4U Case Management

08/05/2025

This is what it’s all about.

07/09/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19B1NWLcwh/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I was visiting an intellectual and developmental disability service when a young autistic man walked up to me and looked me straight in the eye. I began to introduce myself, but before I could finish, the service manager cut in, “He’s level 3, he's severe!” she barked. The young man looked down at his hands, turned, and walked away.

I wasn’t told his name, how he communicates, what he loves, what makes him laugh. The label had spoken so loudly, it drowned out everything else. I felt a wave of sadness and quiet anger, not just at the words, but at how quickly they erased the person standing right in front of me.

“Severe,” she called him, and just like that, expectations get lowered. Don’t expect too much. Don’t try too hard. Don’t listen too closely. When labels are used in this way, they don’t describe people; they describe how others have chosen to treat them.

The thing is, people aren’t products on a shelf. You can’t line them up and rank them mild, moderate, severe like grades of cheese or weather alerts. The problem with this kind of labeling is that it flattens people. It turns rich, complex human lives into medical shorthand.

What’s “mild” about struggling to make friends? What’s “severe” about needing help to speak but having deep insight to share?

People are more than their support needs. When we use labels like this we’re not supporting them, we’re limiting them. The truth is, everyone communicates, everyone connects, and everyone deserves to be seen as fully human. Let’s not let a label get in the way of that.

Instead of reaching for labels, let’s reach for understanding. Say how someone communicates, what brings them comfort, what excites them, what they want from the world.

Our support should start with listening, not sorting. When we lead with curiosity and respect, we open the door to real connection, and that’s where true support begins.
..

ID: Man standing looking at his iPad. Words over his eyes read 'Severe Autism.' Text above image reads: Why you need to stop ranking autistic people.

03/27/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16DD5nRN8J/?mibextid=wwXIfr

01/06/2025

2 great years already. Supporting individuals who have a developmental disability to live their lives as independent as possible is my jam. I love what I do.

03/01/2024

Embracing uniqueness this March for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! 💙 ‘Our differences make us extraordinary.’ Did you know that approximately 1 in 6 children in the U.S. has a developmental disability? Let’s foster understanding, inclusion, and support for all abilities.

01/06/2024

I can’t believe it’s been one year already. I’m so happy to provide conflict free case management and service coordination to all the individuals we support.

08/18/2023

4U Case Management officially became a Licensed Case Management Agency today by the State of NH.

05/26/2023

If you want to learn more about changes to Participant Direct Services come watch Mindy.

New Hampshire has made changes to Participant Directed Services and for individuals and families who are PDMS/PDS need to know when the changes will be implemented for their family.

Community Support Network, Inc (CSNI) is proud to host Mindy Huckins, Senior Director of Elder and Participant Directed Service for Gateways presentation on Participant Directed Service Changes. Please join us for this free, live webinar on Tuesday, June 6th from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.

This information session will provide an update on the changes 2023 and there will be opportunities throughout the presentation and at the end for questions.

Webinar on changes to PDMS in New Hampshire

04/02/2023

Light it up blue for Autism Acceptance Day!!!

04/01/2023

03/06/2023

We need to find an alternative to seclusion room’s immediately!

At Lives in the Balance, we don’t just call attention to the harm of corporal punishment, restraint, seclusion, suspension, expulsion, detentions, and police referrals…we also help schools and facilities implement an evidence-based model of care that helps dramatically reduce or eliminate these ...