DDC mulls ‘institution’ for persons with disabilities By Marian A. Maraya

Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council Executive Director Thomas J. Camacho disclosed yesterday the council may include in its 2001 state plan the concept of developing an “institution” for adults with developmental disabilities.

This, after listening to an expert opinion delivered by Missouri-based Derrick F. Dufresne, president of the Community Resource Associates, a training and management consulting firm dedicated to promoting full community inclusion for people with disabilities.

The council had invited Mr. Dufresne to present to local service providers existing national practices and supports systems available for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Saying that changes occurring through time are inevitable, Mr. Dufresne said the CNMI should start planning for the future of its population affected with certain forms of disabilities.

In a family-centered society like the Commonwealth, the expert underscored the need to be mindful that families (i.e. aging parents as the prime caretakers) eventually pass on.

“Even if families admit that they have been sole caretakers of family members with disabilities and they are used to it, the difference is the elderly are going to pass on. And there needs to be a plan for transition to address this issue,” said Mr. Dufresne.

The DD council director echoed Mr. Dufresne’s sentiments citing that such cases have already presented itself in the community.

“We are also concerned with what’s going to happen to these individuals who have aging parents who’s moved on…and what kind of support system is out there for them since we don’t have an institution,” said Mr. Camacho, “I agree that times are indeed changing and family values are changing as well so we need to get a move on this.”

He, however, said the council would still need to conduct talks with other service providers, policy makers, and the whole community to consider alternatives.

Some 600 local residents are said to be with severe disabilities in the Commonwealth, according to an estimate made by Mr. Dufresne based on the conservative one percent national prevailing rate.

Mr. Camacho confirmed the figure is an accurate estimate based on the CNMI’s current population.

With such a small population and with little infrastructure to speak of, Mr. Dufresne said developing a local institution for adults with disabilities may be less complicated than it is in the mainland.

“It’s really a tremendous advantage what you have here,” he told local service providers yesterday, “But then again, the transition could either be easier or much more difficult.”

The expert reiterated that it is imperative that local residents come to terms with the reality of mortality.

“This is part of the crisis. I think we need to pay a serious thought on what’s going to happen once our traditional caregivers, our families, eventually pass on. It is much cheaper to plan for it now than be faced with the crisis upon somebody’s disability,” he added.

The CNMI does not have many service providers available for persons with disabilities as opposed to services offered in the mainland.

The council has exerted efforts to convince the Department of Public Health to extend services to be offered at the proposed Halfway House, a facility being developed as a transitional living center for mental patients.

“Since it is a Community Development Block Grant federal funding, we are trying to appeal to them to expand its services and include persons with other disabilities,” said Mr. Camacho.

In a recently completed position statement, GDDC disclosed that although it strongly supports family traditions and the cultures of the Chamorro and Carolinian communities to care for their family members with disabilities, the council also wish to acknowledge requests made by its clients to assist with the development of public policies on housing and appropriate services necessary for independent living.