Earlier this month an open house was held for new offices for Progress Industries,
former KinderCare building. Why are the office workers and clients now separated?
The clients are the reason the people in charge have a job. The central office seems to
have lost touch with the clients and the mission. As parents/guardians of a special needs
daughter, it upset us to see so much money being spent for a few people at the top, while
there is a real need for a raise in salaries for those who work daily with the clients.
Because of the many different types of disabilities that are managed by the employees,
they deserve the best training, working conditions and salaries. PI has been losing quality
people, overworking the quality people who stay and new quality people don't apply —
mostly because of low pay and poor working conditions.
The clients deserve the best care possible. This is difficult with a shortage of staff,
constantly changing staff, along with non-competitive wages. It doesn't help when office
staff receive bonuses, per rumors. Don't misunderstand, there are some wonderful,
caring workers in the offices. They had no say in what happened.
Because of things beyond our control, the sheltered workshop was closed. Our daughter
was proud of having a purpose every day to go to work. She was a contributing member
of the community and she knew it. Now there is a new program called "piloting." Every
day they go to a site like a church or The Place, a former dry cleaning building. Then
they decide on some options for outings and off they go. That brings up the issue of a
lack of handicap bathrooms at the various places. There is a difference between being in
the community and contributing to the community. This past winter was not the best for
going out daily. Not only was it extremely cold, but it was dangerous and our daughter
did some slipping and sliding in her wheelchair.
Another problem affecting, not only PI clients, but the elderly, disabled, and people with
no personal transportation is the end of HIRTA's weekend transportation. Our daughter
cannot come home in her electric chair, one housemate cannot go to church on Sunday,
and that is one house out of several PI sites. Funding cuts are trickling down to the
poorest, oldest and neediest people.
Jr and Gloria Simpson
Newton