Tyler. She understands him well and can teach other direct support professionals in his care. Tyler's mom, dad and brother are very involved in his care. They spend a few nights each week with Tyler enjoying time with him and ensuring that the staff and Tyler are working well together. In the residential school, Tyler often had incidents where a few male staff had to restrain him to prevent Tyler from self-injury. In the past six months living with well-trained caregivers, Tyler has had only two such events. With careful analysis of the circumstances that upset Tyler, his direct support caregivers know the signs that trigger Tyler's disruptive behaviors. For example, when Tyler does not feel well, he will repeatedly bang his head. There are cycles when he cannot tolerate the stress of demands being placed upon him. Any transitions from the routine can disrupt him. The small group of caregivers knows to prepare Tyler for all changes to avoid his becoming upset. They also give him space when he shows the precursors to an outburst. Tyler is so much happier in his own home. In this self-directed model, Tyler and his family are very involved with directing his care. Tyler's mom says that this individual-directed model is not perfect. They are continuously evaluating and making changes to find the right supports to assist Tyler most effectively. They are improving ways to communicate and orient staff to Tyler's needs. If staff are not compatible and do not carefully follow direction, their employment with Tyler is discontinued. Fortunately, Tyler's mom, dad and brother are capable and willing to be very intensely involved in his care. This is crucial to establishing a successful individual-directed model.
Resources about Individual or Self-Directed Options are available at http://nj.gov/humanservices/ddd/programs/selfdirected/
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