The Times Advocate, 2006-03-29, Page 7Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Exeter Times–Advocate
7
Writer says, `one shoe doesn't fit all'
By Rick Hundey
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -
ADVOCATE
(Editor's note: The
author, an Exeter res-
ident, is president of
the Community Living
— South Huron board
of directors)
When it comes to
serving people who
have developmental
challenges, the
province of Ontario
assumes "one shoe
fits all."
The Ministry of
Community and
Social Services would
have us believe that
everyone fits very
nicely into our com-
munities and that the
fit is never uncomfort-
able nor painful.
To give credit where
credit is due, the
province is right,
when it comes to the
majority. Those mem-
bers of society who,
left to their own
devices, do not have
the intellectual capac-
ity to function in the
community get along
quite nicely with the
help of organizations
like ours, the South
Huron Community
Living Association.
Generally.
But what about the
minority? What about
our clients who are
self -abusive or who
have violent tenden-
cies? What about
those clients, the ones
who would, at one
time, have been kept
in institutions. Does
the province's posi-
tion that "one shoe
fits all" apply to them,
too?
Read about Gilbert
and let his story
answer the question
(Gilbert's real name
has been changed in
this story to protect
his privacy).
Gilbert is a large
and personable man
in his early 50s. He is
usually friendly and
co-operative. He loves
to participate in the
programs Community
Living offers such as
outings on the bus. He
is an enthusiastic
singer. And, move
over Fred Astaire
once the dance music
starts.
Gilbert once lived in
a provincially operat-
ed institution, where
there were stringent
controls and a regi-
mented daily routine.
He felt comfortable
there but the powers
that be decided he
would be better suit-
ed to group living in a
community. He had a
hard adjustment at
first but did seem to
fit in eventually with
our agency.
As with many of us
in mid life, Gilbert has
suffered a number of
family losses, and
there is no one left
other than his support
workers at
Community Living to
look out for him.
Beyond the emo-
tional upsets he's
experienced through
loss of family, Gilbert
may be suffering in
other ways. A physi-
cal ailment is suspect-
ed and psychological
problems may be
weighing on his mind.
It is difficult for his
support workers to
know exactly how to
help Gilbert because
he cannot articulate
his problems.
Gilbert's communica-
tions skills are, at
times, comparable to
that of a toddler.
So perhaps because
of the pressures and
despite efforts to con-
trol him, Gilbert has
turned to violence, as
has been his tendency
his whole life. Lately,
he has struck out at
support workers and
at fellow clients.
Obviously, any attack
on another client is
very serious (for one
reason, many devel-
opmentally chal-
lenged individuals are
unable to defend
themselves).
Community Living
Associations serve
thousands of develop-
mentally challenged
adults in Ontario. But
none is equipped or
trained to handle vio-
lent individuals. As
our clients live togeth-
er in group homes,
the risk of injury is
high.
The only acceptable
operational response
to violence possible is
to maintain a no -tol-
erance policy. That
does not mean an
aberrant outburst of
temper will prompt
police action or evic-
tion; however, any
evidence of a pattern
or a propensity to vio-
lence does require
action.
Gilbert showed such
a pattern, and there
was no other
recourse but to report
him to the police.
Does Gilbert belong in
jail? No, he acts much
like an over -grown
child. Would we have
a child arrested for
striking a playmate?
No, but Gilbert is big
and strong.
Should he appear
before the courts for
his behaviour? No, he
does not have the
capacity to under-
stand what he has
done wrong let alone
the legal process soci-
ety thrusts upon him.
But what happens
to Gilbert when he
gets `processed'?
Here we come to
some good news. He
is referred to a psy-
chiatric hospital for a
30 day assessment.
Such a referral is
exactly what Gilbert
needed. If that is the
case then why, a rea-
sonable person might
ask, wasn't he
referred for assess-
ment in the first
place?
The answer is
shocking: Community
Living simply could
not get Gilbert into
such a hospital when
he first showed signs
of violent behaviour.
The waiting list is too
long. Having him
charged and remov-
ing him from our
home was the only
viable path available
to us. It seems only
the courts can jump
the queue for Gilbert.
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Regrettably,
Gilbert's is not an iso-
lated case. In fact, his
is much less severe
than some. A few past
clients, many now liv-
ing with aging par-
ents, are much more
volatile than is
Gilbert.
Where are we to
send these clients
when their behaviour
gets out of hand?
Ask the province
and it will fall back on
the "one shoe fits all"
mantra. The other
government response
is to call a meeting. It
would suggest, "Let's
try again to integrate
this person in the
community." It would
say, "Let's remember
these people are indi-
viduals. They have
rights." (Ignore for
the moment the rights
of other clients and of
staff not to be
attacked.)
So, what's the
answer?
For starters, it is
high time the
province recognized
its underlying
premise is flawed.
One shoe does not fit
all. Gilbert's case
proves that clearly.
Consider the waste.
As matters stand, we
are spending taxpay-
er money on policing,
on court time and
client legal fees. Then
we are sending our
violent -prone clients
to hospitals. And in
the end what have we
accomplished? Two
things:
• We have tied up
our police, court and
hospital services with
problems they are not
equipped (or funded)
to handle.
• We have trauma-
tized people who are
developmentally chal-
lenged.
Perhaps the
province will point
out that in the final
analysis the hospital
psychologist will
derive a plan to help
the individual. Maybe,
but that ignores all
the problems that
shout out for action:
• Only a lucky few
get to see a doctor.
• A direct way must
be arranged to get
help for developmen-
tally challenged
clients with violent
tendencies without
consuming valuable
police, court and hos-
pital resources.
• And here's the
final kick in the pants.
Even with a plan of
treatment in place, it
seems Ontario has no
facilities for these
clients.
So, where does all
this leave Gilbert? As
I write, he is still
under assessment. A
few days ago, the
province had the
temerity to ask
Community Living
South Huron for its
plan for Gilbert (upon
TerJmi�Senf
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his release) when it
knows very well that
organizations such as
ours lack the space,
the resources, and the
training to handle vio-
lent -prone clients.
Nevertheless, we
will give the province
a plan and it will find
out the extra security
and extra resources
that we require are
unaffordable for han-
dling one unfortunate
individual. Which
brings us back to the
main question. What
is to be done with
Gilbert?
The answer rests
with the province. We
suggest the Ministry
of Community and
Social Services focus
on one of its own
statements — our
developmentally chal-
lenged are individu-
als. To Community
Living, that means we
have to start treating
them like individuals.
We have to throw
away the shoe horn.
We have to stop forc-
ing our clients into
shoes that are four
sizes too small. The
government of
Ontario must set up
proper facilities for
people like Gilbert.
I'm fed up because I
know society expects
its government to
treat Gilbert a hell of
a lot better than this.
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