Articles from Effingham Herald Newspaper
http://www.lgtinc.org/articles/226/1/Articles-from-Effingham-Herald-Newspaper
Heidi J. Moore
Heidi has a BS in Civil Engineering from Purdue. After the birth of her son Jacob, she elected to stay home to ensure his needs were met. Heidi is very involved in many organizations;last year she was appointed by the Governorâs office to be on 3 Medicaid Reform committees, looking at overhauling the entire Medicaid system.Heidi currently has an advocacy distribution list of over 2,500 members to promote awareness of the advocacy issues that affect children and adults w/ disabilities & empower parents. By Heidi J. Moore
Published on 04/18/2007
April 8, 2007
Dearest Advocates:
Thought you might be interested in the below articles in the Effingham Herald Newspaper. As I stated before, we need to see more articles in the media on what the real issues are and the need for additional supports for our children and adults with disabilities to succeed in life and in the community they live!
Here is the link for the third part of the series:
Please take a moment to thank Ralna Pearson rpearson@effinghamherald.net the reporter that wrote a three part series on the movement of moving individuals with disabilities from the institutions and into homes in the community.
Also- Many thanks to Lynnette Bragg for opening her heart and life into the media to help them better understand the needs of individuals with disabilities. Her advocacy efforts over the years is amazing and she continues to not only help her son, but thousands of others. Lynnette started B&B Care Services in 1999. B&B provides supports for the elderly and individuals with disabilities in their homes and community. Currently, B&B is one of two Medicaid service providers that accept MRWP waiver in the Metro Atlanta area.
I personally believe in this company and what it wants to become for our children in the future. FYI.....In late January, I accepted a part time position as Community Relations Manager to help in the growth, development and support of families in the Metro Atlanta area for B&B Care Services.
Happy Reading! Heidi
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Here is the Second part of the series (that is no longer on the Effingham Heralds's website):
At home, at last
By Ralna Pearson
This is the second in a series that will examine the movement to move
mentally challenged individuals out of institutions and into homes in the
community.
Lying in his recliner with a big smile on his face and watching “Wheel of
Fortune,” Scott Bragg is as content as can be.
“He's truly the king of his own castle, said his mother, Lynette Bragg.
His days begin with breakfast and he’ll tell you what that will be. Then he
progresses into a television marathon that mainly centers on the CBS network.
It’s “Good Morning America” then “Regis & Kelly” in the morning, followed
by the “Price is Right,” WTOCs News at Noon” and soap operas his
caregivers got him into.
In the afternoons, it’s the evening news, “Jeopardy” and the
aforementioned big wheel game show.
“Used to be and so metimes now he’ll guess ‘em and we couldn’t figure out
how he could do it till we realized they were reruns,” Bragg laughed.
He has the channel turned to see his other favorite show, “Judge Mathis,”
because of all the drama that takes place on it.
“He likes the excitement,” said his caregiver, Jerri Sutton.
“It gets monotonous around here; we change it to the good stuff.”
His grandfather and caregiver Homer Wells added, “He likes a fuss.”
At 3 years old, Scott, now 32, was diagnosed with mental retardation.
“We always knew he was never like other children,” his mother said.
He also suffers from autism and five seizure disorders. Throughout his life,
he has broken several bones, so he does not walk.
Bragg, a registered nurse and advocate for those with disabilities, was
confronted with the challenge of caring for a child with n eeds her rural
Georgia
community did not provide services for.
“We know intense therapies can make a difference early on, where Scott did
not have the benefit of early on,” she said.
However, she did have the support of a loving family to help with Scott’s
care. Her parents, Shirley and Homer Wells, kept him during the week while she
and her husband had him on the weekends.
“He would kinda swap back and forth,” Bragg said.
Group home a new home
In 1984 Bragg and her father experienced some health problems, and she was
forced to place Scott in a group home near Atlanta until they got better.
For one year while at the home, Scott would come home for 10 days and spend
three weeks at the home. His family called him every night.
While there, Scott attended school. He also picked up some lessons outside
of the curriculum. < BR>
“One thing he learned at the group home is how to fight,” shared Bragg.
He returned home fighting and screaming. His family had to re-teach him how
to use his words instead.
Yet the most powerful thing he brought back was unforgiveness.
For four years, Scott did not show any affection toward his mom, refusing
even to sit beside her because he blamed her for placing him in the facility.
Bragg said that if she and her family had been able to get in-home support
for Scott, they would not have had to place him in the group home.
Today, however, all is well.
Scott lives in his own home right beside his parents’ house. He requires
care 24 hours a day, which his grandfather provides in part. The renowned
research plant pathologist retired so that he could care for Scott full-time.
