Preferred Provider VS. Parental Vouchered Respite

I am on the respite kick again-- I have only been on the "Preferred Provider" respite for a short time and already I am unhappy-- I know thats nothing unusual but I think I have legitimate concerns-- and Once again I think that Inland Regional Center has made a decision that benefits them tand the agancies that make a profit VS benefiting the individuals they serve and the families that support these individuals--

Below I have posted on a couple of web-groups for autism to see if I get any feed back--I am just so pissed off that there are people and agencies  who are, like wolves that prey on sheep,   out there  making monetary gains over and above what is rightfully theirs utilizing our disabled kids for the EXTRA bucks!

I'm sending this out with hope to hear back from any of you who might be having the same issues with Inland Regional Center and Respite services.
As most of you know they [IRC] has recently pushed for perferred provider respite vs. parental vouchered respite managing to get nost of the 4000+ clients converted. One of my biggest problems with this is that IRC claimed that the transition would be "seamless", all we have to do is submit the persons name and there would be little different with the exception that the agency would be providing the paycheck to our worker.

I have  only been with Accredited Home Health Care for about 2+ months and already I have noticed more than one problem--
The main one is that the Respite workers are only getting 8.50 per hour {and the agencies got a 3% raise in July}  As a parent vouchered respite worker the caregiver was getting 8.83 as of July.
So heres my biggest bitch this agency is sucking 33 cents for every hour from every client they have for themselves-- meaning if you have 30 hours x 33cents per hour = $9.90 x 12 months = $118.80 for year
times however many clients they have from all the regional centers
and once again a "for profit agancy " makes money on our kids disability instead of givng that to the worker who cares for our kids??? what is that all about? Some would argur thats what the get for issuing a check but come on thats all they are doing.
They didnt have to hire or process the worker thay dont have to track the hours  all they do is issue a paycheck--
Once again IRC makes a unilateral decision to "force" parents to conform to regulations by eliminating parental vouchered respite so an agaency can profit -- SORRY i will get off my soap box

What I would like to know is has anyone else noticed that the pay scale is less with these "preferred providers "
Its difficult to search out and find people to care for our kids when we cant even offer them the same as they were getting before.
Perhaps many of you dont care or dont think its an issue however I am hoping some of you can shed some light on if you too have experienced this pay-roll back and if there are agencies actually honoring the 8.83 rate.

Thanks for letting me vent
Cindy
I did mention  some other issues with this agency but will hold my tongue for now to see if i can iron those problems out.

 

 

NEWSWEEK ARTICLE

Newsweek has a lead article on autism when they grow up

I will include the link to the whole article on the bottom but I wanted to post a few exerpts that hit home and sound as if I helped write the article. They are things I have been talking about to anyone who will listen for years

so here ya go-- if you are really interested the link will be at the bottom of this post:

What Happens When They Grow Up Teenagers and young adults are the emerging face of autism as the disorder continues to challenge science and unite determined families.

Eric Ogden for Newsweek Christopher Jorwic, 17: He doesn't speak, despite therapy since childhood. His parents, who've been active in the autism movement for years, call him their 'gentle giant.'

By Barbara Kantrowitz and Julie Scelfo

Newsweek

Nov. 27, 2006 issue - Chicken and potatoes. Chicken and potatoes. Danny Boronat wants chicken and potatoes. He asks for it once, twice ... 10 times. In the kitchen of the family's suburban New Jersey home, Danny's mother, Loretta, chops garlic for spaghetti sauce. No chicken and potatoes, she tells Danny. We're having spaghetti. But Danny wants chicken and potatoes. Chicken and potatoes. His 12-year-oldsister, Rosalinda, wanders in to remind her mother about upcoming basketball tryouts. His brother Alex, 22, grabs some tortilla chips and then leaves to check scores on ESPN. His other brother Matthew, 17, talks about an upcoming gig with his band. Danny seems not to notice any of this. "Mom," he asks in a monotone, "why can't we have chicken and potatoes?" If Danny were a toddler, his behavior would be nothing unusual. But Danny Boronat is 20 years old. "That's really what life with autism is like," says Loretta. "I have to keep laughing. Otherwise, I would cry."

Autism strikes in childhood, but as thousands of families like the Boronats have learned—and thousands more are destined to learn—autism is not simply a childhood disorder. Two decades into the surge of diagnoses that has made autism a major public health issue, a generation of teenagers and young adults is facing a new crisis: what happens next?

