How do some people function in society?
Posted by: Misguided Fool on 14 October 2004
I am not trying to take the mickey out of people with special needs here, so bare with me...
I was waiting to see tbe Doctor this morning when a bloke of about 50 years of age came in. In a very slow drawl he asked the receptionist where he needed to go for a blood test. She informed him that he was a bit to early for the blood tests as they only started at 9:30am and it was only 8:30. He argued with her for a while about how he was sure it was 8:30am when the blood tests started. Finally he seemed to settle down and accept that he would have to come back later. To help the fellow out, the receptionist told him that they would fill the forms in at that point to save him time when he returned. She asked him his name, he gave it. She asked him his address, this seemed to stump him. It took him about 2 minutes to remember his address, even his street name was difficult for him. The receptionist then advised him that when he came back at 9:30am, that he should pick up a ticket from the counter which would tell him his order in the queue for blood tests. He walked over to the basket that held the tickets, muttered under his breath about it saying number one, then made his way back to reception. It was this bit that really staggered me. He asked the receptionist what number one meant on the ticket? She had to explain to him that this was his position in the queue. She then had to explain to him that if he wasn't back for bang on 9:30am that he could lose his position in the queue. He wasn't happy about this, he wanted the nurse to wait until he got back before starting the blood tests. The receptionist finally got through to him that he should maybe get back for about 9:20am. He left.
I was sat there for a while with the urge to laugh. I wasn't the only one though, the old dear sat behind me did. It then came to me that I should actually feel sorry for the bloke to a certain degree. To find such a simple task so difficult is incomprehensible to me. That's when I started to think about how many people I actually come across on a daily basis that have difficulty with the most simple of tasks, and how do they function in society?
Can anyone help me understand, as I am at a loss.
Regards
Mark ;0)
Posted on: 14 October 2004 by BigH47
"Care" in the Comunity might be to blame. Less places in hospitals and specialist hostels. He may also be off his meds. Could be a hundred reasons but at least he is trying to hold up in public.
As an aside, a report looking into children with learning difficulties in "normal" schools, came to the conclusion that neither the LD or ordinary kids benefited and that LD kids should be in specialist schools.
Howard
Posted on: 14 October 2004 by 7V
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
As an aside, a report looking into children with learning difficulties in "normal" schools, came to the conclusion that neither the LD or ordinary kids benefited and that LD kids should be in specialist schools.
Howard,
Wasn't there a woman who has been advocating for many years that LD kids should be educated in normal schools and who is now saying that she was wrong?
Personally, I hate it when political beliefs or doctrines determine educational systems, rather than what works best for the individual children and for our society as a whole.
Steve M
Posted on: 14 October 2004 by domfjbrown
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
As an aside, a report looking into children with learning difficulties in "normal" schools, came to the conclusion that neither the LD or ordinary kids benefited and that LD kids should be in specialist schools.
Yep, it's PC gone mad. If I'd been in a normal school I'd have a) not got jack diddly squat qualifications and b) been a HUGE burden on the taxpayer in later life, due to no chance of a job.
The larger outlay on separate schooling for "special needs" be that disabled (ie me), mentally deficient, or whathaveyou children is a bargain for a fair amount of them, when they're then able to achieve qualifications and get a job...
__________________________
Don't wanna be cremated or buried in a grave
Just dump me in a plastic bag and leave me on the pavement
A tribute to your modern world, your great society
I'm just another victim of your highrise fantasy!
Posted on: 14 October 2004 by Bob McC
I don't know how people are able to function whilst being unable to spell properly.
Bob
Posted on: 14 October 2004 by Barnie
quote:
It then came to me that I should actually feel sorry for the bloke to a certain degree. To find such a simple task so difficult is incomprehensible to me. That's when I started to think about how many people I actually come across on a daily basis that have difficulty with the most simple of tasks, and how do they function in society?