In addition, Scott has a caregiver w ho comes every day to help care for him
who is paid through Medicaid’s Mental Retardation Waiver Program. And the
Braggs provide some of his care directly or through private care.
Truly king of the castle
At his home one afternoon Scott demonstrated that he really is the king of
his castle.
“If he ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy,” noted Sutton, who has been caring
for Scott for six years.
“What does Miss Jerri do?” Bragg asked her son.
“Sleep,” he innocently replied in a deep, husky voice as everyone burst out
in laughter.
“He’s telling the truth,” Sutton answered back with a smile.
Scott’s family has been active in caring for him all his life, but his
biggest cheerleader was his late younger brother, Matthew.
“He was his brother’s strongest advocate,” shared Bragg.
Despite being eight years younger, Matth ew taught his brother how to talk,
play and have relationships. He even encouraged his parents to open B&B Care
Services, Inc. to help provide needed services to Scott and others with
special needs.
They started the company in 1999 and today it is in 111 Georgia counties. It
provides supports to the elderly and those with disabilities in their
homes. And if they lack a home environment, the company helps them find one.
In February 2001 two days before his 18th birthday, Matthew was killed right
down the road from his home in a car accident. Three months later, Bragg’s
mother died.
“Scott had a double whammy there with losing both of them within a short
span of time,” Bragg said. “He lost his two strongest advocates there and the
rest of us had to kick it up a notch ... or two or three notches.”
Matthew’s death also spurred the Bra g gs into ad vocacy work for disabled
Georgians.
“We had gotten comfortable in knowing that Matthew would make sure that
Scott was cared for,” Bragg said. “And the day that (Matthew’s death) happened,
we realized that we had to jack up our efforts in helping Georgia provide a
system that would support Scott.”
Providing for his future
In addition to the care they provide now to their son, Bragg and her husband
also have planned for when Scott no longer has them to rely upon.
Within the same week Matthew was killed they met with attorneys and
established a supplemental needs trust for Scott, which allows money and
property to
be placed in a trust.
The Braggs have named seven individuals to implement it. They will help
Scott make decisions about where he lives, who provides his supports and how
the
resources will be used to con ti nu e his&nbs p; lifestyle, according to Bragg.
Some of the trustees are family, while others are friends. They are
educators, financial officers, nurses and social workers.
Anyone can establish a supplemental needs trust for their loved one.
Bragg strongly encourages families to consider doing so. Likewise, she
advises families to make sure their disabled relative has a legal guardian with
their best interest at heart and not the state.
She is Scott’s legal guardian and in the event of her passing, her husband
or grandfather will petition the court for guardianship to make sure that a
loved one maintains guardianship.
“It’s very important to protect people,” Bragg advised.
In the meantime, Scott spends his days happily and freely thanks to the
sacrifices and hard work his family has put forth to make that possible.
--
Heidi J. Moore
(Proud Mother to Jacob - 7 years old with Down syndrome & Jared - 5 years old)
For more information about how you can get involved regarding advocating for children, please visit us at www.kidshealthcarega.org
"Help The Children Now, So They Can Help Themselves Later!"
The material contained in this e-mail is for general information only. It
is not intended in any way to provide or offer legal advice. To obtain
legal advice, please consult with your attorney or a qualified legal
representative.
By Ralna Pearson
This is the second in a series that will examine the movement to move
mentally challenged individuals out of institutions and into homes in the
community.
Lying in his recliner with a big smile on his face and watching “Wheel of
Fortune,” Scott Bragg is as content as can be.
“He's truly the king of his own castle, said his mother, Lynette Bragg.
His days begin with breakfast and he’ll tell you what that will be. Then he
progresses into a television marathon that mainly centers on the CBS network.
It’s “Good Morning America” then “Regis & Kelly” in the morning, followed
by the “Price is Right,” WTOCs News at Noon” and soap operas his
caregivers got him into.
In the afternoons, it’s the evening news, “Jeopardy” and the
aforementioned big wheel game show.
“Used to be and so metimes now he’ll guess ‘em and we couldn’t figure out
how he could do it till we realized they were reruns,” Bragg laughed.
He has the channel turned to see his other favorite show, “Judge Mathis,”
because of all the drama that takes place on it.
“He likes the excitement,” said his caregiver, Jerri Sutton.
“It gets monotonous around here; we change it to the good stuff.”
His grandfather and caregiver Homer Wells added, “He likes a fuss.”
At 3 years old, Scott, now 32, was diagnosed with mental retardation.
“We always knew he was never like other children,” his mother said.
He also suffers from autism and five seizure disorders. Throughout his life,
he has broken several bones, so he does not walk.
