"Rights without opportunity is meaningless" is how Zola (1988) characterized the issues he was discussing in reference to independent living for individuals with disabilities. However, the same could equally characterize the right to religious freedom purportedly given to those with disabilities who live in residential facilities.
"Sure, you have the right to religious freedom, but I am not taking your to church." Or as I have heard recently, "We are taking a break from church." How can someone who is responsible for the lives of persons with disabilities in a residential setting say to people who have been expressing religious faith by the attendance at a church, "We are taking a break from church?" I am about to press the issue with a particular home, but it indicates the depth of the problem. People can be attending church for a long time (in this case, probably 10 years) and suddenly have that opportunity taken away from them on a whim by their "care providers." Where is the state protecting their religious freedom? Do their agency workers even know that they attend church? If community integration really was a desire of human service workers, be they the directors of a group home or those who monitor the group homes, or those who are the social workers for the persons living in the group home, they would want to know whether those who have chosen to attend church are actually doing so. That they don't know or care is a part of the problem.
Those who run homes have pervasive power over the lives of those who live in the homes. I don't believe this is how the system was meant to be. If it was meant to be this way then it needs to change, and change dramatically. I have seen the individuals who are hired as group home "parents" and not all are great people. I remember one home where several women lived, where the man who was the "parent" would at times show up at the front door in his boxer shorts. Yet these are the people who are making decisions about what a person living in a group home may or may not do.
But thinking again about religious freedom, if you have such freedom, but are never given the opportunity to attend a religious group, never have the opportunity to meet people who attend religious groups, never have the opportunity to hear or learn about religion, then you truly do not have religious freedom. In reality, you are largely trapped as the person who exited school and entered the home by the plan that was developed for you at that time. How many of you who are reading this blog are the same person you were when you exited High School? In these plans, there seems to be little expectation for human growth and change. How many of you have not explored other ideas which have influenced the way you are as more mature adults today? Additionally, the life of a student in public school, even if in special education classes, is much different than that of a disabled adult in the disability care system. In school there was at least the possibility that you would see nondisabled peers. Chances are the increased time you spent with your family would allow you access to people with whom you could be integrated. However, the adult service system is almost entirely cut off from community integration, relegating people to a segregated existence with those who are paid to be with them. Unfortunately, I think that is how people in human services want it to be because it is easier for them. I think too many group home providers would prefer to not have community members in the lives of their residents because they bring the dangerous ideas of autonomy and rights, and the things that cause a person to have a real life.
If we truly believe that those whose lives are regulated by people who are regulated by agencies deserve rights and freedoms, then we must provide opportunities for them to exercise those rights.
Otherwise, as Zola states, rights are truly meaningless.
McNair
"Sure, you have the right to religious freedom, but I am not taking your to church." Or as I have heard recently, "We are taking a break from church." How can someone who is responsible for the lives of persons with disabilities in a residential setting say to people who have been expressing religious faith by the attendance at a church, "We are taking a break from church?" I am about to press the issue with a particular home, but it indicates the depth of the problem. People can be attending church for a long time (in this case, probably 10 years) and suddenly have that opportunity taken away from them on a whim by their "care providers." Where is the state protecting their religious freedom? Do their agency workers even know that they attend church? If community integration really was a desire of human service workers, be they the directors of a group home or those who monitor the group homes, or those who are the social workers for the persons living in the group home, they would want to know whether those who have chosen to attend church are actually doing so. That they don't know or care is a part of the problem.
Those who run homes have pervasive power over the lives of those who live in the homes. I don't believe this is how the system was meant to be. If it was meant to be this way then it needs to change, and change dramatically. I have seen the individuals who are hired as group home "parents" and not all are great people. I remember one home where several women lived, where the man who was the "parent" would at times show up at the front door in his boxer shorts. Yet these are the people who are making decisions about what a person living in a group home may or may not do.
