Communities for Adults with Autism: Camphill CA

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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/lshumaker/detail??blogid=171 & entry_id=67660

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Another piece about the Camphill Communities: (note: highlighting not mine, can't seem to eliminate it).

"The University of Toronto’s Quality of Life Study, found the quality of life for people with disabilities in Kimberton Hills to be of a very high standard—and that people with disabilities here have a, “meaningful degree of control over their lives,†and many opportunities for making choices. The study showed that our community scored significantly higher than the University’s evaluations of four standard other options for people with disabilities: large and small congregate settings (institutions and group homes), independent living, and family living."Please read below.

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2009 Camphill Kimberton Annual ReportThank you, thank you, thank you. As 2010 is well underway, we want to take a moment to thank those who have made contributions to Camphill Kimberton throughout calendar year 2009. We reflect on the last year as we look to our future.Books could be written about the past year in Kimberton Hills. Some would be biographical: Gardner, Kate and Wallace; some would be human interest: young people taking on responsibilities in realms they never dreamed of; Todd recovering from the accident that led to the death of his work horse, Pet; the Crow (non-avian variety) family’s gentle, thorough integration into the life at Oberlin house; the miracle of Herb’s returned eyesight and those who made it possible; and the day Volunteers who help and learn—either through community service, internships, or changes of life circumstances. We could write about practical issues like our award winning dairy accomplishing a major transition while keeping customers and cows happy, and Roemer’s heroic offer to manage the dairy. Perhaps we could write a navigational book about gardening under water (over 54 inches of rain last year), or a tour guide for those from near and afar who visit (a group of Taiwanese teachers came to learn about Camphill work). Or we could offer entertaining articles about the continuing rise of the Kimberton Hills musical — the Sound of Music brought four audiences to their feet for ovations — or the latest wedding (Mimi and Tower)! We could introduce our three new Board members: ph Bright, Esq., Jean Flood, M.D., Hecht, Esq., and their expertise and enthusiasm. However, there will soon be a 50th edition of the Lilipoh magazine which will include articles about all the Camphills in North America, including Kimberton Hills.Camphill has been in North America for 50 years — Kimberton Hills is almost 38 years old. Recently we learned that the University of Toronto’s Quality of Life Study, commissioned by the Camphill Association of North America, found the quality of life for people with disabilities in Kimberton Hills to be of a very high standard—and that people with disabilities here have a, “meaningful degree of control over their lives,†and many opportunities for making choices. The study showed that our community scored significantly higher than the University’s evaluations of four standard other options for people with disabilities: large and small congregate settings (institutions and group homes), independent living, and family living. This is confirming news! Onward, 2010 will see us continuing to focus on our land -- including the CSA, the herb garden and the forests -- developing craft products and sales venues, finding new people to live with us, and becoming ever more sustainable. We are able to do our work because others place their confidence in us -- by contributing, volunteering, and helping us in countless ways. Thank you for confirming that Kimberton Hills is needed and helpful in the world!-- Diedra Heitzman, Executive DirectorA vision becomes a realityNote: Dr. Loesberg, our village dentist, was given the 2009 Community Service Award, presented annually at our Kimberton Inn Dinner. His friendship and dedication to the health and well-being of villagers, most especially his friend, Herb Wolf, was something that the village wanted to recognize publicly. Dr. Loesberg was instrumental in encouraging a reluctant Herb to undergo eye surgery and even offering to drive him to the various appointments. The end result is a new life for Herb, as the return of his sight has brought a return of independence. We thank Dr. Loesberg for his continuing support. The following are his remarks following the award presentation. I feel very fortunate and grateful to be part of the Camphill community. The ideals that embody the organization are not abstract or just conceptual. This is a place where implementation of compassion is commonplace and everyone is viewed though a prism of respect. The self-evident truth is that we are all more alike than we are different, so let’s celebrate those attributes that bond us together. Thanks to the tireless efforts that were made on Herb’s behalf at Camphill, I am thrilled to report that the quality of Herb’s life has been elevated, and he can now see with his eyes what he already knew in his heart: that he lives in a special place on this planet, surrounded by people who love him. Herb, you’re a lucky guy, and I feel blessed and privileged to be part of that world. 's home Catharine had been a villager in Kimberton Hills for 25 years before she suddenly passed away the morning of July 26, 2009. Stories about Kate come to everyone’s lips—perhaps no one living in Kimberton Hills has made a stronger impression on so many people. No one could have anticipated that Kate would have left us so soon. Her vibrancy and health were obvious. As we lovingly said farewell and thanks to Kate during the next days, her connection to the people and of course all the land and animals of Kimberton Hills was significantly in our hearts. The following are the words of Kate’s sister, Abigail , as she reflects on the impact Camphill had on her sister’s life.Our sister had no future.When she was three her doctor declared her “brain-damaged.†was the kind of kid who would flap her arms like a deranged bird and converse in code: “Basil Rathbone is a big, big bubble!†In a small New Jersey town in the 1960s, there was no place for an oddball like her. She was destined to live with relatives the rest of her life, or in a group home for the mentally retarded. Wherever she went she would be stared at, misunderstood, and mistreated. We all fell into despair. “That’s the way it is,†our mother said. “The wolves are going to get her and there’s nothing we can do about it.â€Three months after our parents died in 1984, my sister began a new life as a resident of Camphill Village Kimberton Hills. This spectacular chance at a normal adulthood was clearly an angelic intervention; otherwise, we thought, how could such an opportunity exist? Because Kimberton is a farm, ’s life took on the structure of the seasons. Some days were ordinary and filled with hard work, other days focused on celebrations that mark the passage of time. thrived. At last she could freely express her love for screwball comedy, surreal conversations, and imitating Madonna’s Boy-Toy period.The problem of “special care†is one of today’s most closeted issues. Hidden in virtually every family there’s a brother or mother or cousin who may have Alzheimer’s, or be physically handicapped, mentally handicapped, mentally ill, or perhaps just incapable of adjusting to society. Seen as non-productive in our materialist culture, their fate is to become a burden on their loved ones, however cherished they may be. Though vulnerable, they are offered little protection. I know from experience that families struggling to care for these outsiders suffer from isolation, dreadful uncertainty, and fear. The good news is that there is great healing at Kimberton. Because the work of the community is genuinely productive – for instance, growing food – all its members have dignity and a sense of their own worth. It enabled Kate to become an equal member of our family — not dependent, not codependent, but interdependent, with a life distinctly her own.One time took me to visit the barnyard, one of her favorite places. An enormous bull approached and I retreated in terror, but put her arm through the fence and stroked the beast, talking to him about the cow who had died the week before. He began to moan, weeping from his eyes and nose. took out a wadded-up tissue and gently tried to wipe him dry. Their conversation was funny, no doubt, but I realized: our sister’s life has become a miracle for all to witness, all to share.And now, she is a memory. For the thousands of people whose lives intersected with hers, that one word Ҡconjures up the charming, unpredictable, wild card that she was. She died this summer in the middle of the night, without a hint of warning, leaving us speechless. At Kimberton the comforting rituals of death unfolded as was put to rest. This is what I remember of that final day: a ferocious thunderstorm, a wandering goat at the funeral service, naked babies playing in the water fountain, the loving faces of her community. And our sister, forever at home.Become our Fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CamphillVillageKimbertonHills.Visit our website: www.camphillkimberton.org

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/lshumaker/detail??blogid=171 & entry_id=67660