As daunting as that question may be, it's just the latest in the endless chain of challenges that is life for the dedicated parents of children with autism. Twenty years ago, they banded together—largely out of desperation—to raise awareness of a once rarely diagnosed, often overlooked disease. They are united by the frustration of dealing with a condition that has no known cause and no cure. They have lobbied passionately to get better education for their kids and more money for research into autism, a neurological disorder characterized by language problems, repetitive behaviors and difficulty with social interaction. At the same time, more sophisticated epidemiology has revealed the true magnitude of the problem. Autism is now estimated to affect from one in 500 to one in 166 children—or as many as 500,000 Americans under 21, most male. That includes individuals with a wide range of abilities—from socially awkward math whizzes to teens who aren't toilet trained—but who all fit on what scientists now consider a spectrum of autism disorders.

Some kids have made dramatic progress after intensive physical and behavioral therapy; many others still struggle with basic activities. Often, when lower-functioning young people reach 18, their parents will establish legal guardianship to protect them. But no matter what level they've reached, many will need help for the rest of their lives. Most government-sponsored educational and therapeutic servicesstop at the age of 21, and there are few residential facilities and work programs geared to the needs of adults with autism. "Once they lose the education entitlement and become adults, it's like they fall off the face of the earth" as far as government services are concerned, says Lee Grossman, president and CEO of the Autism Society of America, a major national-advocacy group.

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, it can cost about $3.2 million to care for a person with autism over a lifetime. Caring for all persons with autism costs an estimated $35 billion per year, the same study says. Families with limited financial resources are particularly hard hit. Other chronic diseases like diabetes are covered by insurance. But parents of youngsters with autism "have to navigate a maze and, if they find providers, then they have to figure out how to pay for it," says Singer. Grossman's early wish for the Combating Autism Act was that it would address the dire needs of autistic adults, and he drafted 30 pages of service-related issues.

The article is quite expansive and concentrates on the bills that are currently being considered for passage in Congress but the meat of the article to me are the realities  of livng anf growing with autism -- Not just for the individual but also for the families

The most important element that I want to highlight is  awareness and edusction of those who dont know about autism.These kids deserve to be treated with dignity and tolerance in their communities and given vocational opportunities   that suit thier strengths not just busy work  hidden away in a "workshop for challenged people.

Heres the link :

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15792805/site/newsweek/

LETTER FROM A MOM

I recieved a leter from a mom asking me a great question about social interactrion so i thought i would add it to my journal since it may be something we think about but maybe something we wouldnt think to ask someone about:

 Hi Cindy, I always come to you for words of wisdom.... and I ask again.  How do you now and how did you (when Dakota was young, like David (5)) deal with going to functions/parties, accepting invitations and attending social events??? I sometimes feel I stress David out when I try to fit him into a social world he just doesn't feel comfortable with yet I know I should take him places but it can be hard on me. (Coping with all the stares, non acceptance yet trying to get typical sibling involved) YOU know what I mean???  I always appreciate your insight. I am just trying to manage our way on this autism journey.

Many Thanks and I hope you and yours are well.

Karen

And this is what I wrote back-- certainly not the authority but I hope it may help someone:

 

DEAR KAREN

I AM SO SORRY I HAVE DRUG MY HEELS IN RESPONDING TO YOUR EMAIL

I GET SO WRAPPED UP IN THE DAY TO DAY "BEING WITH DAKOTA " THAT I SET ASIDE SITTING IN FRONT OF THE "MACHINE " AND WRITING WHEN I CAN BE WITH DAKOTA-- I THAT ASPECT I AM LUCKY THAT I DONT HAVE OTHER FAMILY OR A SPOUSE TO PLACATE BY THE SAME TOKEN IT CAN BE EVER PRESENT AND CUMBERSOME AT TIMES

 

YOU KAREN IT GETS BACK TO SIMPLICITY AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED WHEN IT COMES TO INVOLVING DAKOTA SOCIALLY  OR MYSELF FOR THAT MATTER

