GETTING TO KNOW US!

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet with a New York State Senator, Sen. Phil Boyle. Senator Boyle sits on a number of committees and is a supporter of people with disabilities and serves Suffolk County as well as other areas. He is a Republican from the 4th Senate District who is open to communicating with his constituents and having one-on-one meetings. He is an interested and involved party to issues that pertain to people with disabilities and asked questions, about what was on my mind.

After meeting with the Senator, I invited him to visit our Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) and tour some of the features that make the ICF unique. He readily assured us he was willing to take up my invitation and set a date to come to Shoreham/Wading River and tour the facility.

One of the things I stressed to him was that we were not an institution, but a home, treating people with the respect we would afford anyone else. When people think of places like an ICF, they immediately conjure up images of large multi-storied buildings, with set routines and regimentation, which is far from the truth.

Ours is a beautiful campus cut out of the woods of Wading River, with 4 buildings, each with 3 wings, each wing is a home in itself, with its own kitchen, living room or day room, dining room and 6 bedrooms, to accommodate the coed residents. As he toured the facility, Senator Boyle was getting first-hand knowledge from our program Director and CEO, each adding to the tour a narrative that gave insight to who we are. He saw the core of the building that houses a nurse and administration for each building. Each individual can decorate their room to their liking, and all have the necessary supports that make them happy to call the ICF a home. I know from my own experiences, that my daughter Ellen loves to come home for a visit with us, but she always wants to go back to her home when she is ready.

Our residents eat when they want, do what they want in meaningful ways and are and always have been, integrated into the community, shopping, dining and enjoying the life of anyone who has no disabilities.

The State wants us to close down, they want us to take all the residents and put them in separate housing holding only 4 people to a house. The State also wants us to pay for this with no assistance from the State. There are 96 residents present at the ICF, that would mean 24 homes, the hiring of staff for all these homes, including overnight staff. It would mean more nurses would need to be hired, cooks and transportation to their day programs.

All this was conveyed to the good Senator, something he didn't realize.