Supporting everyday life : addressing risk and safety issues for adults with mental retardation : conference proceedings

96 Pages·1995·5.3 MB·English

by  Massachusetts. Governor's Commission on Mental Retardation

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SUPPORTING EVERYDAY
LIFE:
ADDRESSING RISK AND SAFETY ISSUES FOR
ADULTS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
March 1995
16,
9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m.
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Co-Sponsors:
Governor's Commission on Mental Retardation
Arc Massachusetts
Vinfen Corporation
Waltham Committee,
Inc.

ADDRESSING RISK AND SAFETY ISSUES
FOR ADULTS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
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Table of Contents
About Our Presenters
I.
Keynote Address
Forum Proceedings
IV. Workshop Proceedings: Diet, Smoking, Exercise
V. Workshop Proceedings: Home Alone
VI. Workshop Proceedings: Refusing Services
VII. Workshop Proceedings: Sexuality
VIII. Final Session
IX. Case Studies

ABOUT OUR PRESENTERS
I.
Keynote Speaker: Clarence Sundram. J.D.
Mr. Sundram is the founding Chairman of the New York State Commission on Quality of Care
for the Mentally Disabled, an independent agency that monitors conditions in institutions and
community programs for persons with mental illness and developmental disabilities. He is a
nationally recognized expert in the area of quality assurance and monitoring. Mr. Sundram is the
author of "Sexuality and Mental Retardation: Unmet Challenges" in the August 1994 volume of
Mental Retardation and recently edited Choice and Responsibility: Legal and Ethical Dilemmas in
Serving Persons with Disabilities.
Roundtable Participants:
The Honorable Maurice Richardson
Dedham
First Justice, District Court.
Matthew Engel, J.D.
Staff Attorney, Center for Public Representation; Chairperson, Human Rights Advisory
Committee, Department of Mental Retardation.
Joe Ricciardi, Psy.D.
Director of Clinical Services, Vinfen Corporation.
Virginia Connolly
Executive Director, Beaverbrook STEP Inc.
Connie Lehr
Director, Office of Quality Enhancement, Department of Mental Retardation - Region III
Jack Wier
Self-Advocate and staff member of Quincy High School Athletic Department.
Emily Murgo Nisenbaum
Parent, Steering Committee of Families Organizing for Change.
Kathy Rafferty
Support Coordinator, Waltham Committee, Inc.
Workshop
Facilitators
Nancy Silver Hargreaves is the Executive Director for the Waltham Committee, Inc. She has
worked for persons with developmental disabilities for more than 20 years across a variety of
settings (e.g., private and state agencies and public schools) and positions (i.e., teacher,
consultant, administrator, service coordinator). Ms. Hargreaves' areas of expertise include the
procedures, policies, and regulations regarding Home Alone Waivers and Safety Plans.
Russell W. Maguire, Ph.D. is the Clinical Director for the Waltham Committee, Inc. He has
worked with persons with developmental disabilities for more than 20 years. Mr. Maguire is
also a member of the Special Education Faculty of Fitchburg State College. His area of expertise
is the development and implementation of instructional procedures to accelerate the acquisition
of independent living skills.
Carolyn Barrett is the past President of Arc Massachusetts. She also has extensive
professional experience in the provider community. She has a son who has mental retardation.
Jim Ross is the Executive Director of Community Partnerships, Inc. in Taunton, MA. He has
over 20 years experience securing and promoting community-based residential and vocational
supports for people with disabilities.
Ann E. Rocheleau is the Sexuality Coordinator for the Templeton Developmental Center.
With a master's degree in counseling and post graduate work in psychological trauma, she is an
expert in sexuality training for people with developmental disabilities. Ann provides consultation
to clinical teams on sexuality issues and to groups who are developing policies in the area of
abuse and mistreatment.
Judy Roger is a self advocate.
Keynote Address
II.

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Choice, Safety Risk in
and
Institutions the
Community
Clarence Sundram
J.
ClarenceJ. Sundram
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Three Main Topics
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Challenges in Institutions
Challenges in the Community
A Framework for Thinking About
Choice/Risk
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In my talk today, I want to address three areas. First,
recognizing that institutions are still with us and are likely to
remain into the next century, I would like to share a couple of
observations about the challenge of assuring quality and
providing safety in these programs. Second, recognizing that all
of you are leaders in your own communities and undoubtedly have
been and will continue to play critical roles in the eventual
transitioning to a post-institutional system of community
services and supports, I will discuss what I see as some of the
emerging risks to quality and safety in community services.
I
want to make it clear in this discussion, however, that the fact
that there are risks in the community does not constitute an
argument for the perpetuation of institutions. Finally, want to
I
share some ideas about resolving the tension between safety and
risk, choice and responsibility.