I HAVE BECOME SOME WHAT OF A RECLUSE AND I EVEN HAVE GONE SO FAR AS TO BLAME SOME OF MY WEIGHT AND MY UNTIDY HOUSE AS EXCUSES I USE TO NOT ENGAGE WITH OTHER PEOPLE--- THATS A LITTLE SELF-ANALYTICAL BUT I THINK MORE TRUE THAN NOT--- BUT I OFFER NO  REMORSE FOR THIS BEHAVIOR

AS I HAVE COME TO A PLACE OVER 20 TO KNOW THAT MY GUY IS DIFFERENT AND MOST OF THE TIME PEOPLE WILL NOT; CANNOT OR DONT HAVE THE SENSE TO UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT OR AT LEAST TOLERATE AUTISM. ITS NOT MY SON ITS THE TERRIBLE DISORDER HE HAS -- SO AS USUAL I  USE  MY  GUT

IF I THINK HE WILL HAVE A TIME DEALING WITH A SITUATION OR I AM GOING TO BE STRESSED OUT TAKING HIM SOMEWHERE I SIMPLY  DONT GO

I EITHER  TRY TO CONCOCT AN ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITY  OR ALTER THE EXSISTING ACTIVITY TO SUIT DAKOTA---

FOR EXAMPLE IF IM KNOW RIDING ON A US WITH OTHER WILL BE DIFFICULT OR HE WOULDNT BE MONITORED CORRECTLY WITH A GROUP GOING SOMEWHERE  I WILL DRIVE DAKOTA TO THE  FUNCTION AND EVEN STAY TO OBSERVE AND INTERVEIN WHEN I THINK HE MIGHT BE HAVING A PROBLEM-- IF THE PEOPL DONT LIKE IT TOO BAD ITS A WAY FOR DAKOTA TO GET THE EXPERIENCE AND IF THEY PROTEST THEN MY SON DOESNT NEED TO BE WITH THOSE PEOPLE-- AS SMALL AS DAVID IS YOU WILL RUN INTO LOADS OF PEOPLE WHO WILL TELL YOU TO NOT PICK HIM UP ; TO NOT COTTLE HIM TO NOT TREAT HIM DIFFERENT BUT HE IS DIFFERENT AND THOSE SAME PEOPLE WILL TREAT YOUR SON DIFFERENT NOT NECESSARILY IN A GOOD WAY SO WHY SHOULDNT YOU TREAT YOUR SON IN A POSTIVE WAY???  MAKE ALTERATIONS AND REVISIONS TO ACCOMODATE HIS AUTISM?

 

ON THING YOU HAVE TO KEEP CONSTANT IN YOUR HEAD IS THAT WE DONT LIVE IN AN "OZZIE AND HARRIET" WORLD AND ALL PEOPLE HAVE "WARTS" OUR KIDS JUST HAVE A TYPE THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR MOST PEOPLE TO TOLERATE-- FOR GET THE STARES FOR GET THE ARMCHAIR COACHING FROM THOSE WHO DONT KNOW ANY BETTER

ITS HARD TO BE PRO ACTIVE SOMETIMES BUT YOU ARE THE MOMMA BEAR PROTECTING YOUR CUB SO DONT EVER APOLOGIZE FOR ANYTHING YOU DO FOR YOUR DAVID!

 

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT NOW THAT I HAVE 20 YEARS UNDER MY BELT IT DOES SEEM TO GET BETTER AND THEY SEEM TO TOLERATE AND DEVELOP THE ABILITY TO BLEND AND ACCEPT MORE --AT LEAST IN DAKOTAS CASE

DONT EVER FEEL BAD IF YOU OPT TO STAY HOME  OR NOT ACCEPT AN INVITATION BECAUSE IT DOESNT HAVE A GOOD FIT FOR DAVID-- YOU NEED TO BE AS STRESS FREE AS POSSIBLE TO BE A GOOD MOM AND MAKING DAVID COMFORTABLE IS THE BEST WAY TO DEFEAT HIS AUTISM--- ITS OK TO LET HIM COME HOME AND PUT ON "HAPPY CLOTHES" {FOR DAKOTA ITS HIS UNDERWEAR!!!!} AND JUST CHILL OUT WATCHING HIS FAVORITE TV SHOW OR PLAYING HIS FAVORTIE GAME-- EVEN STEMMING FOR A SHORT WHILE IS A FORM OF RELAXATION AND HE HAS SPENT ALL DAY COPING WITH MAKING HIS LITTLE BODY GO THRU THE HORROR OF THE SOCIAL EXPERIEMENT  CALLED SCHOOL -- WHEN WE WORK ALL DAY WE WANT TO COME HOME AND RELAX WHY DONT OUR KIDS DESERVE THE SAME??

