Will your sibs home be next?

November 30, 2008

Seems like we are going backward here in IL. Nora

Hard Times Hit Home for a Band of Five in Illinois

Stuffed Animals Are Packed in Boxes; Victor Wilhold's Uncertain Future

By _CLARE ANSBERRY_

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HIGHLAND, Ill. -- Five friends, one blind, another an amputee and all

developmentally impaired to some degree, are losing their home here next week.

Community Link, the nonprofit agency that runs the group home, can no longer

afford to keep it open. Its main source of funds, the cash-strapped state of

Illinois, owes it $1.4 million. Positions have been consolidated and spending

has been cut back. Last week, Foppe, Community Link's executive director

and himself disabled, went to the local bank and begged for a new line of

credit to make his payrolls. Even if it's approved, the home will be closed.

View Full Image

Clare Ansberry/The Wall Street Journal

Highland group home resident JoAnn Webb holds Victor Wilhold's hand.

Movers arrive Tuesday. The five will end up in three different homes spread

around the county. Their belongings -- mainly clothes, stuffed animals, puzzles

and little ceramic statues -- are being packed in boxes.

The agency is trying to make the move smooth but acknowledges it will be

disruptive to everyone, particularly Victor Wilhold. Mr. Wilhold, 59 years old,

is

the eldest, chronologically, but the most childlike of the five. Born with

Downs Syndrome, he is largely nonverbal and functions at the level of a

three-year-old.

In the past, when his routine was changed, he grew reclusive, retreating to a

darkened closet with an assortment of toys, according to his sister,

. " I'm afraid he will go back into his shell, " she says.

Over the years, he and the other four residents -- three women and one man --

have formed their own makeshift family. Sometimes they bicker. One is

stubborn, another feisty and another is a mother hen. But they also care for

each

other. If someone is sick and can't go to a movie, the others vote to stay home.

Ms. asked Community Link to keep this little family together in their

next residence, but that would mean displacing other people there.

What is happening in this southern, largely rural corner of Illinois is

echoed around the state as a history of low funding for community living

collides

with the economic crisis, forcing drastic cuts. People with disabilities are

being moved into larger, unfamiliar settings or spending their days idle because

vans no longer take them to sheltered workshops to do jobs for pay.

View Full Image

Clare Ansberry/The Wall Street Journal

The residents of the group home in Highland, Ill., which is closing Dec. 2.

" Even in decent economic times, Illinois was not a state that funded people

with developmental disabilities to the extent that other states have, " says

Lilia Teninty, director of the state's Division of Developmental Disabilities.

Illinois came in dead last -- 51st -- among all states and the District of

Columbia in providing small residential settings for people with developmental

disabilities. In terms of overall spending for community programs, it ranked

43rd.

Community Link hasn't been paid by the state since July for many services.

Mr. Foppe and his staff whittled budgets, eliminating small bonuses, rug

cleaning and renovation plans.

Although helpful, those cuts weren't nearly enough. Reluctantly, he decided

to close the Highland house.

It was the smallest of six such homes, which has meant more freedom, privacy

and choice for residents. It was also the most expensive to run for those same

reasons. Moving to something bigger is a step in the wrong direction, Mr.

Foppe says, but he has little choice.

Having been born without arms and learning to use his feet to drive, eat and

dress, Mr. Foppe isn't easily discouraged or frustrated. But he is becoming

both. " Even a sponge can only hold so much water, " he says.

Gebke, who runs Community Link's community-service programs, had the

delicate task of figuring out where to move everyone. Jane Webb, who is legally

blind and prone to seizures, needs a private room so that she knows where

everything is and doesn't trip on a roommate's belongings. Her furniture must

line

the walls. Her shoes and slippers need to be tucked under a desk.

Smoking Break

Lorraine Cousino's family wanted to make sure she could go freely outside in

her wheelchair and smoke a cigarette after dinner. That meant moving her to a

house with a garage so she would be protected out of doors.

JoAnn Lange wanted a house close to a nursing home so she could volunteer.

View Full Image

Clare Ansberry/The Wall Street Journal

Victor Wilhold used to carry dozens of stuffed animals from room to room.

Now, he leaves them on his bed. Above, Mr. Wilhold and his favorite bear.

Ms. Gebke met with employees of the homes, reviewing seemingly small but

important details. Korte has a special shampoo. You have to let Mr. Korte

make the coffee in the morning or he gets upset, she told them.

Even with all the details in place, she worries. Ms. Lange will be leaving

her hometown, where her 78-year-old father lives. The highest functioning

resident, she learned to use public transportation to volunteer at the local

nursing

home. She has cancer and her support group is there.

She cried when told of the move. " All my relations are here. I'm originally

from Highland. Now I've got to move my routine, " she says.

Ms. Cousino says she will miss the neighbors, especially the boy next door.

She met him when he was three and has watched him grow into a teenager.

In 'His Happy Spot'

But it will likely be hardest on Mr. Wilhold. His sister, Ms. , says he

was shuffled through a series of inappropriate settings after his parents

died, including a nursing home for old people. And he was put on medications for

conditions he didn't have, for reasons she doesn't understand. He came to the

Highland House in 2002.

When he first arrived, he kept to himself and his stuffed animals, carrying

dozens of them throughout the day from room to room. Renae Donohoo, who works

at the home, couldn't get him into the van without putting a Tigger from

" Winnie the Pooh " there first.

" Now he leaves his animals on his bed, " she says. " He doesn't need them

because he's in his happy spot, " referring to the house.

He didn't speak growing up, but lately has been saying a few words. " C'mon

old lady, let's go, " he ordered Ms. Lange.

The others here are protective of him and have come to understand his

gestures. When he taps his mouth, he's thirsty.

Ms. Lange leads him by the hand up the driveway when he gets off the bus, and

buys him 3 Musketeers bars. After dinner, Mr. Wilhold accompanies Ms. Cousino

to the garage for her evening smoke, opening and closing the door for her and

her wheelchair. Of the five, she is the most outspoken, but with Mr. Wilhold

she is gentle. Outside, she gives him one earpiece of her MP3 player so they

can both listen to Elvis.

" I don't how it will be for Victor, " says Ms. Donohoo. " He has his own little

room here. It will be a big adjustment after all these years. "

Fortunately, she says, he will share a bedroom with housemate Mr. Korte,

which should make it easier but by no means carefree. Mr. Korte likes to go to

bed

early. Mr. Wilhold can stay up. Mr. Korte keeps his room immaculate. Mr.

Wilhold doesn't.

This weekend, the five friends will celebrate Korte's birthday with his

favorite dessert, chocolate cheesecake. He will sit at the head of the table,

as he always does. He will have to adjust to new seating arrangements at his

new house.

Write to Clare Ansberry at _clare.ansberry@..._

(mailto:clare.ansberry@...)

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December 2, 2008

> The residents of the group home in Highland, Ill., which is closing

Dec. 2.

For what it's worth, I did copy the article on the closing of this

home that was in The Wall Street Journal & hand delivered it to my

local State Rep's. office. (Didn't get to go to the State Senator's

office)

I talked to Drew as Rep. Hoffman wasn't in the office today. Let my

phone # & what my feelings were on this closing.

I will try & set up an appt with Rep. Hoffman before the snow flies or

when I have an available day off.

Liz

December 2, 2008