Life Works Newsletter #6 Done

7/31/2019 Life Works Newsletter #6 Done

1/17

Volume #6 September 2012

Mission StatementLife Works provides

comprehensive supports for

persons with developmental

disabilities to live real lives in

homes of their own. The

primary focus of Life Works is

to support all people to create

full rich lives that reflect

personal choice across home

and community environments.

Calendar of Events

www.lifeworks-sls.com

September 21st

CSLN Regional Forum 10am-3pm

City of Temple Community Room

9701 Las Tunas

Temple, CA 91780

December 4th

IRA Education

RedRock Financial Services

Life Works Office

4648 30th Street, San Diego


2/17

Beths Bulletin

Hello Team Life Works,

I was going to spend some time writing a

story about what I learned this summer in

Toronto, Canada. While trying to find the

words to describe it I realized that it hasnt

completely sunk in yet. I cant write about

what I dont yet know. It will come to me.

In the mean time, I did want to take a moment to ask for some

help. We are constantly trying to create a better foundation for the

people we support. This agency has so much capacity to do

incredible work. We have been in operation for 9 years this coming

January. We have seen a great many changes and have

accomplished so much in that amount of time. My hope is that we

can acknowledge the wonderful milestones that we have met and

also take time to figure out where we are going. The future of Life

Works can literally look like anything we want it to.

So I am asking for help. Feedback. We are preparing to send out a

survey to you asking for feedback on things like Job Knowledge,

Job Satisfaction, Supervision, and Support Services. There is also

going to be a place at the end of the survey to elaborate about

anything you feel like we need to know. The survey is anonymous

so feel free to share whatever you would like. We want to know

your concerns, your ideas, your desires, your wishes, your hopes,

and hopefully your compliments. We promise to take the

information we receive and use it wisely and mindfully.

Thank you for everything you do

Beth


3/17

Only 3 percent? Its a start...

What I know about myself is that I am immersed in this search for connection, a

feeling of true belonging to my community and neighborhood. In my everyday

work, I teach of the values of connection, community and inclusion. Yet, in myown neighborhood, it is clear that I lack these things. So I suppose this will out

myself a bit, but alas, this is a place of learning and sharing.

Ive begun the process of getting to know my neighbors. This is an intentional

shift in my thoughts and actions. It is the foundation for a practice of neighboring I

hope to live everyday, the rest of my life. In these beginning days and weeks, I am

being guided by a project called the Neighbor Challenge. Valisha Reber, an

assistant with the Communities First Association, is facilitating this Neighbor

Challenge via the Abundant Community website,http://www.abundantcommunity.com. Valishas Neighbor Challenge provides

some guidance on how to get started with meeting your neighbors, as she is posting

about her progress week to week. I am following along, and encourage you to do

the same. My hope is that this becomes a strategy that can help all of us here at

Life Works find ourselves more connected in our own neighborhoods.

As I drew the surrounding blocks in my neighborhood (as per the Week 1

instructions) realizations bounced around my brain and anxiety crept in. Upon

completing the grid, with all houses represented with boxes, I wrote in the name ofthe houses of neighbors I know. I then identified the households and people that I

actually know well. The numbers are staggering. Out of 140 houses on the grid,

about 5 blocks of intertwined streets and col de sacs, I know the people who

occupy 11 households. Out of these 11 households, I would say that 5 of them I

know very well. The outcome of this first week of the neighbor challenge is the

realization that I only know 3 percent of the people who live in my neighborhood,

very well.

On My Mind

By Kirk Hinkleman


4/17

After processing this activity, I was overwhelmed with a sense of excitement. You

would think I would be depressed upon the realization that I hardly know my

neighbors, but really, Im excited! Ive begun a process of learning and knowing

what needs to be done. I already love my neighborhood. I say it almost daily, just

ask my wife! I have a real sense of where I need to go, and its next door! And

then, next door to them, and then next door to them. Rather than looking at it as

daunting or impossible, Im choosing to simplify it. There is no timetable. It is

simply going to be small invitations, conversations and sharing of stories, one

household at a time. I cant wait to meet all the people who live in my

neighborhood and connect with them in such a way that it is meaningful. I look

forward to meeting people who may be just as excited as I am to turn our

neighborhood into a place of abundant connection. Take a look at your own

neighborhood and think about how many people you know. Perhaps you can begin

this Neighbor Challenge as well?

So I only really know well, 3 percent of the households in my neighborhood.

Small number, sure...but its a start!


