Developmentally Disabled Adults

[soundwave]

The 5150 post by my58vw got me thinking (ya, I know that's dangerous lol). Before I started my computer consulting business I used to work for a managed care company for developmentally disabled adults. For those of you not familiar with that particular term, they are adults who have some physical or mental impairment that keeps them from "growing up" mentally to adulthood. Most of the adults that I worked with were considered "high risk" by the company and usually had serious mental illnesses attached to their primary issues.

It was state mandated that those working with the high risk individuals that we take classes called Client Intervention Training that needed to be renewed yearly. The class was basically dealing with clients who would spit, bite, grab hair, kick, punch, slap, throw objects, and even use lethal weapons. We were trained in handling these types of situations (including restraints) that were classified as either Level I (intervene) and Level II (force).

We were required by the state to contact LE if a client would do any of these things to us or other clients. The point of this post is that when the LEOs would arrive they always encouraged us to handle the situation which we usually did and had to use Level II techniques plenty of times. Some of my coworkers that had been there for years said that it was because we had more training dealing with these types of individuals, some said that it was because the clients did not do it in the officers' presence and others said that it was a liability issue. When you guys are called into situations like this, what is your usual role? Thanks!

[Ghost 1]

Child or adult,its hard to deal with anyone who has a mental disorder. Even the slightest disorder can make dealing with that person tough. When I deal with those types of people,first and foremost,I try to talk to them. Depending on that persons disorder,you have to modify how you interact with them. Some persons have an adult body and the mind of a child. The key is to be able to identify that persons disorder and act accordingly. If it has escalated to violence,then I respond accordingly too. Hopefully,that subject can be restrained with minimal use of force,or less lethal means.

I keep in mind that they can't help it and try not to hurt them if I don't have too. But,I do not let my guard down just cause they are handicapped. I just try to deal with them a little different.