MY ABILITIES
Doctor: Hello Adam,
How are you today?
Me: Well, I’ve been
having trouble keeping my balance lately.
It may be time to consider a chair.
Doctor: That makes
sense. If you feel you can’t walk
anymore then it’s time for a chair.
Me: It’s not that I
can’t walk! When I try to walk I
fall and that hurts, so I don’t walk anymore.
There’s
a big difference between saying “I can’t do something” and saying “I don’t do
something”. When you say “I can’t” you
are releasing yourself from the choice. You
are, in effect, saying that “I used to be able to do this but because of this
#$%^& disease I can’t do it anymore”.
You are taking yourself out of the argument and giving the power to your
disease.
By
saying “I don’t” you keep the choice with you.
People may ask, “But why ‘don’t’
you do this anymore?”
“Because when I try,
the consequences are bad.”
“…O.K.”
Do you
see a difference? The discussion is no
longer about your disease. It’s about
you. The fact that you have ataxia
doesn’t enter into your conversation.
You are also not giving a bully anything to bully about.
In
social work there is a theory called explanatory legitimacy theory. It’s a relatively new theory with direct
implications for ataxians. The theory
understands that you have a disease but that’s a medical diagnosis. That’s totally out of your control. (The fact
that it’s out of anyone’s control is another discussion for another time.) What is in your control is the way you react
to your disease. In our cases, how we
react to our major incoordination makes a difference.
We have
some choices: We can go to the extremes
of reacting like Buddha or we can get mad at everyone and throw things. Or we can react with a combination of the
two. The important thing is that we are
making the choice. No one, no matter how
well intentioned, can make the choice for us because any consequences have to
be borne by us. They can’t be borne by
anyone else.
Not to
say that if you truly can’t do something there is any shame in admitting it. I don’t believe in stupidly setting yourself
up for failure by trying to do something you can’t. There’s a difference between someone who has
been in a wheelchair for years saying that they will run the New York City
marathon next year and that same person going kayaking on a Saturday.
I bet
the kayaking will be more fun. It’s all
about the choices you make.
This is my resume and cover letter. Neither have been successful thus far so if you have any suggestions I'm all ears.
ADAM PAYNE
70 PARK TERRACE EAST
New York, NY 10034
Spiff188@gmail.com
To
whom it may concern,
I have graduated from the Adelphi
University School of Social Work with a Masters in Social Work as of August of
2010. I am an LMSW.
My personal history of
successes both before and during school proves that I would be an excellent
candidate to work with anyone. I have
an intrinsic positive attitude which can only help in my interaction with consumers. I also have many years of experience working
with the Developmentally Disabled population.
I am eager, smart (3.3 GPA at Adelphi), adaptable and persistent.
I am also disabled. The fact of my physical disability
will not affect my ability to complete the requirements of this job.
I truly believe that the strength gained through my lifetime
of experiences can be used to overcome most obstacles. I am in a unique position to help people who
are dealing with their own, seemingly insurmountable experiences. For example the presence of my disability
gives me a chance to teach that we are not victims regardless of what others
may think.
I respectfully ask for an interview.
Thank you for your time and
consideration.
Sincerely,
ADAM PAYNE
P.S. In order to maintain my skills and in view of
the challenging job environment; I have been volunteering with various
organizations in a social work capacity.
ADAM PAYNE
(LMSW)
70 Park Terrace East
New York, NY 10034 e-mail: Spiff188@gmail.com
CORE COMPETENCIES
Can
provide excellent interpersonal skills in my work with clients. Very skilled
direct care worker with the skills of an excellent social worker. Received an MSW from Adelphi University. Licensed by the New York State Education
Department. Received the Rita Paprin
Memorial Fellowship..
Professional Experience
Barnes
and Noble Booksellers, Manhattan, New York 2001- 2008
Bookseller
(Booksellers)
·
Responsible for providing excellent customer service which
included: handling questions, and locating product.
The
ARC of Bergen Passaic Counties, NJ Hackensack, New Jersey 1997- 2000
Residential
Counselor, (A social services agency serving the
developmentally disabled community)
·
Worked individually with clients to improve Activities of
Daily Living (ADL).
·
Worked individually with up to 14 clients
per week to improve concentration by working on their IHP’s (Individual
Habilitation Plans), ADL’s, shopping and reading with them.
·
Maintained daily client logs, monthly financial records and
IHP’s.
·
Scheduled and chaperoned weekly day trips for up to 14
clients.
·
Maintained close contact with the community as an advocate
for the rights of the developmentally disabled.
AmeriCorps
with the NJ Community Development Corporation Paterson, New Jersey 1995- 1996
Member
(National service corps, service to vulnerable American
citizens)
·
Established Supported Living Apartments (SLA) for six
developmentally disabled clients.
·
Participated in the generation of the
Policy and Procedures manual/ Chose clients to be served/ chose/ furnished/
landscaped apartment building/ became daily staff after SLA opened in spring.
·
Participated in regularly scheduled AmeriCorps service events
and trainings.
·
Maintained close contact between the community/consumers as
an advocate for consumers.
Education
Boston
University Boston,
Massachusetts, B.A.
1994
Bachelor of Arts, Major English Literature
Graduated: 1994
Adelphi
University, Manhattan NY 2007-10 MSW August 2010
Masters of Social Work (MSW)
Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) #083441
March 2011
VOLUNTEER/FIELD WORK
Legal Services New York- Bronx. I worked closely with the Education Law Unit
to better serve our clients. 2008- 09
Worked in one on one therapy with clients from
pre-adolescant to geriatric
Embrace Diverse
Disabilities: A childhood education services agency. 2007-08 Worked one on one with client
to ensure he went to an adequate college
VIP: I worked with an anger management class
for formerly incarcerated adults.2009-10 Ran anger management groups
Designed and conducted a
research study.
NY Veterans Hospital- Brooklyn. I worked in
the VA, Project Torch with homeless veterans.2011
The Anti Violence Project- Manhattan March 2012-
present
Have finished
tasks such as editing an Intimate Partner Violence syllabus to researching and
writing murder narratives for 2011.
CERTIFICATIONS
Certificate on child abuse and neglect Winter
2010
Crisis Counselor Spring
2012
