Hiring My Supporters

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Hiring My Supporters

• Presenter
• Ralph Beck

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Good To See You
Good
See
You
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Living in Wernersville State Hospital

• I did not like the food
• Some of the nurses I know were nice
• The orderlies hurt people, they know better than
  to touch me
• One time I was restrained on the floor, I did not
  like that

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I Want to Teach

• I was teaching people at the hospital how to
  Sign.
• I want to help people who are deaf and people who
  are blind.
• Because you never know which people are deaf or
  blind.
• Sign brings people together.

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I told Wernersville it was time

• I wanted to change my life
• I was bored, I could only watch TV and there were
  no games and nurses gave me my medication
• David, Georgie, John, and Gail helped me get out
• I needed someone to help me, I needed someone to
  live with

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Who will it be?

• First I needed to know what I would like in
  someone to provide supports for me.
• Someone who is fun and likes to go out to Park
  City and walk around
• I like to walk downtown Lancaster
• I like going to see baseball games
• The person has to be respectful

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The Search
review
Consider
 

• Put ads in the newspaper
• Put out flyers
• David took me to different places like the store
  to meet people

Find
Looking for a roommate in Lancaster I am looking
for a housemate. It would be a perfect match if
the person knew Sign, enjoyed art, sports-
especially baseball and helping me make new
acquaintances and friends. I need someone to
help me with daily living, personal care, and
medical needs. I am looking for someone who can
help me with the requirements of daily living in
exchange for room and board. The roommate must
be a non-smoker/drinker. The person must be
patient and pleasant. I will be moving to an
apartment in Lancaster City so I can be close to
everything-you will be too if this is something
you are interested in, lets talk.
Observe
Connect
Discover
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Juan

• It was not easy to look for or find someone
• Georgie, who I trust, introduced me to Juan
• Juan and I like to eat at Park City and going to
  the park
• He asks me what I like and dont like
• He and I share a love of big trees and have fun

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Wilmer

• Juan introduced me to his friend Wilmer
• Wilmer is my room mate and helps me to cook
• Wilmer also helps me with my personal care
• We have been living together since October 2004

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Job Description

• Gail, my friend, helped me to develop a job
  description
• It is a document that helps to explain who I am
• My likes and dislikes
• Where I want to go in my life
• I use the job description to direct my supporters.

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My Outcomes(from my job description)

• I
• Will direct my life, supports and be my own boss
• Will be employed
• Will be healthy and safe
• Will be involved in my community and form new
  relationships
• Will be an advocate
• am an artist

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Directing my Life and Supports

• In Wernersville I had to ask permission but, I
  dont now.
• I make decisions about my life and where I want
  to go.
• My supporters need to know sign, so I teach them.
• I help my supporters understand what is important
  to me and what is not.
• I have trained people in Planning Together and
  Fundamental Rights

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Housekeeper

• I spoke to my circle of supports about paying
  someone to clean my apartment.
• Together we discussed how to make it happen.
• We talked about how much to pay the person and
  how often to have them clean.
• With help from David I put up flyers around my
  apartment building.
• I waited for a couple of days till someone
  called.
• It felt good to have a housekeeper.

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Interviews

• I asked questionswhat kind of work you can do
  for me.
• I asked how much do you want me to pay you.
• To pay the housekeeper it was up to me.
• To pay Juan and Wilmer Shared Support helped me
  to decide on pay.

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Shared Responsibility

• My supporters are responsible to know who I am
  and helping me achieve the life I want
• I am responsible to my supporters to show them
  how they can help me in living my life

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Thank You