Testimonials:

January 23, 2007 - "Kaye Christian"

I first became aware of the wonderful people and the great work they do at NMPASI when I needed to become a notary public for my employment position. Part of the lengthy process to become a notary involved filling out an application that had a question asking “Have you ever been adjudged incompetent or been treated for mental illness?” Having to mark the “yes” box on a form with questions designed to have all “no” answers made me feel a little uncomfortable, but I certainly was not going to lie to the attorney generals office. When I followed up on the processing of my notary with a friend that works at the AG’s office, I was told I needed to call and talk to someone named Vivian. There was a problem with one of the questions on my application. I knew it could only be one question so I first called NMPASI to see if AG’s office could deny my request to become a notary because I had been treated for mental illness. I was informed that not only could they not deny me but the wording in that question was clearly against the Americans with Disabilities Act. I had a choice to either open a case against the AG’s office or, NMPASI could write a kind letter suggesting more appropriate wording. NMPASI did write that letter and now no one ever has to feel like I did when I truthfully answered that question. The wording was changed to a question that could easily be answered no. I later found out that I was the first to ever answer that question yes and they didn’t know what to do. The people at NMPASI are working hard to help protect people with disabilities in the CNMI.

Kaye Christian is a Consumer Advocate, Member of the Mental Health Planning Council at CHC, and Chairperson of the Protection and Advocacy of Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Advisory Council at NMPASI. That position automatically sits on the NMPASI Board of Directors. She is also the President of the NAMI NMI Chapter, a non profit corporation to advocate for individuals with mental illness and work toward reducing the stigma of mental illness in the CNMI. The NAMI organization signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CGC and Public Health in October of 2005 and has provided staffing to assure the Clubhouse remains open at least 25 hours per week. Kaye has been a Clubhouse volunteer, and the organizer of Friday night activities and events since July 2005.

January 23, 2007 - Thanks for the support Kaye
Followed up by: Gregory Borja

January 23, 2007 - "M.L."

Hello, my name is M.L., I am a thirty eight year old Carolinian male with a mental illness. I have to express my appreciation for the NMPASI team as they have helped me with many things in my life to make it better.

To begin, I was looking for a job with a local gas station, but was told by the manager that I would not qualify for the job, because he thought that I might pour gasoline on my customers and light them on fire. I then called NMPASI, and immediately they appointed two advocates for visit the gas to protect my rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The two advocates visited the manager, but he was uncooperative and insisted that his customer’s safety was priority, even after my advocates informed him that it was my right not to be judged because of my disability. The advocates then met with the corporate head of the gas station and they were informed of the Americans with Disabilities Act and they agreed that the manager was out of line. They apologized and then hired me immediately and gave me two locations to choose from instead of just the location I had visited.

NMPASI has also helped me by accepting me to be an active member of the PAIMI Advisory Council as a primary consumer. I have been serving in this capacity since 1998.

If you need help, and people believe that your disability is the reason why a service, program or job will not accept you, please go to NMPASI. I know they will help you.

January 23, 2007 - "T.O."

NMPASI personnel met with a 50 year old Carolinian Male from Garapan who gave his personal testimony to NMPASI for use with this new Updated 2007 Website (www.nmpasi.com).

In 2006, Mr. T.O. was unable to get home modifications from housing to allow him to live in more comfort at his residency in Garapan, he turned to NMPASI who negotiated and mediated with housing to produce the results he needed for his home. Now, he and his family live in a more comfortable and accommodating home.

Aside from this, NMPASI personnel also invited T.O. and his family to become active members in the community by joining workshops and meetings that pertained to the matters and issues surrounding people with disabilities in the CNMI. As a result, T.O. is currently a member of a local CNMI support group called the Center for Living Independently or CLI.