What is it like working with developmentally disabled adults?

(Read "Flowers for Algernon ")

I suggest to you that only the internal conscience can protect us from our baser impulses.

And I say that it is about love. So: if my "compadre" could have really LOVED the buff, honest, DD guy------she would have been fully "OKKK" in hooking-up. This is what I feel are the legitimate parameters or moral arbiters of DD and "average/

A longer version of this answer got lost in the ether. It had to do with a former gf who did this type of work and who considered dating a guy she "served".. I asked that you consider your moral fitness.

And if you "involve yourself==

Do you "show them off?"

On the hopeful supposition that you are a "normal" person who has a healthy social life and can separate your emotional needs from those of your clients....

You are embarking on the best voyage of your life: You will learn how to love, and even better, how to redirect love, and you will comprehend the absolute moral rules. Giving you the pleasure of "matchmaking your "clients." Or the pleasure of loving unselfishly.

Like I say, a lot of this post got lost into the ether. But I do think that if you have clear ego and sexual boundaries, you can have a wonderful time with wonderful people.

Working With Developmentally Disabled

Working With Disabled Adults

This Site Might Help You.

RE:

What is it like working with developmentally disabled adults?

I have an interview to work with developmentally disabled adults,duties include toileting,bathing,medication,feeding and more as assigned I guess.But what is it likw working with them?I am a Medical Assistant and I'm kinda skeptical.Anyone does this for a living?Experience?Please ONLY serious...

Generally they are very grateful. Sometimes though they are not. Just like the non mentally disabled they can be angry or impatient. Some will be playful. Some will be able to speak and some will not. There are also different levels of disability and some will need more help than others.

This type of work is extremely rewarding, you will learn from these people as much as they learn from you, yes some of the work such as toileting & showering can have its draw backs, but on the whole the work is very rewarding, especially when they take a liking to you "because your nice". Occasionally there will be days that are frustrating, sad and disheartening, but these are out weighed by the good days.

Some things to remember when working with developmentally disabled adults;

Just be yourself

Be friendly & relaxed in your approach to them, and don't forget to smile, they love smiles.

Always focus on their abilities, not the disability they have.

Speak clearly when talking to them, and be be specific.

Talk to them, not at them.

Be PATIENT, especially if your teaching them a new skill, it can take some time to learn a new skill.

Direct & Divert them if challenging behaviors appear.

Keep instructions clear, short and to the point, and calmly repeat yourself if necessary .

Have clear set routines, try to give warning if there is unexpected changes in routine (doing this can avoid out bursts).

Encourage them to do as much for themselves as possible, rather than you do it for them, they won't learn if people do everything for them.

Praise, praise is vital when working with people with development disorders, especially when teaching new tasks, or managing behaviours. Most of them if praised are willing to do it again, if they get some positive attention.

Encourage them to make their own choices, decisions, when possible.

Remember they have bad days too, so if their grumpy it could be their not feeling to well, or just don't want to be there.

I have no doubt forgotten somethings but these will get you started.

As for the wage, it can depend on your qualifications & your experience, obviously the more qualifications & experience you have the better the wage, also the wage can very according to the time of the shift, day of the week and the type of work your required to do. My wages varies between $21 - $40 per hour, depending on the work I am doing, time of the day and if its a weekend.

It all depends on high functioning the guys you are working with are . 90 perfect is just getting to know the guys and that takes years not weeks or months to really do. I enjoy taking my guys out and doing stuff in the community. It can be a stressful job that you have patience for but also can a lot of fun.

Two suggestions 1 try the yellow pages 2 those homes are licensed by the state through either the Dept of Mental Health or Social Services---contact them

it depends on the capacity your working in, i am guessing the environment would be in home, the time frame if morning or night, whether in a group home or individual apartment and what other task you will be responsible for. if your doing residential and community rehabilitation your interaction will be different then if its just residential home health aid. it really depends on the comfort level of that person your providing adl's assistance to other staff if the environment is like a group home as opposed to individual apartment.

I was offered a job once at a State School. The kids were mostly grown but not all together all together.

Teaching them to bathe and tie their shoes everyday would have been bad enough but when I saw how life was in the dorms I opted out. It's very sad but some find it self fulfilling.