Wings of the Dove
Interview with UDW Website Designer

Friday, July 2, 2004

In less than two years, UDW client Kristine Loomis of Sky Valley, CA has made huge impacts on our union. She was instrumental in Riverside County's first contract, been an effective voice for UDW's clients, and launched UDW's new Web site on Thursday, July 1st, 2004.

Kristine was born in Lynwood, WA, and raised in British Columbia, Canada.  Her previous work experience includes research in the technical fields of microbiology, mycology, and microscopy.   She was an avid traveler and enjoyed spending time in nature.

In her early 20s Kristine moved to California, and over a 20 year period developed severe rheumatoid arthritis which has left her severely disabled.  Although she can still walk with assistance, using two canes, her body is extremely rigid and at times she is bedridden.  Nowadays, she usually gets around in a wheelchair in a reclined position, which is the posture she produced the entire Web site.

"I'm now extremely disabled and this has changed my life drastically, but at least it happened gradually which allowed me to mentally adjust to the changes," Kristine said.

For the past six years, she has been taking community college courses to earn her computer science degree.  Recently the Wings of The Dove Editor interviewed Kristine about the new UDW Web site.  Here are some excerpts from their interview.

Why did you do the Web site project?

I always have deeply and passionately believed in the healing qualities of communication.

My teachers said I was good at writing, graphic arts, and computer programming.   I combined all of those skills and started working with Web pages.  I choose to contribute to UDW because I believe in what they are doing; to change the perception of home care workers on a fundamental level.  Home care workers are often perceived as welfare recipients, which they are not.  These hard working and compassionate individuals are an integral part of our community and our society.  Their services are badly needed.

UDW has been working for many years to educate people about this little recognized segment of society.  If the union has easier and less costly means of reaching out to their membership, a lot of issues can be solved.  We can be a stronger union when more information is accessible.  The Web site creates a virtual workplace because home care workers are unique in their isolation -- they don't have a workplace to network.

What is your vision for the new Web site?

My primary motivation is to provide a forum for communications for home care workers and clients to break the isolation of working from home, find out what people in this situation are experiencing; to share tips on how to deal with the personal and difficult situations.

Also important, the Web site will provide resources to contact the larger community, such as political representatives to encourage them to make a difference in how elderly and disabled people and home care workers are perceived.  Local bargaining teams also will have access to sample letters, procedures, and talking points.  For UDW staff, the Web site is an opportunity to integrate home care workers who can contribute to the union, a structure where forms, polls can be taken, and information shared.

My real passion is for home care workers and clients to get involved, but their time must be maximized because I know their energy is often very limited.  I believe however, that these people have huge potential to contribute and need a forum for their voices to be heard. 

What do you want people to know about the Web site?

This is a place for everyone, where members can contribute and easily get information.  I am interested in hearing individuals' stories and putting them out there, as well as the union sharing what they are doing at the political level for home care workers.  I strongly believe this is a two-way street, a place for the membership and union to connect.

Personal Note -

I would also like to thank my incredible husband Chris, who has been my home care provider for 14 years. Chris has not only done the domestic and personal care, but has driven me to college classes, researched alternative health care when western medicine had no answers, and been my unfailing best friend through thick and thin. Without his help I probably would not have survived, and certainly not have come as far as I have.  Chris has not only been my main support, but my inspiration and motivation to help others that are doing what he does.

I think home care workers are the unsung heroes of our time!