 

SO TO GET BACK TO THE BASIC QUESTION-- DEVELOP A DIALOG WITH DAVID  TELL HIM YOU WANT TO TAKE HIM SOMEWHERE  TELL HIM WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHERE HE WILL GO AND WHAT WILL BE HAPPENING AND WATCH HIS REACTION --IF HE PROTESTS GIVE IT A REST AND RE-VISIT IT LATER IF YOU STILL GET RESISTANCE  WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MAKING HIM GO SOMEWHERE WHERE EITHER HE WILL HAVE A MELTDOWN OR YOU WILL WANT TO SHOOT YOURSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE JUST TO PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING??

 

WHILE DAVID IS SMALL HE CAN STILL BLEND WITH LITTLER KIDS BUT AS THE YEARS GO BY  HE WILL GET BIGGER AND LESS ABLE TO INTERACT WITH SMALLER CHILDREN ITS REALLY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO SEEK OUT AGE APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES FOR DAVID EVEN IF HE IS DOING SOMETHING BY HIMSELF--- FOR INSTANCE MINATURE GOLF  SOMETHING HE CAN DO BY HIMSELF WITH MOM WHILE OTHER KIDS COULD BE PLAYING A HOLE A HEAD OR BEHIND UNTIL HE CAN TOLERATE THE KIDS BEING WITH HIM-- JUST AN EXAMPLE  I TRY TO ISOLATE DAKOTA FIRST WITH A TASK AND THEN INTRODUCE OTHERS --ALSO YOU HAVE TO EDUCATE EVEN THE KIDS ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT FROM DAVID SO THEY DONT REACT IMPROPERLY

 

WELL I GUESS I HAVE GONE ON LONG ENUF

TI THINK I WILL PUT THIS IN MY JOURNAL TOO

ITS A GREAT TOPIC AND MAY NOT BE SOMETHING MANY WOULD ASK ABOUT

I HOPE I HELPED YOU  I HOPE THAT I SAID SOMETHING THAT MIGHT AIDE  YOU IN HELPING DAVID

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO WRITE WHEN EVER YOU CAN

CINDY 

OBSERVATIONS AND OPINIONS

SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN BOTHERING ME FOR A WHILE AND I JUST FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO  WRITE ABOUT IT

I DONT KNOW IF IT IS HAVING THE YEARS UNDER MY BELT OR IF IT IS THE AGE PROGRESION FO DAKOTA BUT  IT DOES SEEM AS IF THE AUTISM HAS BECOME MORE MANAGEABLE OR TOLERABLE

MAYBE IT IS JUST BECAUSE  AFTER YOU LIVE THROUGH EACH EXPERIENCE IT IS ONE STEP FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD TO UNDERSTANDING  AND ACCEPTING  THE AUTISM OR THE BEHAVIORS --MAYBE  IT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TRAVELED THRU THE MORNING FOR THE "TYPICAL CHILD AND ARE ARRIVING AT THE OTHERSIDE OR MAYBE BECAUSE YOU HAVE COLLECTED MORE TOOLS FOR YOU TO HANDLE AND DEAL WITH THE AUTISM   NEVER-THE-LESS  IT DOES SEEM TO GET BETTER/EASIER--

THATS NOT TO SAY EVERYDAY IS STILL A CHALLENGE AND NOT LIKE LIVING WITH A "TYPICAL" CHILD BUT MORE TO SAY THAT THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND OR DISECT A BEHAVIOR  CONTINUES TO BE COME  LESS  OF AN  ISSUE AND MORE OF A CHALLENGE FOR ME TO FIND A SOLUTION

ALL THAT BEING SAID  MY FRUSTRATION IS WITH THE WEB BASED GROUPS  I SUBSCRIBE TO-- THESE ARE SUPPORT GROUPS  COMPRISED MOSTLY OF PARENTS WITH CHILDREN THAT HAVE AUTISM--WHILE THE MAJORITY HAVE LITTLER CHILDREN  AND ARE ON A DIFFERENT  SPOT ON THE  SPECTRUM    IT SEEMS AS IF THERE IS A CONSTANT LAMENT AMONG THESE PARENTS TO "FIX" THE AUTISM.

