The state-run developmental center in American Fork employs various types of therapists, nurses and psychologists to work with its 137 men and 94 women. But the bulk of its 720 workers are called developmentalists — essentially aides who see to residents' everyday needs.

Days are fairly regimented. Each resident has a routine mapped out from dawn to dusk. Workers on the two day shifts spend much of it on their feet. Afternoon workers will perform many of the same tasks as the morning crew only in reverse — dinner, personal care, bath, undressing and dressing for bed. Lights are out around 9 p.m. The graveyard shift makes regular bed checks.

The job's entry level pay is about $9 an hour but offers a good benefits package. Turnover is high, though there are some longtimers.

New hires attend a two-week training course, teaching the center's personal choice philosophy, techniques to deal with difficult individuals, how to operate mechanical lifts, abuse prevention and first aid. Additional instruction and refreshers are provided annually.

"It's the best job I've ever had," said Lillian Ellsworth, who has worked at the center for four years. "I guess it just depends on the person. Some people can't do this kind of work, and some people are meant to do it."

Doug Ralphs quit the cabinetry business looking for something else to do. "I hired on for just a few months and stayed here 25 years," he said.

He recalls the time when many residents were kept in cribs all day. He fed, changed and repositioned them. Nowadays, they have a full schedule of activities and therapies he sees them through each day. They might go horseback riding or swimming. He also tends to their personal hygiene.

Ralphs, 55, agrees the job isn't for everyone but says it works for him.

"You probably hear this lots," he says trying to explain why he has stayed around so long. "It's the love for the folks."

But, Ralphs says, there is another reason, revealing he has a son, "and he's a lot like Roger." Like Roger, his 24-year-old son has cerebral palsy and is mentally retarded.

"You do think that could be me," he said.

Golden Rule

Sadly, Ralphs has seen some abuse over the years, mostly borne of frustration that results in a worker hurting a resident, he said.

The American Fork Police Department assigns an officer to the center 20 hours a week to investigate abuse claims and other crimes. Detective Mark Dell'Ergo this past week arrested an employee for striking a resident in the face, but he said that doesn't happen often.

"Rarely do you have a staff member hit somebody," he said, adding incidents usually involve dragging or pushing. "It's a fairly tight facility. They do a good job of policing themselves."

Workers generally seem to apply the Golden Rule.