Sister of SDC resident speaks out against closing

It is with great sadness that I send you this response to the May 6, 2015 article by Nancy Gardner entitled Guest opinion: another view of the SDC. Thank you for respecting my point of view that represents SDC clients and my sister who has lived at Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) for 56 years.

Ms. Gardner asks: If you or I needed assistance with most every-day living activities, where would you rather live: in your own home with support, a small group home, or in a large state run institution? I’d prefer the greatest amount of normalcy and independence that my living environment could allow. The same is true for people with developmental disabilities.
Who are you asking Ms. Gardner? Are you asking those that can speak, hear, walk, feed themselves, tie their shoes, use the toilet facilities and brush their teeth every day? These are some of the things many of the SDC Clients are unable to do without supervision by a professionally trained staff that cares and loves them daily without complaint or criticism of their many challenges. That is what community living is about and it does exist at SDC.

My sister is one of those individuals who have lived in the SDC community 56 years. She doesn’t have a “twin” in the Group Home Community as you are alluding to in your article. She is unique and is deaf and is supposedly classified at the mentally age of about 18 months old. However, her blue eyes reflect the wisdom of the ages. She has thrived at SDC since coming to the community when she was just 7 years old because our mother was dying and SDC saved our family and cared for our sister in a time of family crisis.

Again, SDC is a community not an institution as this article is labeling SDC. The type of institution that Ms. Gardner must be thinking about has left the building many decades ago …are you remembering a 70’s Geraldo Rivera special TV feature perhaps? Developmental centers changed from the “institutional label” long ago. SDC continues to be a community for clients in need who often can’t speak for themselves. Not only has my sister lived at SDC for 56 years but also our family has experienced this community as well consistently. Our visits are frequent to see our sister. We used to take our sister home for visits until it was no longer beneficial for her since she wanted to go back to her “home” at SDC and behavior problems ensued. When we spend the day together she always smiles when she returns to her home at SDC.

We know the staff that cares for our sister and she has always had exceptional caretakers that continue today to be there for our family member. The medical staff is beyond professional and contacts us with any medical issue that needs to be watched and/or when immediate attention is needed for a medical condition. I should be so lucky to have the care my sister receives at SDC including a professional dentist who is acutely aware of caring for those who need special anesthesia treatments just for a dental cleaning.

My sister maybe deaf but I’m wondering who is really deaf as well as blind to the great care and service that is given at SDC 27/7. The SDC community care will never be replicated in the community for those like my sister. How wonderful those that have left SDC are thriving in the community and that is a blessing and something to be celebrated. We celebrate my sister’s life and special gift to us and desire her to remain at SDC. I feel nothing but sorrow that Ms. Gardner doesn’t have a sister like mine and the experiences we have had at SDC and is falling for the bogus cost effective statistics that are driven by a lack of understanding and compassion for those who can’t speak for themselves.

Mary E. Grangoff-Lew
Sister of Patricia Grangoff (SDC Resident)
Parent Hospital Association (PHA) Board Member