Failing Brad

After Brad’s Big Riding Adventure with the Owensboro Bicycle Club and completely wearing out two staff members, the Cottage staff at Wendell Foster’s Campus (WFC) recognized Brad’s love for riding, the sense of fulfillment it offers him, as well as the better night’s sleep on the days he rides.  They decided to explore another physical activity to add to Brad’s routine. 

Once upon a time, Brad enjoyed swimming in physical therapy (PT).  While WFC has a hydrotherapy pool on-site, Cottage program director Wes Gaynor wanted to get Brad off campus and into the community to participate in this activity.  Brad spent much of his day, and his day-to-day activities, confined mainly on-Campus, which provided Brad with little social interaction outside of his Cottage mates and staff.  With this in mind, Wes applied for a member scholarship on Brad’s behalf at the Owensboro Healthpark.  The scholarship awarded, Brad officially became a member of the Healthpark for one year!  The next step was registering Brad for a swim aerobics class held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  The plan was in place; Brad would begin attending swim class two times a week, every week and ride the AmTryke outside of regular PT appointments.

What’s that saying about “best laid plans?”  Wes honestly admits that they “failed” Brad for the first few months as staff “got in their own way” in helping Brad participate in his new hobbies.  Attendance at swim classes was sporadic, which left Brad disengaged and uncooperative with the activity, a natural result when routine and consistency is important to someone living with autism.  Transportation became another burr under the saddle when each Cottage has only one van to accommodate sixteen individuals.  If a van was unavailable on the day Brad had swim aerobics, he did not go.

After several months, Cottage staff met to review the situation.  They did not see progress in Brad’s participation in swimming, in which he was becoming less cooperative about getting into the water after missing classes.  They also noticed little improvement in his frustration.  Additionally, he was experiencing severe insomnia.  His endurance and strength riding on the AmTryke showed no advancement, and in fact, some noticed a slight decrease in his physical ability on it.

Each of us is responsible for our daily life:  getting to work on time, getting our meals, getting to medical appointments or job interviews, even our social activities.  Even when we make a commitment to ourselves to participate in a volunteer activity or hobby or a gym membership, the only person responsible when we do not follow through usually is you and me, and our own lack of motivation; however, WFC staff is responsible to and for the individuals we serve.  The staff’s efforts to get Brad engaged in these extra-curricular activities within the community fell through the cracks, and they recognized it.

The question now before them:  “What are we going to do about it?”

In the Next Blog Entry:  New Plan: Adapt. Improvise. Overcome. - "They were letting Brad down and they knew it. . . ."

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Brad’s Big Ride

As Wendell Foster’s Campus (WFC) prepared to introduce a culture shift that focuses efforts towards greater person-centered service, the staff in Brad's Cottage got together to discuss how they could improve the quality of Brad’s life in an effort to alleviate his frustrations that often demonstrated as unacceptable behaviors.

Brad’s frustrations were obvious, for example, when he paced for extended amounts of time. Cottage staff met to explore how they can better support Brad in helping him becoming more a part of our community. To do so, they had to consider what was important to him, a challenging task at best since Brad did not communicate verbally with anyone. Staff members began looking at what past activities that seemed to fulfill Brad. For non-communicative individuals, trial and error along with previous experiences, then more trial and error is the typical approach in figuring out what is important to someone.

One activity staff knew Brad enjoyed was bike riding. In 2010 during physical therapy (PT), Brad began riding an Amtryke, a three-wheeled bicycle designed to accommodate riders with varying degrees of physical limitations. Brad can walk with assistance but depends on a wheelchair for mobility because of weakened muscular strength and endurance. PT recognizes the therapeutic benefits of the AmTryke, including improved motor skills, strength development and self-esteem.  With continued therapy and “spins” around Campus, Brad’s strength gradually increased so he could pedal with only a little help from the PT aide. Brad was not fast but he was steady in his effort. WFC staffers would often see Brad riding along the long corridors of our Campus main buildings, or outside when weather permitted along the sidewalks or Cottage driveways. Brad seemed most content when riding on his bike.
 
Then Brad’s Big Riding Adventure came in the spring of 2011. Word about Brad’s biking interest generated a call from a member of the Owensboro Bicycling Club (OBC) inviting Brad to join their group on their next ride. Excited at the prospect of getting Brad involved in the community, Cottage staff equipped Brad with all the required gear: helmet, gloves, a reflective vest and shirt. They borrowed an AmTryke from the PT department, and two staff members accompanied Brad for the ride, one of whom was Wes Gaynor, Cottage assistant program director at the time.

