Jill’s Jottings - St. Louis

Post Polio Health International
It was very encouraging to hear how Post Polio Health International started from the dream of one very pro-active and forward thinking person. Amazing to see how the drive of these early founders achieved so much - see Mary-ann’s report for PPI activities now. Also scanned PPI book shelves & found several useful reference books, don’t know any of you folk reading this report have come across them;
• ‘Sick & Tired of Feeling Sick & Tired by Paul J. Donoghue, PhD & Mary E. Siegel PhD
• ‘The Survivor Personality’ by AL Siebert, PhD
• Acknowledgement – Opening To The Grief of Unacceptable Loss by Peter Leech, MSW, LCSW & Zeva Singer, MA, MFCC

Paraquad Inc. - St. Louis
This organisation was most impressive with its wide range of services and client focus philosophy.
Interestingly their Carers are hired by and work for the client, not PQ the Org. i.e. clients interview, select & instruct their own carers, who can be family, friends or strangers, but not spouses. Paraquad Inc. St.Louis manages carer payments via Government funding and monitors Carer services every 3 & 12 months to ensure its correct running.

The philosophy of Paraquad St. Louis includes; Systems advocacy, Removing barriers, Creating opportunities, Providing a State Presence to Lobby Health Services, & Training folk to Self-Advocate.

I was pleased to hear of their Health & Well being Programs, Mobility Focus, assessments, recycling Mob. Aids & repairs. Including a varied program to assess/train handling Mobility scooters & w/chairs.

Interested to hear how their ‘Quality Assurance Program’ had been adapted to enhance the Personal Attendance program by developing very practical ‘policy & procedures’ such as, measurement tools, Needs Assessments, Review of Mental Health needs, Information teams etc.

Paraquad Inc. St. Louis also has Developmental Programs which involve 18 PQSL Case Managers with qualifications ranging from Social Work, Psychology and people with disability knowledge/ experience.

Jill Pickering