My Saturday Southern Sunshine

By Shane Hargest
Disabilities Advocate and Building Accessibility Reviewer

MY SATURDAY SOUTHERN SUNSHINE

I’m headed down to my sanctuary where I can be closer
to God than I can ever be.

I can laugh and be myself and nobody ever judges me.

I glance at this girl, and she comes up to me.

Her smile is angelic and affectionate as a warm summer breeze.

She’s just as pretty as she can be, and I admit I have the southern blues.

But, why do all these doctors think they know what I need, really.

All I need is a dose of my Saturday Southern Sunshine.

She just takes me away from my reality.

She puts my mangled body in the pool.

Emotions running high, I forget why I’m here as I look into her eyes.

I call her my Saturday Southern Sunshine.

We float in the water as my blues seem to go away.

I no longer have a care in the world.  

I call her my Saturday Southern Sunshine.

With a gentle voice and a southern accent, she whispers about drinking sweet tea…we laughed.

I call her my Saturday Southern Sunshine.

She puts in the walker so I can float in the water when this world seems to weigh me down.

In this water, it’s just me, a place where I may be able to connect with God and just be free.

Someday soon, I’ll stand before God and ask him to drown my wheelchair,

and watch my sorrow go down the drain, just like the man in the Bible that laid there for 38 years.

I will put these sorrows behind me.

I will be healed from my imperfections, the same way my Southern Sunshine heals me.

One day, we will jump for joy giving thanks for the perfect sunshine.

"My Saturday Southern Sunshine" is a poem written by Shane Hargest, a disabilities advocate and speaker who aims to "change people's perspective" about individuals with disabilities. In addition, Shane conduct accessibility assessments at local businesses to ensure that they provide appropriate accommodations for all people.  Shane recently chose The Arc Baltimore to provide him employment services.

Remote Support and Virtual Job Coaching

By Daphni Steffin

Director of Assistive Technology & LifePrint Management

When you think about Assistive Technology (AT), many things may come to mind. A communication device, an adapted switch, maybe even an iPad. As we start to think about the iPad, we realize that not all AT is exclusively for people with disabilities. After all…isn’t all technology in some way “assistive?”

Some of the most progressive developments in the world of AT are centered on the use of mainstream technologies in new ways. Video calling technologies such as Skype and FaceTime make it possible for people with disabilities to have real time interaction with a friend, family member, care giver, or job coach. We are exploring the value that these technologies can add to the quality of supports we are providing to people at The Arc Baltimore through some very exciting and innovative pilot projects.

Our Community Living Division is using video calling technology like Skype to provide remote support to people in their homes. In collaboration with a telesupport company called Rest Assured, we are providing a blend of remote support and in-home support services. Picture a woman living independently in her apartment. Using the latest and greatest camera and sensor technology, a telesupport provider checks in with her a few times a day to make sure she is safe, asks her if she has taken her medications, and makes sure her home is secure. The telesupport giver gets an alert if the smoke detector goes off, and can be reached at any time with the push of a button.

Our Community Employment division has launched a separate pilot project, exploring the use of FaceTime for virtual job coaching. People with disabilities working in the community with job coach supports can use their iPhone to FaceTime with their job coach. This empowers the individual to access real time job coaching even if the coach is not on site. We are excited to see how people thrive in integrated employment as in-person job coaches fade out, but are a FaceTime call away if needed.

The Arc Baltimore utilizes FaceTime technology 

for virtual job coaching in the workplace

Technology advances at a rapid rate, and The Arc Baltimore wants to be well-informed of the new benefits it provides for people with disabilities. These pilot projects demonstrate our awareness of both cutting-edge and mainstream assistive technology as well as our commitment to integrating it into our support models.

For more information about our Assistive Technology department and the services we provide to individuals receiving supports from The Arc Baltimore, please feel free to contact me at dsteffin@thearcbaltimore.org or 410-296-2272 x 5206.

From Darkness Into Light

By Seth Burdine, Satisfaction Surveyor and Center Receptionist

My name is Seth Burdine. I am 32 years old. I was born on March 19^th, 1981 and raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I was born prematurely and after cataracts surgery, I was diagnosed as legally blind. I went to special schools from Easter Seals to public schools. I tested as mentally retarded when I did not pass my entrance test in grade school. I was put in special education classes and was made fun of because of my vision impairment.

My home life was weird. My mom was an alcoholic, and my dad left me when I was five years old. When I was twelve years old, a man in my family hurt me. I felt shame and guilt too. I felt lonely a lot and sought out friends to fill that lonely hole inside. I turned to school for comfort. I loved school because it was a place to learn and I felt happy there. They gave me large print books to read. Acting also brings me comfort and joy. I wanted to join the choir and drama class in school but my teacher said no. They did not want to adapt their program to meet my visual needs. Through the help of my math teacher, I volunteered and performed in a small community theater. She would also take me to musicals.

In 1992, I went to the Overbrook School for the Blind.  There, I got to learn about Helen Keller, participated in sports, choir and many other activities.  Then, my mother moved to Maryland in 1999, and I began attending Maryland School for the Blind. Through the help of one of my teachers, Mrs. Darden, I got a job at Golden Corral as a salad bar attendant. I graduated from the Maryland School for the Blind and did some volunteer jobs. Soon after, my mother got sick, and I went from group home to group home.

Then, in 2012, I found The Arc Baltimore.  I have various jobs. I work the telephone at their center in Woodlawn two days a week and at their center in Seton Business Park as a substitute. In addition, I shred documents and survey individuals with disabilities for The Arc Baltimore’s Satisfaction Survey. The survey allows people to rate their level of services they receive from The Arc Baltimore. 

I recently completed my GED test and found out that I successfully completely the course.  I will receive my diploma in a few weeks.  I have a girlfriend. I can independently get around in the community through Mobility services, and have my own apartment.  At The Arc Baltimore I feel that people really care about me. I feel loved and have the life I have been longing for.

I hope this will encourage others who read my life story that they too can come from darkness into light.

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Upon reading Seth's blog post, Jamie Costello from ABC2 News reached out to Seth.  See the full clip of Seth's interview with Jamie.