A day in the life of a disabled prisoner

Disabilities can make life anywhere a heap of problems culminating with constant delays and massive stress. Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) is no exception to this, even though some effort is made to accommodate those like myself with limiting disabilities.

Most of us with disability can attest to having to learn coping skills never imagined outside of prison. Our experiences show a wide range of access problems and the level of frustration we feel on a daily basis.

For a disabled prisoner on any given day, the first morning stirrings on a prison bed are filled with pain. It takes a number of stretches and movements to even get off a cold metal bunk.

A hot shower helps unless it’s one of the electric models in certain ADA rooms. For these, it takes two to three minutes (at 10 seconds a push on a sharp, narrow, stiff button) to get warm water that occasionally spurts out scalding hot. The buttons are real nail breakers, actually breaking the skin on some of the users.

Next on the daily agenda is getting out of the cell door to get to chow. On a good day with good staff, the five-minute warning will be announced for breakfast release, but we usually get the “unlock ambush” and have to try several times to catch the door.

Then the bizarre wait for an ADA pusher begins since we have anywhere from six to 50 wheelchairs in a given building and less than three able-bodied workers available at any time.

Disabled residents have actually missed meals waiting for a pusher to get them to chow.

ADA workers currently “relay” up to 10 wheelchairs every meal every day, due to the shortage of capable pushers and volunteers.

Problems with special diets occur daily, as the food is delivered from the medical kitchen in building 805. If items are missing, a call can be made from the yard chow hall to replace needed food. Resident Rita Meserve has reported numerous problems.

“I am on the Renal diet that restricts proteins and certain minerals like potassium,” Meserve said. “I still get a lot of broccolis and bananas in spite of constant complaints. I don’t get 1800 calories consistently. The muffins are almost never in the lunch bags. It takes more than a phone call to fix these kinds of problems. And the replacements have to come all the way from the infirmary kitchen.”

Dining staff have been supportive in dealing with missing food, but the bottom line is that no one knows for sure what is supposed to be on each diet and on the tray each day.

The shortage of ADA workers creates the similar problems for getting to our programs. Education classes have been missed, we’ve been dropped from groups we need after missing too often, or we can’t make it to chapel for worship.

All these concerns have been reported monthly to the Inmate Advisory Council. ADA Associate Warden Michael Dunn said he is fully committed to addressing this problem with administration and Sacramento.

Announcements over the PA system are often missed and not just by deaf or hearing impaired. The system is old, defective and decrepit, so speakers are barely understood.

The “Flashing Lights” and bulletin boards are rarely used, so no one gets a heads-up for unlocks or any important messages, like shopping. Meserve, for example, is designated as deaf and said she has to remind staff continuously to flash lights for unlocks and announcements.

“It’s especially tough to get out of the room when regular staff is not here or we’re our unit program is modified,” Meserve said. “If broadcasts could be repeated twice with IP’s name, last two digits of the ID and room number, we might have a chance to find out what was announced.”

Some dispatcher training would go a long way to solving this problem. At least, using a normal tone instead of bellowing or shrieking would be tremendously helpful. Luckily, some disabled IPs have friends and cellmates who can occasionally translate the garble into understandable information.

Maneuvering the degraded asphalt throughout this facility has pits, ridges and potholes which present a great danger to anyone using a walker or pushing a wheelchair. It’s a long walk from the housing units to any building behind work change. Tipping over happens regularly and is usually not reported unless the injury is significant. The rough surface grinds down the wheels, which can cause the brakes to fail. Resident Virgie Moor experienced this and decided to change jobs for a safer commute.

“I had to replace my walker,” she said. “I couldn’t cope with the instability.”

Repairs to the pathways have been delayed for years, although some areas have been patched-up on a complaint basis. We are looking forward to some support by CDCR Administration as some of these plans have been pending since the ADA audit in 2015.

It is significant to remember that at one time we did not even have any ADA helpers so we have seen positive changes over the years. Some of the old timers from the 90’s recall when porters did all the pushing, fetching and carrying for ADA residents and many of us offer special thanks to those who still volunteer for these tasks.

“I’ve seen some great improvements over the years,” said resident Donna Andrews. “Our local administration seems willing to help. We can all take a more proactive approach and work with staff and Medical more.”

Many ADA class members have to endure transport to an outside medical facility for care. This is one of our worst experiences as the vans do not accommodate mobility impaired residents appropriately or even comfortably.

The rides often take several hours in a cramped cage on hard seating. Vans are not clean, much less disinfected, so no one feels safe going out to medical.

Resident Donna Lee has gone out recently and reported these continuing issues.

“The vans get dirtier every trip,” she said. “I have filed 602’s, but see no improvement.”

This view is shared by some who have refused care rather than ride in the vans. The good news is that plans are being discussed with Plant Operations to set up a cleaning schedule for the vans here on grounds. Captain K. Seeger, Health Care Access, has already approved this procedure.

Dunn and his staff encourage suggestions for improvements. There are two ADA Compliance Sergeants whose rounds include all the units and facilities. Sgt. Vang is assigned to A/B Yards and can be approached in the mornings. Sgt. Garcia, assigned to C/D Yards, is also available during second watch.

“We are here to help and can assist IPs in a variety of ways,” said Dunn, adding a reminder to all ADA class members, “Remember to utilize the 1824 Accommodation form for concerns about access to programs, as well as physical issues. Talk to IAC Representatives. Put in a 7263 Request for assistance from Medical. We have numerous ways to help anyone with a problem. Your safety is important to us.”

It is important to use the institutional process for reporting every problem on the form 602, which now includes an 1824 section.

So, at the end of the day, ADA residents are giving the facility a mixed review as we face the challenges of positive programming in an environment built without a thought to the disabled or elderly.

As many of us have learned, we have to advocate for ourselves. Keep reporting obstacles to our reasonable access all the way up the chain of command.

For our safety and sanity, we must take the time and make the effort to be part of the solution to these issues. Time has a way of catching up to all of us.