Working with the developmentally disabled can be both rewarding and challenging.
Developmental service workers help clients lead meaningful, normal lives.
Although the potential for burnout and stress is high, developmental service
workers rely on little victories to make their jobs worthwhile, interesting
and varied.
Little victories can take many forms. "It's great to see someone that's
never held down a job in their life receive their first pay check," says Scott
Martin. He's a developmental service worker at a sheltered workshop. "We get
so much pleasure from going to work and doing our jobs well."
Martin works for a production plant that hires developmentally disabled
people. The plant's focus is "normalization." Targeted and non-disabled people
work together on teams to assemble simple electronic equipment. Martin helps
train the targeted workers and is the primary liaison with outside case managers
and family members.
One day, Martin may teach targeted workers basic assembly. The next day,
he may provide group training on team building or sexual harassment. "We treat
our targeted employees the same as our non-targeted," he says. "These people
are productive adults earning a pay check."
In the past, Martin worked with the elderly, at-risk children and AIDS
patients. Seeking a new challenge, he answered an ad for a training advocate.
"I'd never worked with the developmentally disabled before," he says. "It's
challenging all the time, but that's what makes it fun.
"After working with kids and the elderly, I had to learn new skills to
communicate with the developmentally disabled. Sometimes they forget to take
their medication. We've had targeted workers start acting out, not show up
to work or exhibit abnormal behaviors when they do show up. We immediately
notify their family and their case manager to get them help as soon as possible."
Despite the challenges, Martin enjoys his work. "I feel like I'm helping
these people, and I'm really making a difference in their lives. It makes
me feel good whenever I see a smile on a targeted worker's face. I've had
a lot of fantastic moments."
Penneye Robinson has had her share of fantastic moments. "I like my job
because I feel like I make a difference in people's lives," she says. "Hopefully,
I give them a better quality of life."
As a residential counselor for a group home and a trainer for a day program,
Robinson assists developmentally disabled people with daily living. "I make
lunches, escort clients to appointments, act as an advocate and drive a wheelchair-accessible
van.
"I learned early on that I was good at the field, and it just kind of stuck,"
she says.
"The hardest part of my job you might think would be changing diapers or
cleaning up vomit, but to me the worst part is dealing with behaviors I don't
understand. Why does someone hit a glass door to tell me she's upset about
something? I find that the most frustrating by far!"
Despite the frustrations, Robinson has also experienced many little victories.
"I enjoy going on outings.... I enjoy giving people who are generally stuck
in a wheelchair the opportunity to experience something so different and stimulating
like the roller coasters."
Robinson has some advice for future developmental service workers: "Try
not to limit yourself to one aspect of the field. Get lots of experience in
different areas. That way, it's easier to move on and move up."
Diverse experience can make a worker more marketable and reduce chances
of burnout. "You don't burn out quite as fast if you don't let yourself stagnate,"
she says.