Hi everyone. I’m joining #WeekendCoffeeShare again. It’s 7:30PM, so I just had my last cup (two cups, in fact) of coffee for the day. I’ll probably take a break from writing this blog post for my soft drink at 8PM. Please join me as we chat.
If we were having coffee, first as usual I’d talk about the weather. It’s truly beautiful! Today, the temperature rose to 25°C and it was quite sunny. Rain isn’t in the forecast until next Thursday I believe. I know, climate change and all, but I’m enjoying the summer while I can.
If we were having coffee, I’d share that I am still going strong with my physical activity goals. Yesterday, a staff mentioned the trampoline that’s on the campsite near the institution and we decided to check it out. Today, I went on the side-by-side bike with another staff. Because of this as well as having walked a lot today, I might break my active calories record according to my Apple Watch.
If we were having coffee, next I’d tell you that I unfortunately haven’t been crafting much lately. On Sunday, I created polymer clay earrings that are still waiting to go into the oven. Other than that, no crafty endeavors.
I did, however, create a dessert for myself and my fellow residents on Monday. It was good.
If we were having coffee, then I’d tell you that the rest of the week was quite hard. There’s this temp worker who is absolutely clueless about how to support me and yet he’s assigned to me almost everyday. Staff keep saying I should be giving him feedback more when he’s acting in an unsupportive way. First of all, well, no, that’s not my responsibility. They don’t ask the other clients to give feedback either, but when I point this out, they say it’s different for them because they can’t. I can, sometimes, a little bit and I tried this week in fact, but the temp worker didn’t learn a thing from it. Then I get told that the staff assign to me who they choose and it’s my responsibility to deal with it.
I also was told that, when the staff feel someone is trained well enough to support me, they will be assigned to me and I don’t have a say in it. All this comes across as if it’s me being deliberately difficult with certain staff based on arbitrary things, while in reality it’s the way that they act that makes certain staff more difficult for me to deal with than others. Besides, I’ve had staff assigned to me who themselves don’t even feel they’re capable enough just because these staff want to please and their colleagues pressure them. It may be easiest for staff to assign the most inexperienced temp worker to me because I try to be helpful and, when I am not, it is easy to blame me for allegedly playing favorites.
If we were having coffee, lastly I’d share that the Center for Consultation and Expertise found a suitable consultant for my case, but due to the summer holidays, the first contact won’t be until the end of August. This will unfortunately be a phone call with the behavior specialist. I’m not very trusting of the whole process at the moment, to be honest.
A Multitude of Musings 
I really have no idea, but it sounds like you get inexperienced staff because you don’t need as much help as some of the other residents. But it’s frustrating all the same. I hope the new person coming at the end of the month is a good match for you.
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Thanks so much for your comment. I think indeed the staff believe I’m easier to deal with than my severely intellectually disabled fellow residents, but I do have a higher care profile due to my challenging behavior. In all honesty, I think the staff (or at least a lot of them) believe this challenging behavior is a choice.
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I have seen that many people find it hard to understand the different ways people think and react if it’s not the same way that they would. And because you are so smart, they think you could do better if you wanted, not understanding that intelligence has many parts and kinds. And if you excel at one it doesn’t necessarily mean that others are the same.
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Yes, true indeed.
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That is not good that the support staff assigned to you are not capable! So frustrating for you, I am sure.
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Thanks for sympathizing. I must say my needs are pretty complex, but that’s not something I can change.
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We had rain last week but over the weekend the weather was nice, warm but not too hot.
The trampoline sounds like great fun and the desserts look yummy!
Ugh! That seems unfair that the staff are saying your should tell the temp worker how to do their job, I don’t think that is your responsibility.
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Thanks for your kind comment. The dessert was delicious indeed. Re the temp worker, it’s probably because most staff don’t see how disabled I actually am with me being able to speak quite eloquently most of the time.
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Keep hope for the intervention of the consultant… I know that is easier said than done, but it has to get better. The way the administration is just throwing random staff your way is unfair. I really hope it gets straightened out soon. Thanks for the coffee… it was tasty!
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Thanks so much for your kind comment. My assigned staff said that they just don’t have the time to properly orient staff to me, but in my opinion that’s not a reason to shift the blame.
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You are welcome.
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Sorry about the temp workers being assigned to you, that doesnt seem fair at all! Glad the center for consultation found a suitable consultant to take on your case. Xx
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Temp workers being treated like they are regular staff isn’t fair on anyone. Thanks for your kind comment.
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