I am writing this with a heavy heart, as a dear friend of mine, Mignon Reisky, was failed by a system that should have supported her. Mignon has been working for Delaware Valley School District as an Instructional Assistant (IA) for the past 5 years. Mignon works in a Middle School Autistic Support classroom with high-acuity students who have intense behavioral and emotional support needs. Some of these students are non-verbal, leading to them engaging in impulsive behaviors, and at times becoming aggressive. As an IA, or any professional working in this field, you know that being injured on the job is a very real possibility. Working with these children is a job that takes kindness, empathy, and patience. Often these children become aggressive for no observable "reason," lashing out at those around them and/or injuring themselves. As an IA, it is part of your responsibility to keep your students safe from both themselves and other peers. Professionals in this field are willing to put themselves in harm's way to prevent a student from danger. Like many IA's and professionals in this field, they chose to work in dangerous conditions and put themselves at risk to keep these kids safe and help them develop skills that help them to grow and thrive. Part of this risk is physical health; most, if not all professionals who work with children with mental health diagnoses, intellectual disabilities, etc. are injured while at work on more than one occasion. These employees rely on their employers to support them when these injuries arise, but unfortunately, that was not the case for Mignon. In March of 2024, Mignon was injured at work while protecting one of her students from becoming injured themself. While using her body to block her student from falling down several stairs, Mignon ended up falling to the ground and sustaining serious injuries. This fall led to months of intense pain and misery, resulting in a total hip replacement operation. From March through the end of July, Mignon lived in intense pain; unable to complete everyday tasks such as walking, sitting, standing, driving, or caring for herself and her son, until she was finally able to undergo her operation just last week on July 25th. Mignon is a single mom to her son, Kerreck, who has multiple mental health and intellectual disabilities including Autism and Down Syndrome. Kerreck is nonverbal and requires 1:1 around-the-clock supervision and care. Kerreck relies on Mignon for practically all aspects of life, from toileting, eating, and bathing to transportation to his several doctors' appointments, activities, care meetings, etc. Mignon has been raising her son on her own his whole life and has been able to make ends meet despite surviving on one income, but when Mignon's injury forced her to be out of work, they were left with no income, no support, and nowhere to turn. Mignon has not been able to work since March, and only received workers comp from March-May, leaving her with no income since May. Mignon suffered through her injury for far longer than necessary, due to the fact that she was forced to await surgery for nearly 6 months, causing even more long-term damage to her body on top of enduring unnecessary, avoidable pain. Throughout the course of almost 6 months that Mignon spent living with her injury she went without income. Being a single parent, especially a single parent to a child with multiple disabilities, Mignon lives paycheck to paycheck and relies on her income to survive. Missing just a day of work can be detrimental to Americans living in our economy, but missing 6 months of work has been a financial nightmare for Mignon. With no way to pay important bills, she has been forced to bare stressful financial decisions and make difficult choices for herself and her son, resulting in finding herself in a deep financial hole. Mignon is now at a point where she has no options left, and has been coping with the very real possibility of losing her family home. Mignon is a member of the Board of Directors for a local Non-Profit Organization, Pike Autism Support Services. Mignon has been involved with this orginization for nearly 20 years, engaging in volunteer work, community support, serving as an advocate, and so much more. Prior to her injury, Mignon spent her Saturdays leading a hiking group in Milford where she guided groups of disabled individuals on hikes through the Poconos. Mignon loves the outdoors and enjoyed an active lifestyle until this became impossible for her. Mignon is the most empathetic, caring, and giving person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I have personally witnessed Mignon quite literally reach into her pocket and give away her last dollar to someone in need on more than one occasion. Mignon is the person that is always there when others are in need, but would never ask for help for themselves. Mignon has a huge heart and is loved by everyone who knows her. Now that Mignon was finally able to undergo this operation just last week, she hopes to return to work at the start of the 2024 school year and plans to continue to work with this population. Mignon is dedicated to aiding these children and making a difference in their lives. Mignon is an example of what we should all aim to be in life; selfless, compassionate, and kind. She is someone who has spent her life supporting others, and I am hopeful that her community can show her this same compassion. Please consider contributing to Mignon and her family through this extremely difficult time, and help her ability rest and recover from her operation at ease knowing that she and her son are not alone.
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