UTMC

No joke.

Anybody here work with "Special Needs" adults?
I'm done with carpentry, there are a few reasons, but in the last few months I've been having pretty serious joint pain in my elbows and shoulders.
I occasionally run into a bunch of guys from a local group home, and I always think to myself, "I could work with those guys." Have done some networking locally to find out what's available, I know it will be a serious pay cut at first, but it's something I've been thinking about for a while now.

Anyone?

Good luck.
I'm sure it can be a real bitch of a job a lot of the time, but I've met quite a few special needs adults that were an absolute kick in the pants to be around.
Imagine a fully grown dude having just as much fun as a four year old kid... Four year old kids don't have to worry about bills or shitty jobs. Four year old kids run around yelling stupid shit, playing in the dirt, and taking naps.
I've been kinda jealous of the special bastards before.

I'm sure you're aware of the schooling/licensing you'll need to complete prior to doing this kinda work....

motorpsycho67 wrote:I'm sure you're aware of the schooling/licensing you'll need to complete prior to doing this kinda work....

Yup. To get started, there is a one week paid training program available through the local care provider.
After that, I would start at less than half of what I'm earning now, but with a good benefits program.
This is not the reason I want to do this, but benefits might be nice to have.
There is, I am sure, a lot more training available at more advanced levels of care; This is just to get started in the field.

I commend you. If you have the aptitude and compassion, go for it. According to a coworker who has a sister with special needs, there are folks who choose that line of work for the wrong reasons. It shows. Go with Shiva H. Vishnu my friend, get your care on.

I worked with our local Community Living bureau for a year, both in group homes and day programs. It can be frustrating, and rewarding. Some basic self-defense is recommended.

I actually miss it, now that I'm back in the automotive world. It was a lot of fun. I still help out with Special Olympics, with soccer & floor hockey.

When I got called up I went to work in an assisted living facility for mentally disabled people (that's what it said on the sign, I'm not going to find some stupid pc term).
Can be very rewarding, like any jobs in the world, it depends on the people you end up working with (and I do mean the "special needs" people, not so just your direct colleagues/boss).
There were a few other, professional carers there who had, like me, worked there instead of going in the army and ended up changing careers over it (one guy had finished his apprenticeship as a CNC machinist, worked there for a year, went and got himself into a training program to become a certified carer).
You will have to show a lot more interest in the people around you and have a lot more patience than in other lines of work.

What everyone else said. No experience, but my riding buddy in Albuquerque had to care for his 60ish yr old uncle who had the mentality of a 5 yr old. Fun, rewarding, yes yes yes. But they also behave like 5 yearolds--good and bad--tantrums, etc.

Uncle Tony was fun, would sing, dance, even could take his own meds, but he had issues. Wouldn't set foot mout of the hopuse when it was raining or windy because some fucked up relative 40 years ago told him he'd get struck by lightning or blown away, etc. When he got pissed off, he'd go in a scary rage, which could also include banging his head on the wall, floor, etc, gnaw on this fingers until they bled, shitting/pissing in his pants, smearing it everywhere, jerking off. And my buddy had to handle it. But he did because he loved his uncle, but sometimes my buddy just looked like shit after pulling an unwilling all-nighter.

Uncle Tony was a good guy, but a challenge. Obviously you'd be in a more formalized setting where it isn't all on youe shoulders, and you don't need to completely invest yourself emotionally--others with you, etc.

If only it were like 12 Monkeys, I might be doing that, but it's a lot more, and even more than I'm aware of, fo sho.

You seem to have the right personality for this, Pic. Talk to people who work there.;

I've already gotten in touch with some of the people who work there.
This group was apparently started in response to some of the bad places retarded kids would end up as adults. Everyone I've spoken to says this place has a great reputation, and good working conditions for both staff and residents. There is some kind of occupational therapy aspect to the program.
Thanks for the encouragement and kind words.
The toughest part now is telling my boss I'm going to be leaving. It feels like I'm planning on breaking up with my girlfriend.

Interesting career move. My friend worked in a home for developmentally disabled adults. She really enjoyed it. Although it was a lot of work, and exasperating at times, she felt it was really rewarding on many levels.

Good luck to you.

It's awesome you're listening to your heart! Many people do not heed that call. I hope you find a good fit in your search for employment. You are a wonderfully caring person, based on what I have read from you.

Just a heads up... I don't think it is considered very PC to call them retarded. I believe the term is , as Moto_Myotis used it, developmentally disabled.
I was harassed by a friend for using that word inappropriately until I stopped.

It could be different in other places. I would just hate to see you have a something about mary moment.


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Yeah, I just love those goofy bastards.

I have an ex-girlfriend who got into that... for lack of a better term... business. Right after she dumped me. Probably well suited for it, seeing that she dealt with a difficult person already.

Never really knew that side of her. Or the side where she would readily fuck around on me... but anyway.

I only witnessed a glimpse of it, but she was really a caring person. Wait, you don't have red hair do you? Skinny waist, round hips, boobs, etc?

How far is Nyack, anyway?

Have you thought about volunteering or getting your feet wet a little? Seems like a potentially rewarding line of work . . . or something that would completely drive you insane. I guess it all depends on what level of patience you have. My wife's grandmother is senile (not even Alzheimers senile, just easily confused), and spending a couple hours with her wears me out beyond comprehension. I think of myself as a somewhat patient person, but I don't know that I could handle that kind of work.

I actually miss it. If this job didn't pay so well, and if my responsibilities were fewer & cheaper, I would have stayed.

My dad was a special education teacher for thirty years. When I was a kid he made me and my brother help with the Special Olympics and a place in town called the Opportunity Workshop where they employed special needs people to put together light assemblies and things like that. I don't know if they have a place like that in your hometown but I'm sure they are always looking for volunteers. I know there are dance schools that are also called the Opportunity Workshops so be advised.

erosvamp wrote:... I don't think it is considered very PC to call them retarded. I believe the term is , as Moto_Myotis used it, developmentally disabled.

Absolutely.

Some of you Remember when I had the raging ear infections a couple summers ago. I was almost completely stone deaf for a couple days, which happened to be the first few days of the semester when we were having departmental meetings--perfect timing, really.

Anyway, our school got a new director for DPS (Disabled Programs abnd Services) and he's introducing himself to the department, and he's a real knob. One of my coworkers is sitting next to me writing stuff down she thinks I should know, when she writes: OMG, he jjust said retard!!! I looiked at a guy sitting next to me, and he wrote let him talk--watch him flouinder. So this idiot's bumbling through his speech, knowing he fucked up, saying "I didn't mean to say retard, it's something people say, but shouldn't, and I was just saying some people say retard, I didn't say it to say it . . ."

He's not around anywhere, and is working in some little podunk school out in the Arizona desert.