AS I HAVE SAID OVER AND OVER  I DONT FAULT THEM FOR WANTING THE BEST FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND  NEVER GIVING UP ON THE  POSSIBILITY OF "DEFEATING " THIS MONSTER ; I HAVE ARRIVED AT A PLACE WHERE  I WOULD CHEER AND RAISE MY HANDS TO HEAVEN AND THANK GOD IF A "CURE" WAS FOUND TOMMORROW  BUT THE COLD REALITY IS THAT THOSE WHO ALREADY HAVE AUTISM PROBABLY WILL BE  PLAGUED WITH AUTISM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES  AND OUR LIVES TOO!  SO WE NEED TO EMBRACE THAT  AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE LIFE  THE BEST WE CAN FOR OUR KIDS  JUST THE WAY THEY ARE--- THATS NOT TO SAY WE SHOULD GIVE UP OR NOT TRY NEW THINGS BUT  TO BE SO WRAPPED UP IN  EVERY MIMUTE AND EVERY HOUR OF DOING THIS CHEALATION OR THAT DETOX --THIS BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS OR THAT  INTERVENTION  WE LOOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THE AUTISM IS WHO OUT KIDS ARE AND THEY NEED TO HAVE NORMALCY  TOO.  I READ ABOUT MEGA VITAMINS AND GFCF DIETS AND HYPERBARIC CHAMBERS AND  VISION THERAPY AND AUDIO TRAINING  ENYMES --- YIKES IT MAKES ME WANT TO SCREAM SOMETIMES--- EVERY DAY FILLED WITH APPOINTMENT AFTER APPOINTMENT WHEN DOES THE CHILD HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE A KID??? WE LIKE TO COME HOME AND TAKE OUR CLOTHES OFF AND  EAT SOME COMFORT FOOD AND RELAX AFTER  A HARD DAY  BUT HERE WE ARE AS DEDICATED PARENTS SPENDING EXHAUSTING HOUR AFTER HOUR MAKING SURE WE HAVENT MISSED OUT ON SOME MIRACLE CURE THAT WORKED FOR THIS KID OR THAT KID--- WHAT HAPPENED TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE?? I REALIZE WE ALL GO THRU THE "WHAT IF" STAGE BUT I GUESS I HAVE ARRIVED AT A POINT WHERE I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT  IT IS MORE IMPORTANT FOR DAKOTA TO DO WHAT HE WANTS  AND TO LIVE HIS WAY AND LIKE WHAT HE LIKES  --HOW CAN HE DEFINE HIS PERSONALITY  IF I AM  DRIVING  EVERY WAKING MOMENT?

I DONT FAULT ANY PARENT FOR DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN I JUST THINK THAT  SOMETIMES ITS THE OLD ADAGE OF "CANT SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES'   how can our kids find out who they are if we are constantly trying to  mold them in to being something OTHER THAN AUTISTIC

I GUESS I JUST HAVE TO LET OF SOME STEAM AND  CERTAINLY NOT RAG ON ANYONE ELSE JUST TRY TO PRESENT A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE FROM ONE WHO HAS BEEN TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD FOR QUITE A LONG TIME AND  HAS  ARRIVED  AT A  "LOOK OUT POINT" THAT SEEMS TO BE  BEAUTIFUL AND INVITING AND  A BIT OFF THE BEATEN PATH.  PERHAPS NOT ONE THAT MANY ARE READY FOR BUT CERTAINLY AN OPTION. 

"SHOW ME THE MONEY"

SO MUCH FOR BEING TIMELY--HEE HEE

SEVERAL WEEKS AGO  WE TOOK DAKOTA TO A TAPING OF A NEW GAME SHOW

"SHOW ME THE MONEY" HOSTED BY WILLIAM SHATNER -- WE WERE FORTUNATE ENUF TO SEE THE TAPING FOR THE VERY FIRST EPISODE WHICH WILL AIR ON    ABC ON TUESDAY  NOVEMBER 14TH AS A SNEEK PREVIEW-- AND I THINK THEY WILL RE-AIR THE SAME EPISODE AGAIN ON WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER  23RD IN ITS REGULAR TIME SLOT------