5/17

The Judging Specter

By Joy Boe

This summer I was lucky enough to join Life Works in attending the Toronto Summer

Institute, which is a week long conference set in Canada. People from all over the world

gather to collaborate on ideas surrounding the topics of community, inclusion and disability

rights. Last year I saw the tremendous impact it had on Beth and Kirk when they returned

glowing from the experience, but I really did not know what to expect.

What happened to me there this July was exhausting and invigorating at the same time!

Upon landing I was greeted by themost welcoming bunch of people Ive ever met. Their

openness and generosity was a nice surprise after a long flight. I would call this group TSI

Alumni, all of which had several years of attendance under their belt and who also had

arrived early to help stage the place. I was initially feeling a little nervous about meeting so

many established people outside of my comfort zone, but within an hour I felt like part of

the family. I had the chance to hear their stories about what lead them there in the first

place, and I felt connected to the basis of all of them. We shared a sort of unexpected loyalty

to this type of work, and a definite appreciation for companionship with fellow subscribers.

The official conference began a couple days later, and I was thrown into the deep of it right

away. Following a native smudging ceremony, we were asked to respond to some writing

prompts by sharing them with a gathering of people, all strangers to me. We were asked,

What are some ways your family context has shaped your life and work? Describe a

defining moment that has shaped who you are now? Where are you now and what is

coming up for you?

I felt a great sense of dread approaching the answers that first off, I was not expecting, and

secondly, was unprepared to vocalize to others who I had just met. I wasnt even sure I hadever even asked myself to explore those things before now. We only had a couple minutes to

gather our thoughts before sharing and to be quite honest, I couldnt come up with an

answer that was lighter and more generalized than the truth. I had to face it, and explain it,

and with that, TSI was off and running.

The level of intense discovery within those questions set the tone for the entire week.


6/17

As a group we developed The Learning Marketplace: a calendar of sessions comprised of a

variety of modules that offered opportunities to learn about everything from ABCD (Asset

Based Community Development) to meditation and storytelling. Every morning you would

approach the board and decide what sessions you wanted to attend, and although the topics

were presented on the spot, coincidentally I felt a common thread between the modules I

chose, including Theory U with John OBrien and one called Against the Silence with Peter

Gilli.

By the end of it I couldnt ignore the obvious: welcoming the soul of a community, one that

is diverse and open, begins with accepting and owning yourself first. Peter Gilli said the

judging specter is the greatest obstacle to people being able to improvise. This voice is

usually there to protect you but it usually will suppress you instead

Seeing within your own self the gifts you have to offer and getting over the fear and

cynicism that we all have about ourselves unleashes an emerging future of possibility that isbetter for everyone. As John OBrien says [it] creates a culture of actors, not bystanders.

When we want community members to be actively engaged in inclusion, we must

remember the key word here is active.

A sense of belonging is a new experience to me. In my personal life I have a small circle of

people I call friends, and an even smaller few who I believe fundamentally understand and

support me. When I was little my family was really poor and although very resourceful, I

felt the separation of socio-economic status at a very young age. This bit of division has

lingered within me throughout my adult life, both emotionally and mentally.

It wasnt until coming to TSI that I realized I have been responsible for placing barriers

upon myself, and by unknowingly being slightly removed from people, I have not helped


7/17

myself establish a safety net but have actually hindered my own ability to trust in the

interconnectedness of the world around me. Its made me less active in the things that make

me uniquely who I am, and less willing to share those things with others.

I know that labels create a new language, but I did not practice this mindfulness in my own

consciousness. TSI challenged me to investigate my past with friendly intervention. Itredirected my apprehensive mind set and encouraged me to experience a world that is

waiting to be born, with my unique help.


8/17

It#is#I#who#must#begin.#

Once#I#begin,#once#I#try#55#

here#and#now,#

right#where#I#am,#

not#excusing#myself#

by#saying#things#

would#be#easier#elsewhere,#

without#grand#speeches#and#ostentatious#gestures,#

but#all#the#more#persistently#

55#to#live#in#harmony#

with#the#"voice#of#Being,"#as#I#

understand#it#within#myself#

55#as#soon#as#I#begin#that,#

I#suddenly#discover,#

to#my#surprise,#that#

I#am#neither#the#only#one,#

nor#the#first,#

nor#the#most#important#one#

to#have#set#out#

upon#that#road.

##

Whether#all#is#really#lost#

or#not#depends#entirely#on#whether#or#not#I#am#lost.#

It#Is#I#Who#Must#Begin#

~#Vaclav#Havel#~#


9/17


10/17


11/17

!!

