Wise Young
08-18-2002, 11:10 AM
http://www.theadvocate.com/stories/081802/new_18change001.shtml
Enjoying a change
Man loves having his own place
By AMY WOLD
awold@theadvocate.com
Advocate staff writer
Published on 08/18/02
Advocate staff photo by Mark Saltz
Â* Steve Levine makes his rounds collecting recyclable paper on the fourth floor of the Baton Rouge General Medical Center Mid-City as Debra Lewis, left and Dianne Leon, right, go about their work. Levine has been working at the hospital for about 10 years. Â*When Steve Levine, 31, said he wanted to move out of a group home and into his own apartment, his parents were less than thrilled.
"We like the security of the group home," his mother, Arlene Levine, said. However, Steve Levine stood his ground and has just completed his first year in his apartment on Drusilla Lane.
Levine is mildly retarded and has a language disorder. He had lived in group homes for several years.
Then two years ago, Levine learned he could get his own apartment with support from the Volunteers of America and a Medicaid waiver.
Medicaid is a federal-state assistance program for certain low-income and needy people. It covers children, the elderly, blind and/or disabled people and others who are eligible to receive federally assisted income payments.
In part, the Medicaid waiver provides money for support to help people with developmental disabilities move out of institutions and group homes and into the community. Developmental disabilities can apply to a number of conditions including mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, traumatic brain injury, spina bifida and more.
Although VOA doesn't help people financially, the agency offers support in other ways. Direct care staff help teach people life skills, such as grocery shopping or using public transportation.
Of the four people who got the waiver, two are receiving 24-hour care, and the others have someone who takes them to work in the morning, picks them up at night and stays with them until 8 p.m. or 9 p.m., including weekends.
Although there is normally a long waiting list to receive the Medicaid waiver, Volunteers of America Community Living and Vocational Services received four because of a reorganization process.
Kristy Morel, program director for Supportive and Independent Living at VOA, said there are 10,000 people in Louisiana on the waiver waiting list. The people who signed up in 1994 became eligible for waivers last year, said Rosalind Auzenne, residential services program director for VOA Community Living and Vocational Services.
Steve Levine had wanted to live independently since he was 18; he put his desire in writing.
"He wanted to make a life for himself," Arlene Levine said.
Although Steve Levine had taken steps toward living independently since he decided in the early 1990s to move into a group home, when the chance came to move into his own apartment, his parents were apprehensive.
Advocate staff photo by Mark Saltz
Â* Steve Levine, 31, who has a disability, said he's wanted his own apartment for years. With support from Volunteers of America Community Living and Vocational Services, Levine has completed his first year of the supported independent living. Â*"One of our biggest challenges was to convince the families that they were ready," Morel said. "Steve was crucial in convincing his parents, because we couldn't do it."
During a weekend trip to his parents' home in Galveston, Texas, Steve Levine told his family how he felt about moving.
"I told them it was an opportunity, a good chance, and I was ready for a change," Steve Levine said.
Arlene Levine is a nurse who has worked with developmentally disabled people and Michael Levine is a psychiatrist who specializes in developmentally disabled care. Michael Levine is also a former medical director for the state Office of Developmental Disabilities. He said they've both faced parents who were reluctant to let their children take a chance on more independent living and encouraged them to let go.
"Of course, when it comes to your own son ..." Michael Levine said, the advice was harder to take. "Steve was very focused. He stood his ground."
"The same thing happened when we moved to Texas and Steve said "bye"," Michael Levine said. "I said what do you mean, 'bye'?"
But again, Michael Levine said, his son made the right decision since Baton Rouge was where he had a job, a girlfriend and friends. Steve Levine was also living in a group home and wanted to stay. Plus, his father said, Louisiana's services for people with developmental disabilities are superior to what's available in Texas.
It's now been a year and a month since Steve Levine moved into his own apartment with a roommate, Matt Denham, who also has a developmental disability.
"They just can't believe how well they've done in the past year," Auzenne said about the families.
Levine works about 20 hours a week collecting recycled paper at Baton Rouge General Medical Center Mid City, a job he's held for 10 years.
In his free time, Steve Levine likes to spend time at Barnes and Noble bookstore, read several newspapers a day, watch movies, bowl and enjoy regular outings with friends. He said he's also learning to cook, although he confessed that his favorite foods are microwave frozen dinners.
What does Steve Levine like best?
