EBRR Class Report #16 – Personal Education and Enrichment Resources.
Begin: 6/24/2024
Finish: 7/20/2024
Title: Personal Education and Enrichment Resources (PEER).
Instructor: CO Rangel.
Why I choose to Take this class:
This Peer support group was developed for those living with cognitive and physical disabilities while in institution of different levels. It provides information and resources about topics important to individuals with varying disabilities and encourage social and PEER support among participants.
What I learned from this class:
Disability:
An impairment that substantially limits an individual from performing major life activities. Types of disabilities include visual, hearing, speech, pain, mobility, educational, intellectual and cognitive. Disabilities is a long term or is permanent. Disabilities can be broadly define into three categories:
1) Cognitive – impairments in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior.
2) Sensory – Impacts one of the five senses: hearing, sight, touch, taste or smell.
3) Physical – A condition of the body which limits the ability to engage in tasks on daily living activities.
Assistive technology: Adaptive or rehabilitative devices used by individuals with disabilities.
Adjusting to Prison:
Being incarcerated is a huge adjustment and dealing with the unknown of living in an institution can be and added stressor. Steps to adjusting in Prison:
1) Allow yourself to experience grief and loss.
2) Getting back in touch with who you are.
3) Facing guilt, shame and the impact of your offence on yourself and others.
4) Understanding and communication the needs resulting from a disability is key to disability management during incarceration.
You have to be resilient to survive through it.
Anger:
Anger can be problematic if it is not understood or not managed effectively and appropriately. Inappropriate expression of anger can lead to damage consequences. You must learn to analyze your anger by identifying events and cues that lead to the escalation of your anger. Th goal of anger management is not to eliminate anger, but limit the harmful affect of anger. You can learn to let the anger go or turn in into something positive.
Sleep:
Irregularities with sleep and wakefulness are known as “sleep disorder”. Sleep problems can have a major impact on your daily life and ability to function. You can improve your sleep hygiene by modifying unhealthy sleep practice and engaging in healthy sleep practices.
Communication and Assertiveness:
Assertiveness is a communication style that involves expressing yourself openly. Not being assertive when it is appropriate to be assertive can have harmful effects. Assertive has many benefits. By identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts, you can learn to think assertively and learn to act assertively.
Depression:
Depression is different from being sad. Depression is not necessary linked to a disability. Depression can be linked to trauma frequently experienced by those with a disability. Depression is a serious problem and treatment works.
Health and Wellness:
Wellness is an active process through which people become aware of and make choices toward a more successful existence. Taking care of physical health can positively impact your mental and emotional health. Maintaining your mental health can help you effectively manage stress. Learning to manage stress can help you manage your overall health.
Substance Use Issue:
Drug addiction is characterized by uncontrollable drug craving, along with compulsive drug seeking and use that continuous even in the face of negative health or social consequences. Substance abuse can be unique to those living with disabilities.
Stigma, Accommodation and disabilities:
Stigma is define as a feeling of disapproval that lead people to reject, avoid, or fear those they perceive as being different. It is key to address stigma when it occurs and not allow it to build when encountered.
Reentry Issues Disability Specific Resources:
Benefits.gov – Government assistance and benefit program.
Disbaility.gov – For people with disability and family, employers, service providers and resources.
ODEP – Job accommodation network, source of accommodating employees with disabilities.
Federal Communication Commission Disability Rights Office – Telecommunication service and equipment and hearing aid compatibility.
Social Security Administration – Eligibility to Social Security.
The ARC – Help with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) – Provide legal representation and other advocacy services to people with disablities.
How will this class contribute to my success upon release:
This class taught me about disabilities and challenges especially when incarcerated. Teach us how to deal with them and the resources available. All the resources will help me upon my release so I could reintegrate into society.