Was Brad up for his ride! In fact, WFC staff members had no idea what they were in for! After meeting the OBC at their gathering point, the ride began. With the varied cycling skills of the group, the OBC pretty much moved ahead with Brad lagging behind since he was slower and more leisurely in his rides. Both WFC staff members walked alongside Brad to ensure safety when crossing the street, assist with uphill pedaling challenges, and to guide him along the designated bike path. Oh, and the path? They started on the frontage road of New Hartford Road in front of Owensboro Christian Church. The threesome traveled to Burlew Boulevard to Byers Avenue to Legion Park at Veach Road then back to OCC where they started. Wes says he and his co-worker were pooped after the hour-long ride, but Brad was ready to keep going if they had let him!

This community bike ride became the springboard for the staff’s efforts in helping Brad “get a life.” All agreed it was a great first start but moving forward from this one community ride would reveal a number of obstacles and challenges. In their efforts to help Brad develop social interests and relationships, the WFC staff would come to realize that they were getting in their own way of supporting and empowering Brad in living a quality life.

In the Next Blog Entry: Failing Brad - "After several months . . . they did not see progress in Brad's participation in swimming, in which he was becoming less cooperative. . . ."

We want to hear from you! Please share your responses and comments by clicking below on “Comment” – you may post them anonymously or using your gmail.com profile name.

“The educated do not share a common body of information, but a common state of mind.” ~Mason Cooley
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Blog content is copyrighted property of Wendell Foster’s Campus for Development Disabilities and Carolyn Smith Ferber and/or other blog authors). Content may be used, duplicated or reprinted only with the expressed authorization of the Wendell Foster’s Campus. Permission for use, duplication or reprints may be made to wfcampus.org@gmail.com.

From Where Brad Started

Wendell Foster's Campus shares this remarkable story about Brad with the expressed permission of his guardian

Flash back to over a year ago in the life of Brad and his daily life at Wendell Foster’s Campus (WFC). Brad’s life consisted of going once a week to physical, occupational and speech therapy, “participation” in recreational modules, and hanging out in the cottage where he lived.  According to Wes Gaynor, Cottage Program Director, Brad was bored.  Brad enjoyed riding the Amtryke, a three-wheeled cycle for adults during physical therapy but it was brief.  His “participation” in recreation activities reflected apathy on his part while other residents enjoyed them. When he was not in therapy or at modules, Brad spent the balance of his days hanging around the Cottage, time in which his pent up energy would get the best of him.  The staff knew they needed to offer Brad something more to do that he’d enjoy. 

With sixteen individuals in each of the four cottages which have limited transportation (each cottage has one van) and limited staffing, ensuring each person has an active full life can be a challenging task for WFC staff.  Then there is the individual, each unique with different things important to him or her.  Since he was non-verbal, Brad’s demeanor expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of activity through certain behaviors.  For example, when he is frustrated or bored, Brad would endlessly pace to show his displeasure or “self-stimulate” by putting his hand in his mouth.    Cottage staff realized Brad was feeling restless with pent up energy that had no outlet for release.  Brad wanted, needed to do something or go somewhere but had no means in which to do so.  Additionally, being non-verbal left Brad without a way to communicate what his frustration is other than through these behavioral demonstrations.

Realizing he was not happy, Wes, then the Assistant Program Director, and a group of staff members held a team meeting to discuss Brad’s situation, and a solution that would support Brad “getting a life.”  The goal and hope:  help alleviate Brad’s frustrations, and find a way to engage Brad in community life.  Little would the staff members know how ahead of the pending WFC culture shift they were in greater person-centered service.  Staff members knew they needed to offer Brad a better quality of life, and in doing so, had no idea their efforts would over time significantly change Brad’s life in such a “night and day” way.

Like most success stories, the path on this journey for Brad and his WFC staff support was not always the smoothest and straightest course.  Challenges popped up from the beginning: everything from staffing to transportation resources.  Frustrations mounted not only for Brad, but also for the staff as they began to encounter glitches in helping Brad “get a life.”  Fortunately, our committed WFC staff had the wherewithal to be honest with each other when they were getting in their own way, as well as recognize they were overlooking some obvious solutions to the challenges they faced.  Committed in their support of Brad, they navigated their way through the challenges and stayed the course in their efforts to empower Brad in his life.