Individual)Retirement)Accounts)

!Life!Works!is!interested!in!improving!the!benefits!that!we!can!provide!for!our!teams.!We!have!

established!a!new!IRA!(Individual!Retirement!Account)!for!all!of!you!that!are!interested!that!

will!be!managed!through!Red!Rock!Financial!Services!in!Northern!California.!!

IRA!stands!for!Individual!Retirement!Account,!and!it's!basically!a!savings!account!with!big!tax!

breaks,!making!it!an!ideal!way!to!sock!away!cash!for!your!retirement.!A!lot!of!people!

mistakenly!think!an!IRA!itself!is!an!investment!G!but!it's!just!the!basket!in!which!you!keep!

stocks,!bonds,!mutual!funds!and!other!assets.!!Life!Works!is!offering!a!3%!match!for!the!monies!

that!you!contribute.!!!

The!IRA!through!Life!Works!will!be!available!for!any!employee!who!works!a!minimum!of!20!

hours!per!week!and!who!has!been!employed!for!a!minimum!of!3!months.!!

On!December!4th!we!are!going!to!have!representatives!from!Red!Rock!Financial!here!at!our!office!

to!help!us!navigate!this!new!benefit.!We!are!hosting!Kathy!Carpenter!and!Diane!Knight!here!

during!two!short!informational!gatherings.!Kathy!and!Diane!will!explain!the!process,!answer!any!

questions!and!get!you!started!if!you!choose.!Please!come!and!join!if!you!are!at!all!interested!in!

beginning!a!new!retirement!savings!plan!for!yourself.!!

December)4th,)2012)

1:00)am)or)3:00)pm)

4648)30th)Street,)San)Diego,)CA)92116)

!

!


12/17

Kristina Johnston

We want to take the opportunity to recognize Kristina Johnston. She has been a part of the

Life Works family, off and on, for coming up on 3 years. Kristina carries herself with great

energy and positivity at all times. She supports 5 different people in our Life Works family

and handles all the schedules well. Not to mention that she is a MOM also! Kristina is

always willing to help in a pinch, juggle her schedule on the fly and is willing to think

creatively on how she can help anywhere, anytime. Thank you for being such an amazing

part of our team Kristinayou rock!!

Team Joaquin

We want to recognize an incredible team for their flexibility and dedicated support. Joaquin

spent a significant amount of time in the hospital recently and this team stepped up to besure they were constantly keeping each other informed and up to date with what was

needed. When Joaquin needed a team from Life Works to support the hospital staff with a

procedure, they jumped right in. Thank you so much for your unsurpassed collaboration.

Team Member Highlight


13/17

Today I went to work. Big deal? HUGE deal.

Last Friday, my brother, Joaquin, had a seizure. During the seizure, he stopped

breathing. He was air lifted to the intensive care unit of one of our citys finest hospitals.

He is still there. And yet, I am at work today.

When Joaquin lived in an institution, whenever he had a seizure requiring

hospitalization, I drove 2 hours to be with him. And I stayed with him for days on end,

missing work, sending sketchy sub plans each day by email, not eating, not showering,

not resting, until he was released. I could not leave his side lest his uniquecommunications be misunderstood; lest a subtle facial movement not be recognized as a

sign of pain or seizure; lest he need a familiar touch, song, or snack food to help him

through yet another blood draw; lest his head should tense up above his pillow and he not

be able to get it to relax; or lest his doctors should arrive and make a decision without my

feedback, advocacy, or consent.

You might ask, Didnt the institution send anyone to be with him? Yes. They sent a

sitter. Often times, the sitter on shift did not know Joaquin well. If we were lucky, they

knew enough to answer basic questions like, Does he talk? Can he walk? Most often,they didnt ask or answer many questions at all. Joaquin was just one of the many people

housed in their facility. They did not know him well enough to know what to ask or to

answer when doctors or nursing staff came around. And they certainly didnt know him

well enough to know that certain subtle lip movements are related to his seizures; or that

Joaquin relaxes when he listens to his funk music; or that stroking his eyebrows and

forehead helps his head to rest fully on his pillow; or that blood draws are easier when

food distractions are available to him. The sitters were simply doing their jobas

sittersbecause that was their assignment that day.

They didnt have a personal relationship with Joaquin. I could not trust them to advocate

for Joaquin.

Now Joaquin lives in the community, in his own home, with hand-picked staff who are

devoted only to getting to know Joaquin and building a trusting relationship with him,

and supporting his health and well-being.

I Went to Work Today

Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed.

