Advocate leads area panel for disabled

Mickey Fonseca never expected to be struck with mental illness. He also never anticipated that he would be a leading advocate for Terrebonne Parish residents with either mental or physical limitations that often challenge their living in a world not designed to meet those challenges.

As a child, Fonseca suffered with a crooked leg bone that restricted his mobility. Later he developed spinal scoliosis. “[Medical professionals] said if I got my back fixed I would have to be in a full body cast for a year and a half,” he said. “So they didn’t do anything.”

Living with physical limitations and the pain associated with his condition was bad enough, but Fonseca’s challenge was far from over.

As he progressed into his 20s the young man started experiencing severe mood swings and depression. Was it associated somehow with his skeletal problems? Was the trauma of knowing he would just have to continue living with physical limitations too traumatic? Or was there something else involved?

“They didn’t know what was happening. I didn’t even understand it,” Fonseca said. “Various things happened and I developed mental illness.”

Fonseca, like most people with physical or mental challenges, chooses not to talk about the details of his experience or even name the initial medical findings. “Now I’m diagnosed with bi-polar [disorder],” he said.

“I thought the stigma of being with a mental illness … I didn’t have no kind of life no more. I thought I couldn’t do anything. That I had no say in things,” Fonseca said.

During a time when most young men are discovering what they are capable of doing, Fonseca found that for him life and functioning in society was something he would have to begin learning all over again.

He credits his involvement in the Start Corp., where he is employed as a peer support specialist, as helping him not only with the basics of living, but providing a springboard toward his advocacy for others with mental and physical limitations.

“They provided me with a case manager,” Fonseca said. “The case manager came and helped me take care of my money, helped me go see the doctor and even helped me get my own place [to live].”

Start Corp. is a Houma-based agency that specializes in assisting those living with mental illness to become as independent and productive as possible. The non-profit service organization offers a network of services, skills training and housing opportunities.

Start administrative assistant Mary Russo, who has known Fonseca since the two were in high school together, said that he is an example of someone unwilling to let limitations stop him. “Mickey has been an advocate for others. He is the one that got busses to running on weekends and holidays. He helps a lot of people.”

Russo mentioned the one activity Fonseca might be best known for in a public setting. As a Terrebonne resident interested in keeping up with what is going on in his community, he attends every parish council meeting.

Attending those meetings, which he confirmed far too many people write off as being dull and not worth their time, offered Fonseca and a place of recognition, placed him in a leadership capacity and opened an opportunity he hopes can ultimately help the disabled residents throughout the region.

In May 2009, The Terrebonne Parish Council had designated that month as better hearing and speech month. Fonseca recognized an opportunity to expand that sentiment and provide a service more significant than the ink of official proclamation on a piece of paper.

“I saw that the community needed something for the disabled community to have as a sounding board,” Fonseca said. “So I asked the parish council to form a committee so people have a place to go if they have disability issues, where we can talk about it and get it taken care of.”

The council considered what Fonseca proposed and established the Terrebonne Parish Advisory Committee for Disability Affairs. They also named Fonseca to chair that body. Other committee members include volunteers representing various community agencies and include: Erica Null, Kathleen Cuneo, Dale Norred, Michael Ward, Gordon Landry, Cheryl Turner, Kay Thibodeaux and Trudy Hebert.

The disability advisory committee meets on the fourth Thursday of every month in the Terrebonne government tower parish council meeting room at 5:30 p.m.

Fonseca said the advisory board is designed to take on issues from uneven sidewalk concerns, to accessibility issues, to matters of discrimination against the disabled. On Thursday, among other business, they intend to modify their mission statement and look at expanding their influence.

“We’re just getting started,” Fonseca said. “People can come to us to talk about their problems and we can make recommendations to the [parish] council so they can do something about it. I want [the public] to understand that the disability community are people too.”

Now, at the age of 47, Fonseca has become an advocate so others that know the hardships he has known will also discover the same opportunities. He confirmed that both those with and without mental and physical limitations can benefit from health oriented services and committees that work to make a difference. He knows it more than he ever expected.

Mickey Fonseca works as a peer support specialist for Start Corp. along with peer-to-peer consultant Barbara Smith. Fonseca is credited with leading the Terrebonne Parish Advisory Committee for Disabled Affairs and advancing equal access and opportunity throughout the parish. MIKE NIXON