Actmad

Some recent links

2005-11-13T17:29:00.000-08:00

Alaskan tackles mental health care reform

Yates to be retried

The Institute for Recovery and Community Integration

For the mh weary

Links from this week's posts

2005-09-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

Testing Psychotropic Drugs in Children
The FDA and Zyprexa
Mental Health Speaker Pushes End to restraints on patients
ER's becoming less likely to lock up out of controlpatients

This was posted to the list today, the sentiments ...

2005-09-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

This was posted to the list today, the sentiments expressed here are important.

A Few Thoughts About Disability

“Throughout history, people with physical and mental disabilities have been abandoned at birth, banished from society, used as court jesters, drowned and burned during The Inquisition, gassed in Nazi Germany, and still continue to be segregated, institutionalized, tortured in the name of behaviour management, abused, raped, euthanized and murdered.

Now, for the first time, people with Disabilities are taking their rightful place As fully contributing citizens. The danger is that we will respond with remediation and benevolence rather than equity and respect. And so, we offer you

A Credo for Support

Do Not see my disability as the problem.
Recognize that my disability is an attribute.

Do Not see my disability as a deficit.
It is you who see me as deviant and helpless.

Do Not try to fix me because I am not broken.
Support me. I can make my contribution to the community in my way.

Do Not see me as your client. I am your fellow citizen.
See me as your neighbour. Remember, none of us can be self-sufficient.

Do Not try to modify my behaviour.
Be still & listen. What you define as inappropriate may be my attempt to communicate with you in the only way I can.

Do Not try to change me, you have no right.
Help me learn what I want to know.

Do Not hide your uncertainty behind “professional” distance.
Be a person who listens, and does not take my struggle away from me by trying to make it all better.

Do Not use theories and strategies on me.
Be with me. And when we struggle with each other, let that give rise to self-reflection.

Do Not try to control me. I have a right to my power as a person.
What you call non-compliance or manipulation may actually be the only way I can exert some control over my life.

Do Not teach me to be obedient, submissive, and polite.
I need to feel entitled to say No if I am to protect myself.

Do Not be charitable towards me.
The last thing the world needs is another Jerry Lewis.
Be my ally against those who exploit me for their own gratification.

Do Not try to be my friend. I deserve more than that.
Get to know me. We may become friends.

Do Not help me, even if it does make you feel good.
Ask me if I need your help. Let me show you how you can best assist me.

Do Not admire me. A desire to live a full life does not warrant adoration.
Respect me, for respect presumes equity.

Do Not tell, correct and lead.
Listen, Support, and Follow.

Do Not work on me.
Work with me.”

Dedicated to the memory of Tracy Latimer

Norman Kunc and Emma Van der Kliff
Copyright 1995

Axis Consultation & Training Ltd.
340 Machleary St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R2G9
250.754.9939. Fax: 250.754.9930

September 20, 2005 Links

2005-09-21T00:31:00.000-07:00

Mental health speaker pushes end to restraints on patients

The ads

2005-09-20T04:15:00.000-07:00

I think I need to keep an eye on what Google thinks are appropriate ads for this page, at the moment I'm none too sure I agree with them. Will give it a few days, see if things settle into a pattern more in keeping with Actmad.

September 19, 2005 Links

2005-09-19T21:57:00.000-07:00

Decision to Restrain Patient Never Taken Lightly
Liberal mental illness?
Most newer schizophrenia drugs no better - study

Recent links

2005-09-18T11:37:00.000-07:00

Dutch cradle-to-grave database
Genetic screening
Zoo animals given psychotropic drugs

First post

2005-09-17T23:38:00.000-07:00

In order to try creating a more public forum for the concerns of list-members, I've set up this blog. My intention is to expose people outside the list to some of the issues that are discussed on-list.