Strange as it may seem, some of them function very well. My neighbor rents land from me, when the cheque is due, he hands me his cheque book and I fill it in for him, he can't write a single word! He's a small dairy farmer who produces the milk you pour on your breakfast cereal. He's very happy and worth a small fortune.
quote:
I don't know how people are able to function whilst being unable to spell properly.
I'm sure he would question, how we manage to function, without knowing how to produce our own food.
Different strokes for different folks.....
Posted on: 14 October 2004 by Berlin Fritz
quote:
Originally posted by Misguided Fool:
I am not trying to take the mickey out of people with special needs here, so bare with me...
I was waiting to see tbe Doctor this morning when a bloke of about 50 years of age came in. In a very slow drawl he asked the receptionist where he needed to go for a blood test. She informed him that he was a bit to early for the blood tests as they only started at 9:30am and it was only 8:30. He argued with her for a while about how he was sure it was 8:30am when the blood tests started. Finally he seemed to settle down and accept that he would have to come back later. To help the fellow out, the receptionist told him that they would fill the forms in at that point to save him time when he returned. She asked him his name, he gave it. She asked him his address, this seemed to stump him. It took him about 2 minutes to remember his address, even his street name was difficult for him. The receptionist then advised him that when he came back at 9:30am, that he should pick up a ticket from the counter which would tell him his order in the queue for blood tests. He walked over to the basket that held the tickets, muttered under his breath about it saying number one, then made his way back to reception. It was this bit that really staggered me. He asked the receptionist what number one meant on the ticket? She had to explain to him that this was his position in the queue. She then had to explain to him that if he wasn't back for bang on 9:30am that he could lose his position in the queue. He wasn't happy about this, he wanted the nurse to wait until he got back before starting the blood tests. The receptionist finally got through to him that he should maybe get back for about 9:20am. He left.
I was sat there for a while with the urge to laugh. I wasn't the only one though, the old dear sat behind me did. It then came to me that I should actually feel sorry for the bloke to a certain degree. To find such a simple task so difficult is incomprehensible to me. That's when I started to think about how many people I actually come across on a daily basis that have difficulty with the most simple of tasks, and how do they function in society?
Can anyone help me understand, as I am at a loss.
Regards
Mark ;0)
Without going into the whys and wherefores of how overloaded everybody is work-wise, I find this example of a classic (tony Hancockesque) situation sad in the extreme, and personally reverse the question as to why (the disorientated bloke - ie, the Customer of the Service being provided to him ) was led a dance, by a receptionist (?) who was obviously SAVVY - LESS or NEW (hopefully ?) and manybe well have treated her mates Mum very differently, like it or not.
Graham George Von Notmincinwordsespeciallywhenbankaccountssupportingterroraresuddenlyoutofthebluebeingstopped ?³ Absolute BULLSHIT².
P.S. A good Post Mark, is that Sea or Solent ?
Posted on: 14 October 2004 by BigH47
My misses says mixing LD and normal (it sounds awful but I am unable to come up with a better phrase) is a basically good idea both sides learn of each other. Of course in practise the teacher either spends an excessive time on the LD child(ren) or ignores them for the normals. A lose lose situation. Locally 3 Speciallist schools have just ben agregated into a new school apparently a really great place.
Posted on: 14 October 2004 by Deane F
I have worked for the last two years or so in residential situations with people who have intellectual disabilities. (Now I stay at home with my stroke-affected father-in-law) Before I worked in intellectual disabilities I had a flatmate who was a tetraplegic (C5/C6 fracture) from playing
rugby
(don't get me started). Before that I had a girlfriend who was paraplegic.
It is worth thinking about where disabilities come from. Wheelchairs work pretty well. Buildings that are not designed for wheelchairs are nearly impossible for the users of wheelchairs. So does the disability arise from the architect or the person with the disability? I realise this construction is fragile. It is merely food for thought.
The essence of a disability seems to be the loss of the ability to do some things for oneself. With
support a better experience of disability by both the disabled person and society as a whole is possible. Misguided Fool's post described a person badly in need of support who for some reason or other isn't getting it.
