"Who" Cares ? - Shenekwa Kellman

How does one communicate with a person who barely speaks or does not speak at all? With a person who cannot read? Who has difficulty sitting still? Who lashes out on occasion? How does one reach that person and teach that person?

“By learning to see things from inside their world, looking out,” says Direct Support Professional Shenekwa Kellman.

Ms. Kellman works with adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder at The Arc Rockland. “How do I know what the individual likes, or what would calm him down? I feel each one out for what he is as a person,” she explains. “I’m basically learning to walk in their shoes. It’s the greatest experience I’ve ever had.”

Having grown up among relatives and friends with disabilities, Ms. Kellman feels that she was “born into this profession.” She has a brother with Down syndrome and a nephew with Multiple Sclerosis and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

After high school, she worked at the Jesse J. Kaplan School for children with disabilities and, in February of 2016, joined The Arc staff. Here, Ms. Kellman received training in Applied Behavior Analysis—a teaching methodology that encourages staff to learn as much as possible about an individual’s abilities, interests and values. Staffers use that information to help analyze why a particular negative behavior may be occurring and develop a means of teaching the skills necessary for the person to change that behavior and gain greater independence. The training provided by The Arc, covering specific tasks in the process, will enable Ms. Kellman to become certified as a Registered Behavior Technician.

Currently, Ms. Kellman works with three individuals each at a different place on the autism spectrum. She describes one person as being “…super smart, but when he gets upset, he has been known to break things. I’ve learned that having someone talk to him in a soft, smooth voice calms him down. We have a quiet conversation and I help steer him to activities that he enjoys.

“A second individual is very athletic and smart, but he sometimes lets his emotions get the best of him. Bouncing a tennis ball helps him to relax.

“A third person has issues connected to eating and has, on occasion, tried to eat non-edible objects, particularly when he is upset. We have found the use of a ‘token board’ helpful in this instance. He accumulates tokens every time he sits calmly rather than trying to eat something that should not be eaten. The tokens can then be redeemed for something or some activity of his choice, such as the use of an iPad or computer.”

Ms. Kellman teaches the three men skills of daily living such as tooth brushing and handwashing. She works with them on math and letters, and she accompanies them on outings, including bowling, swimming and walking in the park. “I love watching their faces when they learn something new,” she says.

“Shenekwa works with people who have significant, challenging behaviors, yet she has built an excellent rapport with them and works diligently to teach them meaningful skills,” says Anthony Pavlacka, Director of Autism Services at The Arc Rockland.

She has seen significant advances. There is more conversation and socialization. “One of the individuals who wasn’t speaking when I first joined the staff, now uses several words to communicate with me. I hope that eventually he will use words to communicate with other people,” comments Ms. Kellman.

Her tenure at The Arc has been “a learning process for me as well as for the people with whom I work,” she says. “Much has to do with who we are and how we handle each experience. I help people understand what they can and can’t do, what is right and what is wrong, but they need to know that, no matter what, I will still like them and care for them and help them to become more independent.”