Making a Difference in Your Community : The Other Side of the Real-Life Forrest Gumps

When Ken Lane saw the movie, “Forrest Gump,” he knew something was missing.

“He was adorable,” said Lane, co-director of the day program at The Adult Skills Center in Van Nuys. “He was endearing, but where was that other side?”

The movie in which actor Tom Hanks plays a man with an IQ of 75--making him a high-functioning mentally retarded person--did not portray the truths of that misunderstood population, according to Lane.

“Personally, there are very few films about the mentally retarded that hit the mark,” said Lane, 44, who is looking for volunteers for his program, which trains the mentally handicapped to live independently.

But volunteers should have a clear view of what to expect and how to best help. “Let’s deal with the reality,” said Lane, who prefers Dustin Hoffman’s portrayal of a mentally handicapped person in the movie, “Rain Man.” “They can be annoying. They can be stubborn. They can be inflexible.”

But, he said, mentally handicapped people can be taught to overcome their emotional hurdles and function within society--learn how to take the bus, go shopping, buy fast food or plan a bowling trip.

“They can be like the rest of us,” Lane said.

Mentally handicapped people may exhibit antisocial or immature, inappropriate behavior because they have not learned better yet, he said. “But they can be trained. They can learn how to develop friendships.”

The philosophy behind the center, founded in 1979 by the Easter Seal Society, is to give clients the skills and self-confidence they need to function in society.

“As soon as that happens, the whole world opens up to them,” Lane said. The agency, which became an independent nonprofit program in 1987, promotes responsibility in its clients and teaches them there are consequences to their actions.

The program involves a lot of repetition to help the client retain new information and learn new skills.

“For the most part, the way the world has dealt with the mentally retarded is, ‘Ain’t they cute,’ ” said Lane, citing the “Forrest Gump” example. But such treatment does not prepare them for working at a job, he said.

Still, Lane knows it can be difficult to find the motivation to do something for yourself in the face of a disability. At 26, he suffered a stroke that paralyzed the left side of his body. He uses the example of himself when trying to encourage his clients to care for themselves.

“I know the feeling,” Lane said.

To volunteer, call Lane at (818) 996-3761.

Other volunteering opportunities:

Children with chronic illness and disabilities need grandparent volunteers, ages 55 or older for the Family Friends Project. Volunteers offer companionship, help with homework etc. For more information call Terry Shajirat at (818) 761-3447.

Project Caring, sponsored by Jewish Family Services of Los Angeles, is looking for small groups of volunteers to adopt nursing homes in their neighborhoods, visit monthly and bring programs of Jewish culture and holiday celebrations to residents. For more information, call Tara Eisner at (818) 905-2125.

Bet Tzedek Legal Services, a nonprofit free legal aid agency in North Hollywood, needs reception and clerical support volunteers for a minimum commitment of four hours a week. For more information, call (818) 769-0136.

Those interested in joining a new all-volunteer choir being started in North Hollywood should contact Susana Pro at (818) 906-0541. The choir, which does not have a name yet, would perform for the elderly and residents of nursing homes. Previous experience is not necessary, but an ear for music or the ability to play an instrument is helpful.

Getting Involved is a weekly listing of volunteering opportunities. Please address prospective listings to Getting Involved, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth, 91311. Or fax them to (818) 772-3338.