EmailEmail
PrintPrint
Letter to the editor/South
Thursday, May 27, 2010
'Not in my (South Park) neighborhood'

Last month, South Park Township held its monthly supervisors meeting, and when the floor was open for public comments, the trail of miscommunication led to rumors, which led to anger, which led to verbal attacks. Here is a picture of what all the fuss is about:

On a quiet, tree-lined street in the township, Southwinds Inc., a nonprofit that provides housing to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is constructing two brand-new, handicapped-accessible houses. These two beautiful houses will be home to eight of Southwinds' aging individuals who require one-level living. These two homes are as ordinary looking as any house on that street.

Everyone with a developmental disability deserves the opportunity to have as normal a life as they can.

Examples of some of the objections: Increased traffic? Are they allowed outside by themselves? Unsafe for kids to play on the road? Will the doors be locked? Increased cost to township? Decreased property values?

It was like we had traveled back in time to the early 1990s, when the fear of mentally retarded adults living in local communities spread like wildfire. It is a case of "not in my neighborhood."

Concerns will always come up when a group home is moving into a neighborhood, but the question to pose to those people is, wouldn't they want a family member with a developmental disability to live in the community in which they grew up, surrounded by supportive people giving them the ability to be successful members of society?

As a community, let us rally together to help all adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities thrive. Be informed, be a volunteer, add value to their life, your life and your community.

JULIE BOYCE-KUNA

Scott

The writer is director of development and marketing for Southwinds Inc. in Scott.

Please include your name, address and phone number and send to Letters to the Editor, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh Pa. 15222. E-mail letters to letters@post-gazette.com or fax to 412-263-2014. All letters are subject to editing and will be verified before being published.
Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.
First published on May 27, 2010 at 5:40 am