Bragg, a registered nurse and advocate for those with disabilities, was
confronted with the challenge of caring for a child with n eeds her rural
Georgia
community did not provide services for.
“We know intense therapies can make a difference early on, where Scott did
not have the benefit of early on,” she said.
However, she did have the support of a loving family to help with Scott’s
care. Her parents, Shirley and Homer Wells, kept him during the week while she
and her husband had him on the weekends.
“He would kinda swap back and forth,” Bragg said.
Group home a new home
In 1984 Bragg and her father experienced some health problems, and she was
forced to place Scott in a group home near Atlanta until they got better.
For one year while at the home, Scott would come home for 10 days and spend
three weeks at the home. His family called him every night.
While there, Scott attended school. He also picked up some lessons outside
of the curriculum. < BR>
“One thing he learned at the group home is how to fight,” shared Bragg.
He returned home fighting and screaming. His family had to re-teach him how
to use his words instead.
Yet the most powerful thing he brought back was unforgiveness.
For four years, Scott did not show any affection toward his mom, refusing
even to sit beside her because he blamed her for placing him in the facility.
Bragg said that if she and her family had been able to get in-home support
for Scott, they would not have had to place him in the group home.
Today, however, all is well.
Scott lives in his own home right beside his parents’ house. He requires
care 24 hours a day, which his grandfather provides in part. The renowned
research plant pathologist retired so that he could care for Scott full-time.
In addition, Scott has a caregiver w ho comes every day to help care for him
who is paid through Medicaid’s Mental Retardation Waiver Program. And the
Braggs provide some of his care directly or through private care.
Truly king of the castle
At his home one afternoon Scott demonstrated that he really is the king of
his castle.
“If he ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy,” noted Sutton, who has been caring
for Scott for six years.
“What does Miss Jerri do?” Bragg asked her son.
“Sleep,” he innocently replied in a deep, husky voice as everyone burst out
in laughter.
“He’s telling the truth,” Sutton answered back with a smile.
Scott’s family has been active in caring for him all his life, but his
biggest cheerleader was his late younger brother, Matthew.
“He was his brother’s strongest advocate,” shared Bragg.
Despite being eight years younger, Matth ew taught his brother how to talk,
play and have relationships. He even encouraged his parents to open B&B Care
Services, Inc. to help provide needed services to Scott and others with
special needs.
They started the company in 1999 and today it is in 111 Georgia counties. It
provides supports to the elderly and those with disabilities in their
homes. And if they lack a home environment, the company helps them find one.
In February 2001 two days before his 18th birthday, Matthew was killed right
down the road from his home in a car accident. Three months later, Bragg’s
mother died.
“Scott had a double whammy there with losing both of them within a short
span of time,” Bragg said. “He lost his two strongest advocates there and the
rest of us had to kick it up a notch ... or two or three notches.”
Matthew’s death also spurred the Bra g gs into ad vocacy work for disabled
Georgians.
“We had gotten comfortable in knowing that Matthew would make sure that
Scott was cared for,” Bragg said. “And the day that (Matthew’s death) happened,
we realized that we had to jack up our efforts in helping Georgia provide a
system that would support Scott.”
Providing for his future
In addition to the care they provide now to their son, Bragg and her husband
also have planned for when Scott no longer has them to rely upon.
Within the same week Matthew was killed they met with attorneys and
established a supplemental needs trust for Scott, which allows money and
property to
be placed in a trust.
The Braggs have named seven individuals to implement it. They will help
Scott make decisions about where he lives, who provides his supports and how
the
resources will be used to con ti nu e his&nbs p; lifestyle, according to Bragg.
Some of the trustees are family, while others are friends. They are
educators, financial officers, nurses and social workers.
Anyone can establish a supplemental needs trust for their loved one.
Bragg strongly encourages families to consider doing so. Likewise, she
advises families to make sure their disabled relative has a legal guardian with
their best interest at heart and not the state.
She is Scott’s legal guardian and in the event of her passing, her husband
or grandfather will petition the court for guardianship to make sure that a
loved one maintains guardianship.
“It’s very important to protect people,” Bragg advised.
In the meantime, Scott spends his days happily and freely thanks to the
sacrifices and hard work his family has put forth to make that possible.
--
Heidi J. Moore
(Proud Mother to Jacob - 7 years old with Down syndrome & Jared - 5 years old)
For more information about how you can get involved regarding advocating for children, please visit us at www.kidshealthcarega.org
"Help The Children Now, So They Can Help Themselves Later!"
The material contained in this e-mail is for general information only. It
is not intended in any way to provide or offer legal advice. To obtain
legal advice, please consult with your attorney or a qualified legal
representative.