Deane
Posted on: 15 October 2004 by Misguided Fool
quote:
Originally posted by Berlin Fritz:
Without going into the whys and wherefores of how overloaded everybody is work-wise, I find this example of a classic (tony Hancockesque) situation sad in the extreme, and personally reverse the question as to why (the disorientated bloke - ie, the Customer of the Service being provided to him ) was led a dance, by a receptionist (?) who was obviously SAVVY - LESS or NEW (hopefully ?) and manybe well have treated her mates Mum very differently, like it or not.
Graham George Von Notmincinwordsespeciallywhenbankaccountssupportingterroraresuddenlyoutofthebluebeingstopped ?³ Absolute BULLSHIT².
P.S. A good Post Mark, is that Sea or Solent ?
Good point, but the receptionist was actually really patient with the guy. She did everything she could to help him out and explain the situation, without getting aggravated or annoyed with him. She has to be commended on this as I would have lost my patience much sooner.
Also it's Leigh, Lancashire...
Regards
Mark ;0)
Posted on: 15 October 2004 by Richard AV
I haven't read all of this thread but what I have does remind me of a "customer" we had recently. I won't go into intense detail but basically we had to get the police involved who told us that they were aware of this guy and he had been diagnosed as mentally ill. Now, I know that this can mean 101 different things but this guy should not be out on his own, yet he appeared to have no form of carer or anyone at all who looked after him. What the hell happened here? How did the system allow this to happen, when obviously the authorities knew about this guy>
There was also another incident recently where an old lady had 'escaped' from the local hospital and had been wandering around the town for hours completely stark naked, until someone decided it might be intelligent to call the police. I wonder whether the hospital realised she had gone?
Posted on: 15 October 2004 by Deane F
quote:
Originally posted by Tom Alves:
the institutional support the patients desired and needed.
This really is a fraught issue. It is a huge frame of reference within which a balanced and well considered view of the institutionalisation of mental illness (in particular) is possible. Certainly less and less stigma is attached to mental illness nowadays and certainly some people who experienced institutional care liked it and wanted to stay that way. But institutions, in my view, are not evidence of society taking care of people experiencing suffering but quite the opposite.
See R.D. Laing's writings from the 60's about the Italian experiment in de-institutionalisation.
Deane
Posted on: 16 October 2004 by Berlin Fritz
Shourley steps are more expensive than a concrete wamp outside yer local whatever ?
Posted on: 16 October 2004 by Deane F
quote:
Originally posted by Berlin Fritz:
Shourley steps are more expensive than a concrete wamp outside yer local whatever ?
It comes down to long-held attitudes toward difference. For most people, buried beneath layers of prejudice and habitual thinking is a belief about the concept of "normality". This is extended to an ill-considered moral foundation for choices that result in inclusion for some people and exclusion for others.
Eg: "Why should a ramp be provided? Most people have legs that work. I do. I can't provide for every eventuality."
Deane
Posted on: 16 October 2004 by Berlin Fritz
I live in one of the world's greatest Social Cities, handicapped people are catered for as par for the course, many greed/ignorant orientated folk out there will never know, unless it happens either to them or direct family members, like for instance in the Bigley case are personally affected, othewrwiese it's real life FUCK YOU JACK I'M ALL RIGHT A'La Parry, though to be honestbup to now he's one of the only persons I'd fancy a beer with in Swindon or wherever he chooses to draw his irons ?
G.G.v. Readbetweenthelinesmyfriend
Posted on: 16 October 2004 by Cheese
quote:
How do some people function in society?
Mind you, some of them end up in the oval office
Cheese
Posted on: 17 October 2004 by Berlin Fritz
Very very true Sir!
Posted on: 17 October 2004 by Deane F
Ramps, the space they take up and the consequent cost are a non-sequiter. Elevators are available to facilitate human factors if a change in level is a given.
The perspectives and attitudes of the people who brief the designers (and pay the bills) are the problem. That is why legislation must provide infrastructure that forces recognition of people who can't use steps.
There is more to humanity than making decisions according to cost-benefit analysis.
Deane
