Straddling the fence
OK, I have to vent, but I have to vent against both sides of the argument. I have this one hispanic family on my case load, the little boy has moderate or server MR plus a few other dx, I think. He's 10 years old, and has to wear diapers. He's also allergic to latex. His mother speaks English, but has trouble communicating everything, and has to rely on an older son to help out a lot. Well, we're dealing with this agency that provides them with diapers. The whole process started back before I got the case and should have been settled by the time I got it, needless to say it hasn't and that's a whole other rant. So here's my thing, I'm not trying to be all "I'm better than you" or seem uppity, hence straddling the fence.. but at the same time it's frustrating no matter which side you're on. I'd love to learn (and be able to actually speak) another language, but it's difficult and time consuming when it's not something you use on a regular basis.
1. If you're going to live in the US, then you need to learn and understand English so you can at least communicate your needs and wants. Don't expect people to accomodate you and be able to provide translation, because in reality, it doesn't happen often. Also, don't expect to live on "the system" and expect things to be handed to you. Get a job, earn your keep like the rest of us do. A legal job. This goes for all people, not just immigrants. That's a nother rant I could go on, about people not wanting to work cuz they'd lose their SSI/Medicaid incomes.
2. You serve a population that may tend to be highly hispanic, learn to deal with it. Hire someone to deal with all the hispanic clients or have a translator on hand. This company is ridiculous. She told the mother not to call directly anymore, to call me first and have me call. And told me the same thing. "I don't want mom to call anymore, I can't understand and deal with her". UGH. It's not really my job to be the translator. Yes, I can assist and link and facilitate services, but seriously, this woman should suck it up and learn to communicate better.
So, I've had to call this place every week since before Christmas. Maybe I'm exagerating by a few days, maybe it's only been once every 10 days. First they said they didn't have any info on the kid, which Colleen got together and mailed and faxed to them before she gave the case to me. Then they didn't have the RX from the doc, then they didn't have this or that. Now they claimed they didn't know the kid was allergic to latex. UGH. Freakin' A, hire some intelligent people.
I drove around W-S today trying to get this shit straighted out, and it's still not right so I have to do it again tomorrow. LORD!
Ok, enough bitching.
Our fun girls night out Valentine dealio has kinda gotten squashed. Cat is working to fill in for Dee who is sick. Tucker has to tutor in W-S till 8:30. So, I guess Colleen and I will find somethin to entertain ourselves with until Alice gets back from HPU and/or Tucker gets done tutoring. We'll have a blast on our own, but it was going to be a big group thing and now it's not. =( Ah well, I still have this weekend to look forward to.
Speaking of, I'm going to have a house full!! E is staying with me Fri & Sat, and I'm pretty sure Tex & Linda are going to stay with me at least Friday night, b/c Tex is in the wedding. Rah! Party at Nicoles! I imagine most of the MTH crew will end up here after the wedding too, to gather & hang for a bit. Maybe some of the ASU peoples too, who knows. If you're reading this, and are coming to Zack & Anne's wedding & want to come hang out, c'mon!!
1. If you're going to live in the US, then you need to learn and understand English so you can at least communicate your needs and wants. Don't expect people to accomodate you and be able to provide translation, because in reality, it doesn't happen often. Also, don't expect to live on "the system" and expect things to be handed to you. Get a job, earn your keep like the rest of us do. A legal job. This goes for all people, not just immigrants. That's a nother rant I could go on, about people not wanting to work cuz they'd lose their SSI/Medicaid incomes.
2. You serve a population that may tend to be highly hispanic, learn to deal with it. Hire someone to deal with all the hispanic clients or have a translator on hand. This company is ridiculous. She told the mother not to call directly anymore, to call me first and have me call. And told me the same thing. "I don't want mom to call anymore, I can't understand and deal with her". UGH. It's not really my job to be the translator. Yes, I can assist and link and facilitate services, but seriously, this woman should suck it up and learn to communicate better.
So, I've had to call this place every week since before Christmas. Maybe I'm exagerating by a few days, maybe it's only been once every 10 days. First they said they didn't have any info on the kid, which Colleen got together and mailed and faxed to them before she gave the case to me. Then they didn't have the RX from the doc, then they didn't have this or that. Now they claimed they didn't know the kid was allergic to latex. UGH. Freakin' A, hire some intelligent people.
I drove around W-S today trying to get this shit straighted out, and it's still not right so I have to do it again tomorrow. LORD!
Ok, enough bitching.
Our fun girls night out Valentine dealio has kinda gotten squashed. Cat is working to fill in for Dee who is sick. Tucker has to tutor in W-S till 8:30. So, I guess Colleen and I will find somethin to entertain ourselves with until Alice gets back from HPU and/or Tucker gets done tutoring. We'll have a blast on our own, but it was going to be a big group thing and now it's not. =( Ah well, I still have this weekend to look forward to.
Speaking of, I'm going to have a house full!! E is staying with me Fri & Sat, and I'm pretty sure Tex & Linda are going to stay with me at least Friday night, b/c Tex is in the wedding. Rah! Party at Nicoles! I imagine most of the MTH crew will end up here after the wedding too, to gather & hang for a bit. Maybe some of the ASU peoples too, who knows. If you're reading this, and are coming to Zack & Anne's wedding & want to come hang out, c'mon!!
1 Comments:
At 12:22 PM ,
erica said...
Hey! I understand your frustration, particularly about dealing with this company who's obviously being so dumbassed about helping this family. One of the most inclusive things about the US is that we don't have an official language, so even though most of us speak English, it's not a requirement to live here. It would be nice if people learned it, but honestly, they come here so they can make a decent living, and a lot of the companies immigrants end up working for will use Spanish to communicate with them. My uncle got a job as a manager in a factory for a few months in which most of the women who worked there were Hispanic, so he learned how to say all kinds of job-related stuff in Spanish. There should be more community resources for immigrants who want to learn the language, but it's certainly not a requirement, and the woman who refused to deal with the mother anymore needs to remove stick from ass and find a translator!
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