"Making your own choices. Doing your own activities," he said.
Enjoying a change
Man loves having his own place
By AMY WOLD
awold@theadvocate.com
Advocate staff writer
Published on 08/18/02
Advocate staff photo by Mark Saltz
Â* Steve Levine makes his rounds collecting recyclable paper on the fourth floor of the Baton Rouge General Medical Center Mid-City as Debra Lewis, left and Dianne Leon, right, go about their work. Levine has been working at the hospital for about 10 years. Â*When Steve Levine, 31, said he wanted to move out of a group home and into his own apartment, his parents were less than thrilled.
"We like the security of the group home," his mother, Arlene Levine, said. However, Steve Levine stood his ground and has just completed his first year in his apartment on Drusilla Lane.
Levine is mildly retarded and has a language disorder. He had lived in group homes for several years.
Then two years ago, Levine learned he could get his own apartment with support from the Volunteers of America and a Medicaid waiver.
Medicaid is a federal-state assistance program for certain low-income and needy people. It covers children, the elderly, blind and/or disabled people and others who are eligible to receive federally assisted income payments.
In part, the Medicaid waiver provides money for support to help people with developmental disabilities move out of institutions and group homes and into the community. Developmental disabilities can apply to a number of conditions including mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, traumatic brain injury, spina bifida and more.
Although VOA doesn't help people financially, the agency offers support in other ways. Direct care staff help teach people life skills, such as grocery shopping or using public transportation.
Of the four people who got the waiver, two are receiving 24-hour care, and the others have someone who takes them to work in the morning, picks them up at night and stays with them until 8 p.m. or 9 p.m., including weekends.
Although there is normally a long waiting list to receive the Medicaid waiver, Volunteers of America Community Living and Vocational Services received four because of a reorganization process.
Kristy Morel, program director for Supportive and Independent Living at VOA, said there are 10,000 people in Louisiana on the waiver waiting list. The people who signed up in 1994 became eligible for waivers last year, said Rosalind Auzenne, residential services program director for VOA Community Living and Vocational Services.
Steve Levine had wanted to live independently since he was 18; he put his desire in writing.
"He wanted to make a life for himself," Arlene Levine said.
Although Steve Levine had taken steps toward living independently since he decided in the early 1990s to move into a group home, when the chance came to move into his own apartment, his parents were apprehensive.
Advocate staff photo by Mark Saltz
Â* Steve Levine, 31, who has a disability, said he's wanted his own apartment for years. With support from Volunteers of America Community Living and Vocational Services, Levine has completed his first year of the supported independent living. Â*"One of our biggest challenges was to convince the families that they were ready," Morel said. "Steve was crucial in convincing his parents, because we couldn't do it."
During a weekend trip to his parents' home in Galveston, Texas, Steve Levine told his family how he felt about moving.
"I told them it was an opportunity, a good chance, and I was ready for a change," Steve Levine said.
Arlene Levine is a nurse who has worked with developmentally disabled people and Michael Levine is a psychiatrist who specializes in developmentally disabled care. Michael Levine is also a former medical director for the state Office of Developmental Disabilities. He said they've both faced parents who were reluctant to let their children take a chance on more independent living and encouraged them to let go.
"Of course, when it comes to your own son ..." Michael Levine said, the advice was harder to take. "Steve was very focused. He stood his ground."
"The same thing happened when we moved to Texas and Steve said "bye"," Michael Levine said. "I said what do you mean, 'bye'?"
But again, Michael Levine said, his son made the right decision since Baton Rouge was where he had a job, a girlfriend and friends. Steve Levine was also living in a group home and wanted to stay. Plus, his father said, Louisiana's services for people with developmental disabilities are superior to what's available in Texas.
It's now been a year and a month since Steve Levine moved into his own apartment with a roommate, Matt Denham, who also has a developmental disability.
"They just can't believe how well they've done in the past year," Auzenne said about the families.
Levine works about 20 hours a week collecting recycled paper at Baton Rouge General Medical Center Mid City, a job he's held for 10 years.
In his free time, Steve Levine likes to spend time at Barnes and Noble bookstore, read several newspapers a day, watch movies, bowl and enjoy regular outings with friends. He said he's also learning to cook, although he confessed that his favorite foods are microwave frozen dinners.
What does Steve Levine like best?
"Making your own choices. Doing your own activities," he said.