Acknowledgments

This report is the culmination of an intense, ongoing effort to focus attention on ADA implementation for workers with psychiatric disabilities. It would not have been possible without the vision and leadership of Jacqueline Parrish and Frances Randolph of the Community Support Program at the Center for Mental Health Services.

I am also indebted to Edie Covent and Dee Lemonds of the California Department of Mental Health and Warren Hayes of the California Department of Rehabilitation for making possible the distribution of this report to a wide audience. Their commitment to collaboration and innovation is inspiring to all of us who strive to be agents of positive change within bureaucracies.

Many colleagues willingly undertook the arduous task of reviewing the draft report. Their comments were immensely helpful. My sincere appreciation is offered to Laura Lee Hall, Kathy Kirchner, Steve Mathis, Noel Mazade, Sharon Rennert, Laura Van Tosh, and Elaine Viccora. My collaboration with Mike Masal and John Perry on the final presentation of the material was enjoyable, productive, and efficient, as always. Bruce Bimber played the true role of partner in countless ways. In addition to patiently talking me through a multitude of large and small decisions, he helped me to work when I would rather have played, and helped me to play when I needed some distance from the work.

I am thankful to those who helped me arrange interviews across the country. To respect the privacy of those interviewed, you are not named here. However, your role in opening doors to me is appreciated.

Finally, I wish to acknowledge the employees and supervisors who are featured in this report. Their willingness to share and reflect upon their experiences has created a persuasive record. I hope that my rendering is worthy of their generosity.

On Language

The words we use to describe each other are significant in both their practical effect and their symbolic meaning.

There is not consensus among persons labeled as having mental illness about preferred terminology. Language in use today includes persons with mental illnesses, persons with psychiatric disabilities, mental health consumers/survivors, ex-patients, ex-inmates, psychiatrically labeled persons, or persons with disabilities that effect mood, communication or cognition.

In this report, I most often use the term individuals with psychiatric disabilities or workers with psychiatric disabilities. I do not seek to impose my choice of labels on others, but presently find this alternative to be the most satisfactory.

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