.acdd.org
and click on
Publications
Get on our
mailing list!
AL
ABAMA
VEL
DI
OR
SA
BI L IT I E S
C O U N CI L F
DE
OP ME NT
AL
RSA Union Building
100 North Union Street
P.O. Box 301410
Montgomery, AL 36130-1410
PR SRT STD
U.S. Postage
PAID
Montgomery, AL
Permit #109

Alabama`s Wounded Warriors return home

Transcription

Similar documents

of economic development

what`s for sale? - Alabama Butterbean Festival

Sponsor Flyer.LR - Southeast Alabama Mud Track

Alabama Joint Leadership Development Conference

bakers` row - Cloudinary

February 8th at 12:45 pm CINEPLANET 16

Clemon will exit U.S. bench

1RYHPEHU `HFHPEHU

Tommie Turvey - Alabama Horse Council