At the time of this writing, we are completing our fifth week of the Shelter-In mandate. Based upon the Governor’s announcement, and assuming all goes to the new plan, it could be said that we’re at the half-way point navigating the challenges of social distancing. While so much has changed in such a short period of time, as I am sure like so many of you, we have adapted to the challenges and created new solutions to providing support and help to those we care for.
Admittedly, the access to technology and video communication has made a difficult situation much better than expected. Every program we operate – from the Center for Autism with telehealth therapies, the Schools using remote learning, and the video support used to interact with staff and friends in our residences – depends upon both the internet and the technology needed to access it all.
Several years ago we began to invest in building this infrastructure using money provided by donations from the community. Thank you for this, as I am not sure we would be fairing as well without this support!
As we look forward and begin to plan for what the “new normal” looks like from both a short and long-term perspective, we fully expect that things will be different in terms of how we do our jobs.
Today we care for a group of people that in some ways are considered more medically fragile than others. Because of this, we have a lot of practice using masks and other PPE items to keep people as safe as we can from any kind of spreading. In some ways when we can return to normal work, we are expecting to still employ the same things we have been doing since this mandate began. I can tell you that it takes extra work to keep things safe and sanitized. However, it has worked so far, and we hope it continues for the foreseeable future!
The need to care for children, adults, and the families of those we serve who are challenged by intellectual/developmental disabilities and autism is not going to go away.
We continue to adapt to the challenges thrown our way and remain focused on doing what matters… helping those we care for develop and maintain life skills and be kept safe so that they can enjoy the life they so truly deserve.
