By GLYNIS HART
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CLAREMONT — A lot of things have gotten better for folks with developmental disabilities in the last 40 years.
When Laconia State School closed in 1991, ending an era of institutionalizing people with developmental disabilities, many residents who couldn’t go home to their families and needed help living independently. A former worker at Laconia, Gus Morelle, decided to open a company to support some of the individuals from the school: Independent Service Network now operates in four locations in the state: Concord, Claremont, Manchester and Nashua. Pathways of the River Valley, a non-profit, also offers support services to individuals with development disabilities, including those under 21. Both organizations work to make life better for their clients, integrating them into the community to work, play, and make friends.
“New Hampshire was the first state to go fully community-based,” said Debbie Gaudreault-Larochelle, vice president of Independent Service Network (ISN). ISN, a private company, supports 120 individuals across the state, with about 30 in the Claremont area. Individuals with developmental disabilities have many talents and abilities. Some live independently with support from ISN or other agencies; others live in group homes, and some live with their families.
Folks with developmental disabilities also work in the community, at both paid and volunteer positions. “Some of our guys help out with kitchen prep, some help with the local thrift store, Changes,” said program manager Phaichit Vankam. “Some have jobs.”
However, they still face a lack of community acceptance. Vankam said that is largely because people aren’t familiar with those who are developmentally disabled. Every year, occupational therapy students from River Valley Community College work with ISN clients: “Once they start working with them, they realize our guys are like anybody else.”
“It’s critical,” said Debbie, “Because we want to be accepted. We don’t want to be kicked out of places.”
To that end, the workers at ISN do everything they can to bring their clients out into the community. This summer a group participated in summer camp where they were paired with RVCC students.
“It allows them to experience activities, like riding a modified bike, building trails, hiking,” said Vankam. “It gives them a sense of being in the community. We want to ensure that they feel a sense of belonging.”
The more time people spend out and about, the more familiar the people they encounter become with them.
On Wednesday, a small group fond of bowling met at Maple Lanes. Esteban Irrizzary, a special Olympian who does both track and bowling, shared a lane with Dale Abby, while Christina Greenleaf and John Monetta used the adjacent one. (A fifth player declined to be named.) “We try to design the activities to their preference,” said Vankam.
Meanwhile, between work, volunteering, recreation and just living, the men and women using Independent Service Network stay busy.
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