Cathy Ludlum

Cathy Ludlum’s personal and professional activities focus on the inclusion of people with disabilities in all areas of community life. As a person with a disability and an employer of personal assistants since 1988, Cathy brings an extensive background in the recruitment, hiring, and management of support staff. She has written several books, including a manual on how to hire personal assistants.

Most recently, as the Employer Liaison for the Connecticut Association of Personal Assistants (CTAPA), Cathy has been assisting employers by providing information about Medicaid waiver programs, management tips, and creative brainstorming.

Cathy Ludlum is an associate of the SRV Implementation Project, working on the issue of the vulnerability of people with impairments in medical settings.  She teaches workshops with Jo Massarelli on medical safeguarding and on demystifying assisted hydration and nutrition, or what it is like to have a g-tube.

Cathy has lived independently (with support) since 1992.

Medical safeguarding: Addressing vulnerability in medical settings

It seems at odds to think that safeguarding is necessary in healthcare settings such as hospitals. After all, all medical settings, especially hospitals, are places filled with talented health professionals whose edict is to do no harm. Yet the experience of many people with disability (and other marginalised groups, including the elderly and people with poor mental health) is that whenever they are hospitalised, they are exposed to grave dangers that jeopardise their health and safety.

In this powerful session, Jo Massarelli and Cathy Ludlum explored what needs to be done to safeguard vulnerable people in a healthcare setting. From the perspective of an advocate and a person who manages her own practical care, they shared practical information about how to ensure good outcomes during hospital stays.

Learn about the other conference speakers and their presentations

Pre-conference webinars

• Webinar 1 – Decision-making in everyday life – Janet Klees
• Webinar 2 – Medical safeguarding – Jo Massarelli and Cathy Ludlum
• Webinar 3 – Now is the time for vision – Darcy Elks

Main conference

• Never too late to get a life – Cathy McMahon and Josey McMahon
• The secrets of fabulous skin self-direction – Margaret Ward
• What happens when I cark it? – Linda Hughes
• Planning ahead: Safeguarding decision-making – Helen Connolly
• The importance of trust and relationship in supported decision-making – Kim Roots
• Dream big! – Laura Esplin and Bernadette Esplin
• Building bridges to neighbourhood – Sarah Faulkner
• Safeguarding a Micro Enterprise for the future – Helen Neale
• Finding and safeguarding a job – Jan Kruger
• What’s the plan? Estate planning consideration for parents and carers – Stacey Bell
• Passing on the “How”: A sibling’s journey – Rebecca Altaffer
• It’s a long game: Planning for a great future for Valen in a constantly changing world – Ann Greer, Valen Litster, and Sally Aubrey
• How to set your Executor up for success – Stacey Bell
• Safeguarding the future: A sibling’s perspective – Libby Ellis
• Dispelling myths about the Disability Support Pension, Rent Assistance, and employment income – Paul Kruger
• Your money, your future – Carolina Albornoz
• Helping relationships flourish – Tim Bavinton
• Who is the person behind the behaviour, and what do they need? – Kane Morgan
• Safeguarding Isaac’s good life through a Service for One – Sheree Henley
• Emma Davidson MLA
• Planning future finances – Chris Oates
• Crafting and safeguarding a meaningful week for Cameron – Karen Caldwell, Cameron Zellner, and Markus Zellner