[acb-hsp] Diagnosing Developmental Disabilities

[Baracco, Andrew W]

Sounds like she is trying to grease the wheels for a claim for
disability benefits.  Also, at least here in CA, there are all kinds of
special programs for DD, ranging from living situations to recreation,
work, etc.  Now, some of these things might go away if the NFB has its
way about this 14C thing.

 

Andy

 

 

From: acb-hsp-bounces at acb.org [mailto:acb-hsp-bounces at acb.org] On Behalf
Of Darla Rogers
Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2012 5:02 PM
To: 'Discussion list for ACB human service professionals'
Subject: [acb-hsp] Diagnosing Developmental Disabilities

 

Hi Everyone,

 

I haven't worked a lot with adults who had diagnosed developmental
disabilities--our TANF clients were given a brief IQ tests and some
other things and if their IQ as evidenced by the test results--they were
deemed eligible for VR services under our TANF grant.

 

I am working with a 62-year-old consumer who, even in my limited MH
counseling experience, has depression and asserts she has a personality
disorder, panic disorder and claims she is developmentally disable,
though I personally don't see that, but she is determined to have an
evaluation for developmental disabilities.  Even if, on the off chance
she has them, what can really be done at this point?

 

It appears to me she wants to be cared for; she has a husband, but their
relationship isn't good, I'm guessing, partly because of all her
physical and emotional ailments--she asserts she also has bursitis,
arthritis, GI problems; stenosis (which, if any of you don't know, is
just a narrowing of the vertebra that surround the spine.

 

She appears to have no goals either except wanting to live back in the
country which, as an ILC, we can do little to help her achieve that, and
I believe she is using us as a social outlet, and once our VR contract
is signed, we truly won't have the time--and most of us don't have the
expertise to do mental health work.

 

She has been to several mental health facilities in the area, so I'm
hoping she keeps her promise and signs the release; that way, we might
have an idea whether or not we can really assist her.

 

She does not follow through, at all, and as a depressive myself, I
understand that one very well, so I tried breaking it down into small
tasks--Call X and check on Y this week--next week Call y and ask about
X--but she does none of these things, and as an independent living
center, it is our job to help clients be empowered to help themselves.

 

Anyway, after the novel:  I want to know any advantages of a
late-in-life diagnosis of developmental disability; she claims she was
beaten and otherwise abused as a child, but my sense is something else
is going on with her, and I want to make sure she is getting the best
referrals possible.

 

 

 

Darla J. Rogers

djrogers0628 at gmail.com

 

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