![]() |
|||||||||
| Home | Resource Links | Forms | Newsletter | FAQ | Contact Us | About Us | Site Map | ![]() |
|
About UsAfter being overwhelmed on a daily basis by phone calls from parents needing help we could not deny the obvious need to make the wealth of information locked up in Linda's head available on a much broader scale. The question was...HOW? After identifying the need it wasn't long before we realized the best way to do this would be through a website where the information would become readily available to the entire public (and Linda could take some time to have the phone surgically removed from her head). It is our sincere hope that the work we have done will be an invaluable resource for those seeking help in navigating the expansive world of special needs. Linda JorgensenLinda began working in a sheltered workshop for the disabled as a work coach, bus aide, and general assistant at age 14. After 3 years, Linda moved on to the Utah Army National Guard. There she received training in combat medicine, operating room management and operations, as a surgical technician, public health implementation and management, and direct patient care. After 7 years of Army National Guard service, Linda transferred to the Utah Air National Guard. She has served as an NCO/NCOIC designated by command working as an organizational manager, instructor, instructor trainer, program evaluator, clinic coordinator, emergency medical technician (licensed EMT), and as a licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) providing direct patient care in multiple treatment settings. She studied nursing and graduated from the Military Academy of Health Sciences at Fort Sam Houston, Texas and Utah Technical College in Taylorsville. Linda maintains a current Utah State LPN license. While maintaining active National Guard status, Linda worked as a civilian EMT for Salt Lake County, a safety coordinator for a large corporation and as an agency staff relief nurse. She has worked in a large variety of health care settings including rehabilitation services. In 24 years of licensure she has done everything from home health to multi-specialty hospital staffing. Linda has assisted several public entities in making safe accessibility changes to existing buildings to increase safe access for the public with special accessibility needs. These include several church buildings in 3 Utah Counties, school facilities in 2 Utah School Districts and several private homes on the Wasatch Front. Linda is currently on inactive status with the National Guard but continues to support her husband, an Air Force Reservist on contiguous Active Duty orders. She is a volunteer parent mentor assisting new parents in obtaining services and information unique to their specific situations and functions as an independent facilitator/coordinator for families needing assistance in gaining services and benefits while navigating unusual circumstances. On occasion Linda helps families and hospital staff by facilitating safe transfer of medically fragile individuals between states and various hospital facilities. During the Fall of 2006 and early Spring of 2007 Linda assisted the Utah Department of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD) in writing several chapters of the state Self Administered Services (SAS) Parent Guidebook that was published and distributed for parent use, state wide. Currently Linda is a resource specialist for the Traumatic Brain Injury Working Group/Northern Utah and is participating in a seven week studio course at the University of Utah School of Architecture working with graduate students using variations of Universal Design in single family homes. (Yes, there is a difference between ADA compliance and real life accessibility) Personally, Linda has a 23-year-old daughter who, for the first 7 years of her life, did not have a firm diagnosis. After calling it "Madison Syndrome" during those first years, for insurance purposes, she was placed under a revised diagnosis. Madison's diagnosis is now called "Cerebral Palsy - Secondary to unknown etiology". Linda and Madison, together, have worked with Easter Seals of Utah and several other community organizations. Linda currently lives in the Intermountain West with her (long suffering) husband Clark, son Chase, and daughter Madison. Linda has 2 stepdaughters and 3 grandchildren. |
||
© June 2004-March 2010 Special Needs Resource Project |