Following this success, members applied letter-writing skills to situations in their own lives. Several people wrote letters asking facility staff to reimburse them for missing belongings. Others asked their conservators for an accounting of expenditures made on their behalf. Most importantly, members are learning that they can develop skills to make changes in their lives. Group designs its own action plans The Canyon Manor self-help group designs its own action plans for each topic.
Members establish personal and group goals, and are quick to support and encourage one another.
Each group is named for the room or unit where it meets. Most members are waiting for a determination of competency to stand trial. Group members have written to NSH's executive director about the lack of a law library. The NSH Rio Grande Room self-help group has more than doubled in size this year. Members use the group not only to learn about legal issues, such as filing writs and appeals, but also to organize themselves around shared interests.