And so, their winding journey began.

In the Next Blog Entry:  Brad's Big Ride - ". . . a member of the Owensboro Bicycling Club inviting Brad to join their group on their next ride. . ."

We want to hear from you! Please share your responses and comments by clicking below on “Comment” – you may post them anonymously or using your gmail.com profile name.

“The educated do not share a common body of information, but a common state of mind.” ~Mason Cooley
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Blog content is copyrighted property of Wendell Foster’s Campus for Development Disabilities and Carolyn Smith Ferber and/or other blog authors). Content may be used, duplicated or reprinted only with the expressed authorization of the Wendell Foster’s Campus. Permission for use, duplication or reprints may be made to wfcampus.org@gmail.com.

Hear Me When I Can't Speak

Wendell Foster's Campus shares this remarkable story about Brad with the expressed permission of his guardian.

When you do what you love, they say that the best of who you are reveals itself.  Meet Brad.

Brad arrived to Wendell Foster’s Campus (WFC) in June of 1989.  Non-verbal, Brad communicates through body language and behavioral responses.  When troubled or restless, Brad would express his frustration by pacing constantly, make vocalization sounds, or self-stimulate by putting his fingers in his mouth.  These behaviors are often mistaken as “behavioral displays;” however, when someone cannot verbally communicate, s/he finds another way to communicate his or her frustration and/or dissatisfaction.

The first time I met Brad, he walked in the hallway with a physical therapy  (PT) assistant, hesitating as I approached him.  He seemed apprehensive and physically withdrew, taking on the appearance of being unapproachable.  Brad’s body language and my intuition encouraged me to keep my distance out of respect for Brad, a very different feeling I have when running into other residents.  I later learned Brad is an individual diagnosed with autism, which include social challenges, as well as displeasure with routine or environmental changes.  Rather than approach Brad, I simply walked by but always said hello.  Brad would either ignore me or pause and wait to see if something else would happen before continuing with his activity.  Sometimes Brad folded his hands clutched in front of him in a prayer-like position as if guarding himself.  When passing through his cottage, I have witnessed an obviously frustrated Brad display mannerisms that many would mistake as “acting out.”  In that particular moment, he clearly was not a happy camper.  Perhaps, his behavior reflected boredom and pent up energy. 

In December, a few weeks after starting my position, I ran into Brad riding an Amtryke, an adult three-wheeled bicycle in our long corridors with a PT assistant.  When riding, Brad seems to be a completely different person from the one I would see in the Cottage.  He seemed more relaxed and content, and his face held focus and determination as he pedaled by, hardly noticing me.  As usual, I said hello, but he gave me nary a glance.  He was into his ride.

As winter turned to spring, and spring into summer, I become more acquainted with life in our Centre Pointe Cottages, our intermediate care facility (ICF) that offers 24-hour medical support for residents.  Brad is the first individual whose “journey” I would get to know, which leads me to appreciate even more our staff’s commitment to empowering those we serve.  Wes Gaynor, the Cottage program director where Brad lives, invited me to tag along with Brad and Tammy at a swim aerobics class.  By mid-summer, the man I previously ran into the hallways no longer held wariness of me as I accompany him on his trip to a local health facility.  I would later learn from the people working closest with him that Brad is not the same man he was a year earlier.  Through his story, I would fully come to understand how WFC’s person-centered efforts with Brad created a greater quality of life for him.  Brad and that of his support team’s efforts testifies to WFC’s mission to empower individuals with developmental disabilities that we serve to realize their dreams and potential.

In the Next Blog Entry:  From Where Brad Started - ". . . a group of staff members held a team meeting to discuss . . . . a solution that would support Brad 'getting a life'."

We want to hear from you! Please share your responses and comments by clicking below on “Comment” – you may post them anonymously or using your gmail.com profile name.

“The educated do not share a common body of information, but a common state of mind.” ~Mason Cooley
Please share our blog with others via Facebook, Twitter, or email! Follow our blog! Click on “Join our Site” below.

Blog content is copyrighted property of Wendell Foster’s Campus for Development Disabilities and Carolyn Smith Ferber and/or other blog authors). Content may be used, duplicated or reprinted only with the expressed authorization of the Wendell Foster’s Campus. Permission for use, duplication or reprints may be made to wfcampus.org@gmail.com.