Re: Support for the closure of Michener Centre and community living
I commend Premier Alison Redford and her government for doing the right thing — closing down Michener Centre is long overdue!
Let’s not forgot the heartbreaking stories of neglect, abuse and indignity. Many former residents share haunting memories of the time they spent there; it is those stories that would have me feeling devastated if someone ever suggested my son would be better served there.
As a society, we need to put more energy into accepting social responsibility for all people with disabilities and less energy into maintaining outdated facilities that are no longer needed.
Many of us: families, professionals, and self-advocates celebrate this closure as a step towards a safer and more supportive world for everyone.
There are thousands of families who are caring for complex, medically fragile loved ones, with multiple needs in the comfort and warmth of home and community. We support our son to live a full and rich life at school, home and in our community with hopes and dreams for him to have a variety of meaningful relationships and experiences throughout his life. We are supported by friends, family, neighbours, advocates, strangers, teachers, assistants, social workers, doctors, nurses, therapists, and dieticians.
I commend the underpaid community support staff — they may not have full bank accounts and most certainly deserve more, but their passion and heart motivate them to do an outstanding job!
I’m not claiming that everything is perfect; the orchestration of the supports that are needed to care for our son can be tricky to navigate and requires vigilance. This labour of love has been rewarding; many people are working together to help us. Our friends don’t require a mandate or a paycheque to be there when we need them. It feels good to be less reliant on systems and more on personal commitment and love.
Supporting someone with a developmental disability has been an amazing gift; our son brings out the best in others every day.
The entire disability community will be better served if the opposition parties, Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, Red Deer Public School board, Red Deer city council, and others who are fighting against the closure of Michener Centre, pulled together to help create, focus on, and execute a positive vision and transition into community life.
It sickens me that some of our leaders are creating and perpetuating fear of community living.
With respect and admiration, I thank our government for making this moral and courageous decision, it’s about time!
Shyla Masse
Edmonton