Crisis Prevention and Intervention Training

Quarterly training has begun, and I am right in the middle of it. Each day has started with different introductions to GCBMR/DD which then branches off into different segments such as: body mechanics, principles of behavior support, abuse/neglect, client rights and many more. In order to work with the clients this training is mandatory for staff every three months, and it last about a week. I have undergone CPR classes and seizure awareness training where I learned that sometimes the only thing you can do is wait for the crisis to pass on its own. In the sarcastic, yet honest, words of the medical staff, "sometimes you have to just sit back and watch them fry." While this struck me as insane, I later understood its meaning after hearing stories about clients who caused deliberate self harm for the high and attention. One client even pulled off half of his eyelid just to ride in an ambulance. Stories likes these are not meant to scare off staff members or interns, but help each person understand that all cases of mental retardation are different and need to be treated as such. The clients are still human and are not "dumb" or "idiots" which is a common misconception among many people outside of the Metzenbaum community. This misconception has led to various cases of abuse such as the Apple Creek Insane Asylum in Apple Creek, Ohio. I learned about Apple Creek today, and was shocked to learn about the numerous cases of abuse that occurred there over the last 75 years. It was chilling to know that some of the clients at Metzenbaum were stationed there in their childhood and are still alive today. Apple Creek was known for chaining clients to walls, not giving proper nutrition, sexual and mental abuse, and the most disturbing fact was that they are famous for leaving the (adult) clients in cribs all day long and only checking up on them once per day. I am continuing with first aid tomorrow and medical policies relating to medicaid accountability. Overall I am enjoying each day at the center and can't wait for more!