Preserving Lives, Conserving Costs: CDCS Works

A Campaign to Support Persons with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families
To Preserve Consumer Directed Community Supports (CDCS)

Sponsored by The Arc of Minnesota -- December, 2004

I'm Shawn Wheelock, and my life is difficult because of pervasive developmental disorder (brain's frontal lobe defect), ADHD, and a non-verbal learning disorder (because of dysfunction on the brain's right hemisphere), all since birth.

Coping with life is a great challenge, and receiving the original CDCS Waivered Services enriched my experience tremendously! Minnesota's proposed daily budget ($67.79) has cut in half my previous allotment ($122.06). In 2006 I start Day Training and Habilitation, which will require more money than the State's Waiver provides. I'm very scared of what my future will hold. I do not want to live in a group home, but have my own apartment and hopefully marry my sweetheart after that.

My PCA is vital when I leave my home by providing transportation, cueing me when I become loud and inappropriate in public and social situations, and maintaining my safety because I am overly impulsive and usually act before I think. I cannot control myself even with special medications.

My health is affected by my impulsiveness. I've fallen up and down stairs and needed stitches. Once I kicked the shower door so hard that I broke my big toe.

Nutrition and meals are unimportant to me. I'm not interested in eating until I'm starving, and then I choose the fastest and sweetest item available. My PCA prepares healthy meals for me, encouraging me to assist in the cooking, but I usually refuse. I need supervision when eating to remind me to chew well, slow down, drink liquids, not to gulp air, to talk only between mouthfuls, and to finish my meal. I've needed the Heimlich Maneuver twice, because I had food stuck in my windpipe.

Respite services gives my daily PCA a break for an occasional weekend off. I also get a break in my routine of video games and cartoons. I am happiest in the downstairs of my home because I feel safe and comfortable there, but I need to learn how to live in this world instead of hiding in it.

Thank you,

Shawn P. Wheelock and
Guardian/scribe, Annabell Twice