But thinking again about religious freedom, if you have such freedom, but are never given the opportunity to attend a religious group, never have the opportunity to meet people who attend religious groups, never have the opportunity to hear or learn about religion, then you truly do not have religious freedom. In reality, you are largely trapped as the person who exited school and entered the home by the plan that was developed for you at that time. How many of you who are reading this blog are the same person you were when you exited High School? In these plans, there seems to be little expectation for human growth and change. How many of you have not explored other ideas which have influenced the way you are as more mature adults today? Additionally, the life of a student in public school, even if in special education classes, is much different than that of a disabled adult in the disability care system. In school there was at least the possibility that you would see nondisabled peers. Chances are the increased time you spent with your family would allow you access to people with whom you could be integrated. However, the adult service system is almost entirely cut off from community integration, relegating people to a segregated existence with those who are paid to be with them. Unfortunately, I think that is how people in human services want it to be because it is easier for them. I think too many group home providers would prefer to not have community members in the lives of their residents because they bring the dangerous ideas of autonomy and rights, and the things that cause a person to have a real life.
If we truly believe that those whose lives are regulated by people who are regulated by agencies deserve rights and freedoms, then we must provide opportunities for them to exercise those rights.
Otherwise, as Zola states, rights are truly meaningless.
McNair
EXCELLENT post. I will be meeting with several of our state's legislative representatives soon and I'll be quoting you directly. I can't say it any better than you did.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting!
I thank you again for another poignant post. We are in the midst of fighting the same battle here in Wisconsin with our ministry. We have a church, (The Able Church) and we send drivers from a typical church to do pick ups for our Friday, Tuesday and Sunday services and still there are times those who control in the group homes wont get people ready, or allow them to come despite the residents wishes.
ReplyDeleteWe have had a resident pulled out of one of our own group homes last week. She moved in after 1 1/2 years of interaction and prep with her family. A guardianship change that we suggested from a drunken mom to a sister has been in progress since February. The Social Worker from that county who does Guardianships had a meeting 2 weeks ago to dissuade other social workers from using our services strictly based on us being Christian based,
(this from an attending "Christian" Social worker to weak to stand up for his beliefs). The Anti Christian Worker argued that Christian is another word for cult and the only aim for any christian is to get others into their cult, so they should not support those orgs. The Christians at the meeting quietly sat and, post meeting, decided to keep supporting our services but not to make a "deal" out of it. Until Christians are willing to step up and be and do as God has commanded us we are headed down this road. Hitler took away people with disabilities first in his time, we are headed down a road resembling those times if we do not get radical in our living out Gods call. Thank you for posting about a serious problem we must come together and fight.
Thanks,
Tony Piantine
Camp Daniel
"But thinking again about religious freedom, if you have such freedom, but are never given the opportunity to attend a religious group, never have the opportunity to meet people who attend religious groups, never have the opportunity to hear or learn about religion, then you truly do not have religious freedom."
ReplyDelete-McNair
I found this quote to be very interesting. I agree completely. Even in the public school system right now, students may or may not be allowed to exercise all of the first amendment rights, particularly the right to freedom of religion. It is heart-breaking that those who are supposed to be caring for the disabled in a group home setting or wherever are not dedicating themselves to their complete well-being. It is wound 16 in action. If there is any person that desires to spend time in fellowship with others, or spend time worshipping at church, they should be able to do so.
My question is why are people who do not care about the disabled permitted to work with them? I find it irksome that people would rather make money than treat people fairly and with respect. Even though these individuals are not able to take care of themselves completely, and are in need of assistance, does not mean that their rights are null and void. The constitution never said “inalienable rights but only for people who do not live with disabilities.” The constitution of the United States declares that all people are created equal. God loves all men and women and children. Their rights need to be respected and it is up to the care-takers to make sure that they are. They are too protect those who cannot take care of themselves.
It is completely ridiculous that people who live in homes do not have their religious freedoms given to them. Just because they had a mental or physical disorder, does not mean that they are not human so they do not have the same rights as the rest of us. It makes me think of slave times and the slaves only counted for 3/5th’s of a person. It is 21st century and people claim that they are more accepting of everyone. There has been a women’s movement and GLBT movement and we still treat people who are different than “normal” like they do not belong. This is not being accepting to everyone. America needs to remember that just because something is different does not necessarily mean that it should be shunned or punished. People who live in these group homes did not choose these life styles, however, we need to be a good neighbor and show them that they are no different from you and I. Stripping someone of his or her rights is completely against the law and something should be done to stop this. I love your quote that states, “But thinking again about religious freedom, if you have such freedom, but are never given the opportunity to attend a religious group, never have the opportunity to meet people who attend religious groups, never have the opportunity to hear or learn about religion, then you truly do not have religious freedom.” Everyone should live by this quote daily and be aware of how they treat others who they perceive are below them.
ReplyDelete