OK THIS IS NOT A PLUG FOR THE SHOW BUT A MOTHER WHO WANTS TO BRAG ABOUT HOW GREAT DAKOTA DID AT THE TAPING-- WE WENT TO THE STUDIO AND HAD TO PARK QUITE A DISTANCE AWAY AND THE FIRST FEAT WAS THAT MY GUY SUCKED IT UP AND WALKED A LONG WAY JUST TO GET TO THE STUDIO-- THAT MAY SEEM LIKE NO BIG DEAL BUT HE IS STILL UNDERGOING SURGERY ON HIS FOOT FROM HIS BREAK OVER A YEAR AGO SO IT WAS REALLY EMPOWERING TO SEE HIM DIG IN AND HANDLE THE TREK WE HAD TO MAKE JUST TO GET THERE-- THEN AFTER HAVING TO SIT OUTSIDE WHILE THEY PREPARE YOU TO ENTER FOR ABOUT AN HOUR--FILLED WITH QUESTIONAIRES AND RELEASES PLUS VERBAL DIRECTIONS FOR STUDIO ETTIQUETTE WE FINALLY GET INTO THE STUDIO FOR ANOTHER 4 TO 5 HOURS OF TAPING--- THIS GUY WAS STELLAR  HE LISTENED AND TOOK DIRECTION FROM THE STAGE MANAGER-- CHEERED, GROANED, CLAPPED , STOOD UP ALL ON CUE    I COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR BETTER BEHAVIOR--- WHAT A TRIUMPH I AM SO PROUD OF HIM

SUPPOSEDLY THERE WILL BE A LOT OF AUDIENCE SHOTS SO WE ARE HOPING TO SEE OURSELVES ON THE  SHOW --TAKE A PEEK AND SEE IF YOU SEE US!!!

THE BIG BIG BONUS IS THAT WE DISCOVERED THAT THESE SHOWS ALSO USE "SEAT FILLERS" FOR  EMPTY SEATS OR PEOPLE WHO LEAVE EARLY OR CANT BE THERE FOR THE WHOLE TAPING AND YES  THEY PAY PEOPLE TO DO THIS--- WELL I THINK WE MAY HAVE FOUND A POSSIBLE VOCATION FOR DAKOTA                                 I SPOKE TO ONE OF THE CAST AND THEY TOLD ME ABOUT THE CASTING GROUP AND HOW TO GO ABOUT GETTING INFORMATION  AND SIGNING UP . DAKOTA HAS  DEVELOPED QUITE A LOVE FOR GAME SHOWS AND REALITY TV . HE  WATCHES GAME SHOW NETWORK  HOUR UPON HOUR WHEN HE HAS CABLE TV. IT IS HIS NICHE-- HE LEARNS FROM AND UNDERSTANDS  THE GAME SHOWS  BETTER THAN ANYONE I KNOW-- HE HAS HIS CHALLENGES BUT FOR SOME REASON THIS IS A MEDIUM THAT APPEALS TO HIM AND IS  TEACHING  ALOT-- I HAVE READ A COUPLE OF ARTICLES THAT RESEARCHERS HAVE DISCOVERED THAT "OUR KIDS" WITH AUTISM ARE DRAWN AND BENEFIT FROM TELEVISION AND COMPUTERS BECAUSE IT IS A "SAFE MEDIUM" IT IS A NON THREATENING  NON CONFRONTATIONAL SITUATION THAT IS CONSISTENTAND GIVES THE SAME ANSWER OR RESULT EVERYTIME. HUMANS DO NOT YIELD THE SAME RESULT--PEOPLE TEND TO BE NOT ONLY INCONSISTENT BUT WILL ALLOW EMOTION, GESTERING OR  VOICE INTONATION TO CHANGE EVEN IF THEY ARE DELIVERING THE SAME ANSWER EVERYTIME

SO  THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT WE WENT TO A TAPING FOR RECREATION BUT MAY HAVE DISCOVERED AN AVENUE TO DEVELOP FOR DAKOTA TO CONSIDER FOR A JOB

NO MATTER WHAT I THINK WE WILL BE TRAVELING INTO  HOLLYWOOD MORE OFTEN

YOU NEVER KNOW   WHATS GONNA HAPPEN

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY IS THE WONDERFUL BEHAVIOR--  SOMETHING I WASNT SURE I WOULD EVER SEE  - - - DAKOTA SHOWED ME