Client Profile: Developmental Disabilities Services
About a year ago, Sue-Chin, a 52-year-old Chinese woman, came to ACMHS in her wheelchair. Her sister brought Sue-Chin because she had read in a Chinese language newspaper about the Community Integration Services for Asians (CISA) program that assists people with developmental disabilities, such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and other disabilities.
When Sue-Chin was a baby in China, she had a debilitating fever that left her mentally retarded and unable to coordinate the use of her muscles. She could not operate her wheelchair by herself. In China, her education was limited to primary school. She could barely read and write in Chinese.
From the time Sue-Chin came to the U.S. in 1989 with her elderly mother, she had been living with her sister and her family, who were doing their best to care for her. However, Sue-Chin was unable to go out because she couldn't manage her wheelchair without assistance and she did not know how to take public transportation. A huge barrier for Sue-Chin was the fact that she did not speak any English. Her world was limited to the house she lived in and the places her families could take her.
Through the ACMHS CISA program, a bi-lingual/bi-cultural trainer was assigned to Sue-Chin to develop and implement an individualized plan for her. CISA trainers are able to provide individualized training on money management, travel, cognitive skills such as reading or counting, safety skills and getting access to community resources. Together, Sue-Chin and the CISA trainer worked on objectives based on her interests and choices. Through the training, she gradually learned some English and is able to speak in short sentences. Today, Sue-Chin is able to identify coins and bills and to perform enough simple math functions to use money. She even jokes that now she understands why her sister enjoys going to the mall so much!
Sue-Chin has also joined other CISA clients for community outings, including a summertime BBQ and a trip to the Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park. These new experiences have opened up a new world for Sue-Chin and a new chapter in her life.
Sue-Chin's family also appreciates the training. They are amazed with the progress Sue-Chin has made in the past several months. Most of all, they are confident that Sue-Chin is receiving the culturally competent training she needs for a better and more independent life.