Update!
I met with my case manager yesterday, and it seems that I’ve sent enough documentation to Disability Rights Maine that they called him while I was there. What timing!
They had had an imperfect understanding of the communication issues at the Shelter, and will be calling the Shelter today or Wednesday. They thought the issue was slow internet, not no internet, and not denial of access of any communication but a notepad (they’ve flat denied me a terp several times, and I have no phone access).
They are also concerned about the issues with the other, aggressive client. They’ll attempt to address that as well.
In the meantime, my case manager showed me a neat hack for Notepad that isn’t ideal, but will do some basic (if a bit slow) transcription. I’m keeping a new note open and ready to record anyone. My case manager has also asked to come visit and talk to the Shelter about communication issues and the deaf.
So although I had a very frustrating meeting yesterday morning that moved nothing forward with Shelter staff, it only helped my case later in the day. My case manager spoke my thoughts and said it sounds like their primary goal is not getting sued.
So far, the hack has been working, but staff has been squirrelly about it. Some back far enough away that it doesn’t work, my Navigator said she didn’t feel comfortable being recorded (I explained it was about my comprehension, and this was where the hearing and deaf world divides, and she did allow it and we both agreed it worked better—she summarised on the Pad after the meeting), and the staff who have always been accommodating think it’s awesome.
As for movement, my Navigator can now only work with me on housing issues, and is finally making it a priority (I wonder why?). We went to the SSA office today and my BRAP application was formally filed. I was also given a housing application that came in from our first housing meeting on Friday and we’ll work more on that (I’ve almost completed it) and more tomorrow!
Upper staff is no longer even saying hi to me, where before they would be friendly.
There was also an incident where a doctor’s letter about my med dosing was ‘lost’ (thank goodness I keep copies) and I spent a half-hour at Pain9 with a migraine, waiting for a properly credentialed med tech to come in and fix where they had changed my medication dose so I could take it. The change was made after morning meeting. First night shift is great, they made about 10 copies and put them everywhere, and documented all over the place. It will be difficult for that...mistake...to happen again.
My car is still an issue. If I use all my discretionary funds for May, I have $240 to put towards it, but that means I can’t buy toiletries, OTC medication, food (my SNAP card is hostage, and my meals are sometimes eaten by other people, I still have bronchitis), and fuel is an issue. So are the little things that make life a bit more bearable, like visiting friends, or just getting off the property. (Or seeing Endgame in the theater—$8 well spent, before fuel, after parking.)
I also need to get to appointments, and Logisticare has messed up 2 out of 3 rides to my case manager (there’s a glitch between Lyft & their ride system). If I had my car, I could get to coffee shops or the library and make TTY phone calls to get a new PCP (huge need) and make housing calls and get my meds straight. The staff won’t help, and my case manager’s old TTY Teletype machine is broken (yes, we tried to go back to that tech).
If there’s any help available for my car, please let me know, and I’ll let you know what to do.
Thanks for listening to my rambling update on life in a shelter.
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 · 1:31:12 PM +00:00
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LoreleiHI
I’m bringing the car in for an estimate to Percy’s Auto Repair tomorrow morning and I hope to have a better picture of what’s going on then. (A fellow client helped me make the call, staff wasn’t available.)
In other news, Sally is sulking because she got her monthly dose of topical meds. So are most of my fellow clients, as this means they can’t pet her for a few days (the almost immediate rash on my hand was convincing, but quickly helped by hydrocortisone). :)
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 · 9:56:26 PM +00:00
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LoreleiHI
The acting director just falsified the Communication Log. She made a staff member write down something she didn’t say to me.
The staff member verified this on separate paper and then ripped it up and threw it out, in fear of her job.
I am now afraid I’ll be kicked out, because the issue was that meds will now be done in alphabetical order, and I asked the acting director how I would know it was my time for meds, given that I’m deaf and some of the med techs are the worst about using the Log. She responded in writing, “I’m not arguing this with you. The staff will come and get you.”
The staff didn’t come and get me. I had to ask the front desk to call the med room. They had no idea I was waiting, even though the acting director had been getting people for meds, and knew I was waiting.
Isn’t poverty great?