Transcript John Porcella

A House Isn’t Always A Home:
A Perspective of Housing Needs and
Residential Issues For People with
Disabilities
Presenter:
John Porcella, PhD
Executive Director
Community Living Corp.
105 south Bedford Rd
Mount Kisco, NY 10549
914.241.2527
[email protected]
Community Living Corporation (CLC)
Founded 1990 as solution to closure of
proprietary organization in Northern
Westchester.
History of providing support to community
based living for more than 20 years, long
before it was fashionable!
Based upon a simple premise: The
disabled have done nothing wrong – why
are they treated so badly?
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Community Living Corporation (CLC)
Primarily a provider of residential services
to people with a wide range of disabilities.
Wide Range Intellectual Deficits
Psychiatric / Neurologic Diagnoses
Dual Diagnosed (Combination of
disabilities occurring concurrently)
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Reality of the Residential Environment
There is no “one size fits all”
“Apartment Living”
“Group Home Living”
“Independent Living”
Rental vs. Ownership Issues
Regulatory issues: program, physical
plant. Example - septic requirements
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CLC Housing Inventory
8 traditional single family houses with
renovations.
31 apartments. (Condo, cooperatives and
rental)
All are owned with the exception of 1
townhouse.
Two consumers live alone
Five married couples
Ages from 25 to 80 with wide range of skills
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The physical structure as a
residential reality.
Location, location, location!
Access to valued resources
Furniture, lighting, parking
Creature comforts (TV, stereo, internet access)
Neighbors must not be ignored
Willingness of the neighbors to accept us
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Parents and siblings as part of
the residential reality.
Much more has been said than written on this subject.
Historically, this has been a powerful and vociferous
group which has advocated successfully for their
children.
Planning and acquisitions can not ignore this resource.
It’s not as easy as it looks!
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Consumer Choice
& Consumer Control
Every single thing we do should be
directed at maximizing the control the
individual has over his or her environment
by allowing them to make their own
choices. These choices must be based
upon the individual’s needs and abilities.
Providing choice can not ever conflict with
the safety or welfare of the individual.
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Welcome aboard the bus!
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You can observe a lot just by
watching… (Yogi Berra)
We begin our environmental evaluation
early. We listen to statements made in
the earliest training modules. Sometimes
we hear something like, “this all sounds
nice, but I don’t think it will work with my
house”, or worse, “I’m gonna’ do it my
way, I think its better”. These are,
invariably, warning signs that warrant
immediate attention.
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Future Imperatives
Acceptance of people with disabilities as
competent, choice making adults
Life cycle planning, aging and end of life issues.
Sustainability of the existing service model in a
weakened economy and a multi billion dollar
state deficit.
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BFF (20 yrs. +)
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