August 29, 2012


14/17

So last Friday, my brother, Joaquin, had a seizure. During the seizure, he stopped

breathing. He was air lifted to the intensive care unit of one our citys finest hospitals. And

I was with him during the seizure at his home. And I was able to meet him at the hospital

within 45 minutes. And I was able to be with him every day during his stay. Yet I was

also able to eat healthy meals and take showers and go home to rest each night, until he

was released.

I thought hed be released before my work week began on Monday and Id be able to goto work. But he wasnt. I dreaded the thought of having a substitute teacher for my new

kindergarteners. And I dreaded the idea of not being with Joaquin as he lay in the ICU,

recovering in our citys finest hospitaland with the finest support team hes ever had in

his life.

What? Although I was aware of it already, I suddenly remembered that my brother has

the best support team hes ever had in his life. He has staff who truly know him, who

understand him, love him, and who are fully capable of supporting his success and being

his advocates when I cannot.

Joaquin has received supported living services for nearly a year. His staff members know

and understand the most intimate details of his life. Time and experience have taught

them (and Joaquin) the dance of personal support. And time and experience have built a

trusting relationship between them and Joaquinand me.

This was the perfect time to exercise that trust. So I went to work today. And my students

learned. And Team Joaquin rocked. And we all survived.


15/17

Community Events

By Pamela Barnard

October 20, 2012- United Cerebral Palsy no Limits Walk benefitting CP

http://www.ucpsd.org/uploads/media_items/no-limits-2012-flyer.original.pdf

Seal tours- handicap accessible from seaport village tickets $36. No date on a first

comes first serve basis.

http://www.sealtours.com/san-diego/seal-tour-reservations-and-rates.asp

Goodwill Supported Employment Program. Call for more information (619) 225-

2200

http://sdgoodwill.org/sejobs.html

Malashock Dance Facilities Dance with This-Ability class. Call for more

information (619) 260-1622

http://www.malashockdance.org/outreach-programs/dance-with-disability

San Diego Therapeutic Recreation Services sports, recreation, leisure & outreach

services for anyone with disability. Call for more information (619) 525-8247

http://www.sandiego.gov/park-and -recreation/activities/trs/


16/17

My name is Lamika Winfree and I know many people see me as a Coordinator for Life Works.

However, before anything I am a mother of a beautiful 3-year-old little girl named Malia.

Beginning on June 11, 2012, my whole world was flipped upside down. I got a phone call from the

daycare informing me that Malia was shaking very badly, drooling, and was not responding. OMG! I

knew my little girl was having a seizure. I rushed to the daycare to find her not responding at all.

There were so many mixed emotions: Lamika get ahold of yourself, you have seen seizures before with

people you work with, you help to train people on how to deal with seizures. No!!! This is different.

This is my little girl!

For two months, Malia continued to have seizures. The doctors told me that she would grow out of

them by the age of 5 and that she was fine. They said they were Febrile Seizures and not to worry. The

doctors would not give Malia any medications because they said she was too young. There were

sleepless nights because I was terrified that if I went to sleep than something would happen to my baby.

On August 1, 2012, Malia had another seizure that lasted 47 minutes. I rushed from work again to pick

Malia up. I walked into Sharp Hospital that day, with my daughter in my arms, she was still seizing,

and I begged someone to please help me. My body was numb, my heart heavy, and I was mentally and

physically exhausted. I was about to give up because I felt like such a failure to my daughter because I

couldnt help her. Mommy, can you make my head feel better. I couldnt do anything. I had to lean

on my friends at Life Works at that time for prayer and support because I was really down.

On that day, Malia was admitted to the hospital. Upon discharge, the doctors finally agreed to put her

on medication. The doctor looked at me and said that he is very happy that I documented her seizures

as well as I did because that helped them to be better able to treat Malia. I cried at that moment. Did

the doctor really just thank me? I felt like I was the cause, but he thanked me for helping him.


17/17

Malia has been on medication now since August 2, 2012, and she has not had one seizure. She was

formally diagnosed with epilepsy. I learned a valuable lesson this summer. My first lesson was that I

am human. I may work in a profession where I am helping others, but there are times when I need

support too. The support from my family and friends is what helped me and continues to help me get

through this time. My second lesson was not giving up. There were many times I just wanted togive up because the doctors were not listening, but there was the one person that listened. I am

thankful and appreciative for that one nurse.

My third lesson is the most important one you are not alone. I work with individuals on a daily

basis who have seizures, disabilities, etc. People may think that working with individuals is just my

job, but its not my job, its my life. As I stated in the opening sentence, many people view me as a

Coordinator for Life Works, but I am a mother first. I am a mother of a 3-year-old daughter who has

Epilepsy.

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Life Works Newsletter #6 Done