volunteering with the developmentally disabled?

[wendywellesley]

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i found this excellent volunteer position at the Association for the Help of ******ed Children (AHRC), i work with developmentally disabled senior citizens. it is probably one of the most rewarding things I have done so far. i had a hard time finding volunteering that would be enjoyable and necessary in my area, and i'm so glad i found this. i absolutly love it!! i encourage people to do it. there is so much negativity surrounding the developmentally disabled (mentally ******ed) but they are such kind and warm people!

that's it. it makes me happy 🙂

 

[WatchingWaiting]

i found this excellent volunteer position at the Association for the Help of ******ed Children (AHRC), i work with developmentally disabled senior citizens. it is probably one of the most rewarding things I have done so far. i had a hard time finding volunteering that would be enjoyable and necessary in my area, and i'm so glad i found this. i absolutly love it!! i encourage people to do it. there is so much negativity surrounding the developmentally disabled (mentally ******ed) but they are such kind and warm people!

that's it. it makes me happy 🙂

Do you want a pat on the back or something? Also, isn't it kind of insulting to call subnormal senior citizens ******ed children?

 

[medic170]

Also, isn't it kind of insulting to call subnormal senior citizens ******ed children?

that is what I was thinking 😕

 

[Psycho Doctor]

Do you want a pat on the back or something? Also, isn't it kind of insulting to call subnormal senior citizens ******ed children?

maybe the senior citizens is part of the larger associuation which also deals with children.

wendywellesley, i understand how you feel. I've worked with children with CP and it is a very rewarding activity. God bless.

 

[FMGP8P]

Do you want a pat on the back or something? Also, isn't it kind of insulting to call subnormal senior citizens ******ed children?

Oh, it's so hard to find the right terminology for all the disadvantaged groups these days. My fiance took a class on disability and society and had to go over the right terminologies. Apparently, when refering to a person, the person should be put first. For example, instead of ******ed children, one should say children who are mentally impaired.

I also work with individuals with developmental disabilities (mostly cerebral palsy) and find the work very satisfying. There is something about working with people with limitations that gives more meaning to our everyday behaviors.

 

[Sarikate]

Actually I think the correct verbiage these days is "people who experience xyz disabilities (physical, developmental, emotional)." I work at a non-profit devoted to all of the aforementioned and we struggle with it all the time!

 

[FMGP8P]

Actually I think the correct verbiage these days is "people who experience xyz disabilities (physical, developmental, emotional)." I work at a non-profit devoted to all of the aforementioned and we struggle with it all the time![/QUOTE
I learned this from my fiance last semester. I have noticed that these things change rapidly as if people are looking for new identities. Maybe it has evolved since last year.

 

[wendywellesley]

Do you want a pat on the back or something? Also, isn't it kind of insulting to call subnormal senior citizens ******ed children?

no, i don't want a pat on the back. i wasn't calling them ******ed children, that is what the association is called, they just happen to have programs for older people.

the idea behind my post was the following:
i had a very hard time figuring out where to volunteer during the winterbreak so i posted on SDN for some pointers. all the advice i got on this forum was very helpful and made me brainstorm on what i can do in my area. the AHRC is very close to where i live, i thought i would start there. i never thought this type of work would be as great as it is. so.... i posted this here as a suggestion to those who need some suggestions as where to volunteer (since we all know ER volunteer can only get you so far). this is something that worked for me that i would never think of doing. i'm encouraging people to look into it because it might be something they never considered and might enjoy. it has changed my perception about a lot of things. that's all. just trying to give back to sdn. nothing more, nothing less.

according to the volnteer coordinator at this association, the correct term is "developmentally disabled", but there could be other terms out there.

 

[stinkycheese]

Guys, I am sure Wendy's intentions were nothing but good. It's so hard to know what the current PC term is for ANYTHING, but I think it was clear from the original post that she enjoys this work and enjoys the people she is helping. It's okay. Intentions are more important than what term to use, me thinks.

 

[wendywellesley]

Guys, I am sure Wendy's intentions were nothing but good. It's so hard to know what the current PC term is for ANYTHING, but I think it was clear from the original post that she enjoys this work and enjoys the people she is helping. It's okay. Intentions are more important than what term to use, me thinks.

aww girl, thanks for the back up 😉

 

[stinkycheese]

aww girl, thanks for the back up 😉

Back at ya 😉

 

[cfdavid]

aww girl, thanks for the back up 😉

Me too. It was obvious that you're just excited to have found something you enjoy, and wanted to share it with us. Also, you seemed to offer it as something we may wish to look into.

Also, the "Children" thing was clearly the name of the institution and I didn't think you made reference to anything "subnormal".

Good luck, and congrats at finding something that you're passionate about.

 

[indo]

I can't think of anything as frustrating and rewarding as working with people with physical and mental disabilities. Wouldn't you like to experience what it feels like to think using an autistic brain?

 

[wendywellesley]

I can't think of anything as frustrating and rewarding as working with people with physical and mental disabilities. Wouldn't you like to experience what it feels like to think using an autistic brain?

read the book "a curious incident of the dog in the night-time", good fast read, i don't know how accurate it is, but it may give you a general idea of what it is like to think like an autistic 8 year old boy.

 

[tinkerbelle]

i work with developmentally disabled senior citizens. it is probably one of the most rewarding things I have done so far. i had a hard time finding volunteering that would be enjoyable and necessary in my area, and i'm so glad i found this. i absolutly love it!!

I totally know what you mean 🙂 I used to help mentally and pysically disabled children play baseball. It was such a great experience b/c these kids had the opportunity to play on a team and do things that "normal" kids take for granted. Disabled children from all over the state would drive down every sunday for this event... i loved seeing how much these kids enjoyed being there. This was so much more rewarding than hospital volunteering...

 

[Turkeyman]

i found this excellent volunteer position at the Association for the Help of ******ed Children (AHRC), i work with developmentally disabled senior citizens. it is probably one of the most rewarding things I have done so far. i had a hard time finding volunteering that would be enjoyable and necessary in my area, and i'm so glad i found this. i absolutly love it!! i encourage people to do it. there is so much negativity surrounding the developmentally disabled (mentally ******ed) but they are such kind and warm people!

that's it. it makes me happy 🙂

Frankly, I think that's awesome. Helping the developmentally disabled and mentally impaired is my motivation for going into medicine. I wonder if they'd have any positions in my area? Is there a way of finding out?

edit: nevermind I was just too lazy to go to the website 😀

 

[indo]

I think it is called "the Arc" because the AHRP is the Aliance for Human Research Protection which is an interesting website itself. Wait...AHRC--google typo. Either way, check 'em out.

www.ahrc.org <--dissabilities
www.thearc.org <--dissabilities
www.ahrp.org <--protection of human research subjects

 

[FMGP8P]

Frankly, I think that's awesome. Helping the developmentally disabled and mentally impaired is my motivation for going into medicine. I wonder if they'd have any positions in my area? Is there a way of finding out?

edit: nevermind I was just too lazy to go to the website 😀

Another option to get involved with developmentally disabled individuals is to work as a direct care staff. The great thing about this position is that you do more than toileting and providing personal care (as compared to a nursing home) and the position doesn't require a certified nursing assistant license.

If anyone has any questions about his job, feel free to PM me.