Correcting Frame Attacks & Misrepresentations: Unions, Campus Communities, Segregation, Advocacy Agency/Vendor Conflicts of Interest

 April 6, 2016 Response by Cheryl Felak to Frame invitation for story based on Viewer Comments

Dear Susannah,

I have some additional comments and concerns regarding the issues that you have raised in your series “The Last of the Institutions.”

It appears that there is a consistent theme of attacking the RHCs for having union employees.  It needs to be pointed out that all the Individual Providers under contract with DDA  are members of SEIU 779.  Also care givers from First Choice and ResCare have also joined this union.  What is the motive for the attack on the union employees?  Is it because they have benefits?  If so, why is that so bad?

There is a national movement among families and people who live with intellectual disabilities to support campus communities and intentional communities.    I urge you to read “Who is my Neighbor”  and “Intentional Communities” for more information on residential options that many advocates are developing.  We need to have more options not less and closing the RHCs reduces many of the options and also reduces the availability of crisis supports.   See #ChoiceFirst and #increaseoptionsdecreasebarriersnow for more information on the nationwide movement to promote alternatives, campus living and intentional communities.

You and others speak of segregation without realizing that many families and individuals are segregated in their own homes and apartments.  Not having the ability to go out, to work, to meet with other friends because they are locked inside their homes with no support.  This is real segregation that needs to be highlighted.  There is no such segregation such as this occurring at the RHCs.

Catering to the vendors is not the same as advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  There is a  major conflict of interest when some of these advocacy agencies gain much of their income from providing residential services.  Is this an advocacy agency which is really looking out for the people or for issues of its own gain hidden behind the cloak of advocacy?


Please feel free to publsh.

Cheryl
Cheryl Felak, RN, BSN