CHARGE: Re:: An upsetting experience I had yesterday.

[Guest guest]

Hey guys,

I had something happen yesterday that is more than likely what got

me on that soapbox in previous post.

I have a therapy dog and go to the psychiatric floor of local

hospital once a week. Yesterday there was a young man from my town

that I have known for a long time. He is mentally challenged and

deaf. He is completely deaf and does not speak at all. He is about

the same age as . Needless to say he latched onto me right away.

When staff found out I could sign it became evident to me that no one

was able to communicate with him at all. I know him well enough to

know that he can not read or write very well. I told them I could

talk with him but that I could not act as an interpreter. By this

time he was holding on to my hand and crying. I did take him aside

and just signed with him to try and calm him down. He told me he got

in fight with sister at home, sorry, upset, no more fight, want mom.

I did translate to him that mom was on her way and that he would have

meeting with doctors who would help him. No one mad at him just want

to make things better. Mom showed up and right away said to me " Oh

you can sign much better than I can. " I ask one of the nurses if they

had an interpreter coming and she tells me they called one but they

didn't show up. (not sure if they were just covering) but I do know

he had just come in the night before and it is extremely hard to get

interpreters on short notice. I didn't go into the meeting with them

because I am not a certified interpreter. They came out of meeting

and mom took him home that afternoon.

I know of this family. I have tried working with them in the past to

get this young man out into the community with signing support. The

problem is I believe the family depends on some of his SSI to live.

Everytime I have had contact with him he is a little clingly but

happy and sweet in nature. From what knowledge I have the home

situation for him is not a real stable one. The family signs in a

home sign to deal with him which makes it extremely hard to get

things across to him sometimes. If I keep my sign very simple he can

understand me but does not catch on if you use to much spelling sign.

It's a case where there is so much potential for him but instead I

find him in the psychiatric unit of the local hospital, afraid with

no way of knowing whats happening. I tried again to talk with his mom

about community placement. I offered my help but I really don't

expect to hear from her. It's just so frustrating.

mom to (31)