Cool C.A.T.S. Club

By: Rowan Frederiksen

Here at The Arc Pikes Peak Region, we have a variety of services that we provide to our community, free of charge. Our services range from advocacy to outreach events to educational trainings and workshops. We are also one of the few chapters across the country to provide legal guardianship to individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability. Currently, The Arc PPR is the court-appointed guardian of 75 individuals. We have three staff members who graciously take on this responsibility, using supported decision-making to to make life decisions on behalf of these individuals. Our guardianship specialists work to maintain healthy relationships with each individual, getting to know them and a person, and looking beyond their disability.

Danny Barriera is one of the three guardianship specialists on staff and has been for the last six years. He spent fifteen years prior to joining The Arc working with people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities in group homes, service agencies or as a case manager.

Over the last few months, I have had the opportunity to chat with and shadow Danny on some of his visits to the individuals that he is the legal guardian over. Below are some questions and answers from Danny and the rest of the guardianship team.

An Interview with Danny Barriera

Rowan Frederiksen (RF): What is your role as a guardianship specialist?

Danny: My role is to ensure continuity of care for my individual and to ensure that they’re happy and safe in all aspects of their lives (day program, home, etc)

RF: What does guardianship mean to you?

Danny: Guardianship means being a voice to the voiceless, ensuring happiness and safety, abiding by the persons wishes, and advocating for the rights of the individual

RF: What is your biggest challenge?

Danny: My biggest challenge is working with hospitals and some medical professionals who look at our individuals as people who are not cared for, have no quality of life, and are basically second-class citizens. It happens too often!

RF: What are the things that encourage you to continue as a guardianship specialist?

Danny: As I said earlier, I love working with this population and being a voice for individuals who don’t have one. I love working with these individuals and their teams and watching everyone come together for the betterment of the persons we serve. I also love when our individuals are in homes that treat them as family members. Many of the people we serve are missing that aspect in their lives and it’s great to see when this happens.

Danny and our other two Guardianship Specialists, Danna Snedden and Amber Spinks, visit all the people on their case load during each month. This gives those individuals a friendly, familiar face to see every now and then. Each year, The Arc Pikes Peak Region hosts a dinner around the holidays, bringing everyone together to celebrate and eat some delicious food. Our Guardianship Specialists also provide support 24 hours day, 7 days a week. During the visits, Danny would have just casual conversations that brought the biggest smile to each individual. During each visit, Danny would walk around the house and observe the environment to make sure it a safe and healthy environment. He would observe and get a better understanding of the everyday environment that the person he serves is happy and enjoying where they are living. These visits give the Guardianship Specialist the opportunity to catch up with the staff at the home facility and check in to see how things are going with the individual.

The Arc Pikes Peak Region is one of the fourteen chapters in the state of Colorado, and one of the few that provides Guardianship. We have resources and information available to parents and/or family members who are interested in becoming the legal guardians of their loved one.

For more information regarding Guardianship and our Specialists, click here.