SRCI / Special Needs inmate - need guidance.

Micri Jolos · #1 09-14-2004, 12:50 PM

All,

This is my first post and I appreciate being able to ask this question in this forum.

My brother has been placed at Snake River just recently. In an altercation with another inmate his glasses (he is severly near sighted) were broken. He has been cleared of any wrong doing, but the fellow who attacked him I am afraid will be nursing a terrible grudge... but that's not the immediate help he needs.

My brother needs a new pair of eyeglasses pronto. Not only for self defense but also as a means to communicate with other prisoners. His hearing aid (he is almost completely deaf) is only marginal so to compensate he READS LIPS. If he cannot see the lips of the person talking and / or shouting at him he doesn't know what's going on... He is a sitting duck.

I have written an email to Lanny Ryals with a request for information on replacement eyeglasses (how to send, what they can be made of etc.) as well as a request for how info on how to get his better hearing aid repaired. He hasn't responded yet but it's only been a day or two.

Really need some guidance here. I am not in Oregon and have to do all this from a distance. If anyone has some adivce they're moved to share I'd really appreciate it.

God bless you all and the those you love from afar this day.

Micri

JJT · #2 09-14-2004, 01:48 PM

I haven't got that information at my finger tips... let me do some research for you...

Hopefully someone will come along......

JJT

Micri Jolos · #3 09-14-2004, 04:41 PM

Okay,

Thanks for the offer to help! Since I posted this morning I had a burst of inspiration and was able to contact an individual in Medical Services at SRCI who was willing to give me her time and offer help.

To get my brother glasses, he needs to request and receive a package authorization to receive these glasses. I can send them myself, and she stressed that the case must be soft (absolutely no hard plastic) and the glasses materials can be of whatever material is available ( wire frames, plastic frames, all are acceptable).

Now, about my brother's hearing aid, she said she will call him in to get that going (repair, etc). I have offered to bear the expenses in this area. He can go in to debt to get his good aid repaired and I can deposit funds on his behalf specifically to take care of his medical debt.

She also gave me the number of his counselor so I can get up to speed on his other issues (inmate violence against him and his general safety).

I'm more hopeful than I was this morning. Thank you for offering this forum. It helps!

one_luv · #4 09-14-2004, 06:35 PM

My husband has been in Oregon DOC for 4 years, so I kind of know the ropes. be aware that to have his glasses made outside the prison, you have to have the prescription. He can have glasses made in there if he has the money on his books. It is better for them to order the glasses in there, in case there is a problem and they need to be fixed/adjusted- then he doesn't have to send them back to you. If he already has his written prescription, you're fine.
Your brother is lucky he has you. Today you made a difference.

Zelda50 · #5 09-14-2004, 06:55 PM

Also, just for future reference if you have trouble getting prison staff to respond to issues regarding your brother: You could try calling the Advocacy Center in Portland at 503-243-2081. They have attorneys on staff and they advocate for persons with physical disabilities, even if they are incarcerated. Zelda

JJT · #6 09-14-2004, 07:24 PM

Zelda!! You are wonderful!! I am going to copy and paste that phone number into the Resource Thread!!!

Got anymore????

JJT

jbreadon · #7 09-23-2004, 12:33 PM

Thanks for posting the Advocacy #, very helpful for all.
Also to Micri Jolos. You will truly be a blessing to your brother. I will keep him in my prayers.
My son is in Santiam Correctional in Salem. I do have a friend who has a brother in law at Snake River though. If you ever feel like passing on your brother's name I would pass it to friend and he could have his brother in law maybe keep a lookout for your brother.
You can post reply or reply VIA PM. (personal email address removed per PTO policy)

kowgirl67 · #8 04-17-2006, 04:40 AM

Do you have the name and email address of his counsellor?
I usually contact my fiance's counsellor if there's any problems.
They can usually help or tell you who to contact if they can't do it themselves.
My fiance is also extremely well respected at SRCI and is a great guy if you wanted to pass on your brother's name to me I could ask him to keep an eye out. He's always willing to help anyone.