Who Are Your Neighbors?

Plans to locate a group home for eight children on the autism spectrum in Union on Long Island were met with outcry at a town board meeting, according to yesterday's PressConnects of Greater Binghamton. Concerns were raised about the children being subjected to "treatment research" and about the location being "dangerous because of a steep drop-off behind the site." The proposed group home is one of three such planned under an initiative of the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD). According to Nicole. A. Weinstein, acting public information director for OMRDD:

........... the Prescott Avenue site was big enough to accommodate the house and provide land for outside recreational use. It also is in a quiet, residential neighborhood, she said.

"This is important to address possible sensitivities to noise, as well as safety concerns - not wanting to be on a high-traffic road," Weinstein wrote.

The site is relatively close to restaurants, parks and stores, important for community integration, Weinstein said.

The initial plan for the house was that it be a two-family duplex, with four individuals housed in each unit, but this plan would not have fallen "within the town's zoning for that area - single-family home."

A few, but more and more families we know have been talking about buying houses now or soon for their kids on the spectrum and turning these into group homes. One family I spoke to said that they are joining other families to purchase a house and have their children (who are around Charlie's age and a bit younger) start using it and living in it, all with the intent of preparing their kids to be familiar in the house that could well be where they are for their lifespan. The PressConnects article reminds me that, more than just making sure you've a house (and funds for the house), you've got to check out local zoning regulations and deal with the town board.

And, one also wonders about the possibility about neighbors and residents having unexpressed reservations about a group home in their neighborhood. Ironically, I could see Charlie---if he's living (as we hope) in some kind of residence in the community being a quite good neighbor. Once he got into a routine of taking care of the house---mowing the lawn, taking out the garbage, cleaning, and more---I suspect he'd be inclined to do these regularly. Charlie's often most peaceful when things are in an established routine and his main activities would perhaps, fall into a predictable sequence of work, after-work activities, taking care of the house, hanging in the front yard. Neighbors would have the assurance of the same residents in the house for a long period of time. (A documentary called The Key of G----see also a recent post by Dora---show such a community-based residential model; in The Key of G, a young man named Gannet, who has physical and developmental disabilities, lives with a regular support staff in a house in San Francisco.)

I don't know if all that might work out; it's a hope. It's why we're more than totally behind New Jersey De-Institutionalization Bill A3625. (And if you haven't, support this action alert on A3625). It's so important that Charlie and individuals on the autism spectrum live in and be part of the community. The longer they are shut away, the less people will know about autism and developmental and other disabilities; the less they'll know about the individuals who have such diagnoses, and the less inclined they well may be to live with and among individuals with disabilities.

Is there anyone on the spectrum or with a disability who lives in your neighborhood? Do you know?

Image from NorcalBlogs.