Cindy Evitts 
There Has to Be a Better Way 


Seeing people frustrated from not being able to make choices in their own life. 
Rules & regulations for residential settings were followed & managers & direct 
care staff made all the choices & people had to follow whether they wanted to or 
not. Even simple things like what to eat or I don’t want to go to day program 
because I don’t feel well could not be communicated. What drives me? The 
belief that there has to be a better way to care for people – by listening to what 
people want & adapting rules & regs to better meet needs & fit the desires of the 
person & help them interact with others. 

I have become more aware & compassionate since I have seen the positive 
outcomes that can occur when you listen & use the information to improve the 
situation instead of insisting on doing things the one same way. 

I am most proud of finally getting it and learning that there is more than one way 
to do something. Listening & letting others have a choice & trying to see that 
their wants are met, not just their basic needs as required by the rules & regs. 
Finding alternative ways to do things is a better way to care for people. 

My biggest challenge has been feeling competent to help make a difference. 
Learning & finding time for mentoring with all the competing priorities in life is 
difficult. I find that the knowledge I’ve gained has changed my attitude. I realize 
now that you can’t make a mistake when you try to understand someone’s needs 
& wants. The only mistake is not doing anything & allowing current systems to 
continue unchanged. 

The experience I’d most like to share with a New Mentor is that you can’t make a 
mistake by caring & trying to help someone but you can make a tremendous 
difference & contribute to improving someone’s life when you help them to have 
a voice. My attitude has changed so much through/from becoming a Mentor & I 
need to figure out how to adapt my own life to incorporate this information into 2 
other areas I am involved with – Autism Awareness & Family Mental Health 
Awareness. 

Cynthia 
J. 
Evitts 
6/23/07