FACTS

THE CENTRE AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE:

Rideau Regional Centre opened in 1951. It is currently home to approximately 380 residents.

The average age of residents is 52 years. 60% of those who live here have called Rideau Regional Centre home for more than 35 years.

Over 300 of the residents are profoundly mentally challenged. About 90 residents have severely cognitive disabilities. Many cannot talk, and they require assistance in ALL adaptive skill areas. 360 residents now use wheelchairs - this number will increase as they age.

Over 250 of the people who live here exhibit aggressive behavior. Over 200 residents show self-injurious behavior. 170 of the residents exhibit destructive behavior. A resident may exhibit more than one type of behavior.

SPECIAL PEOPLE NEED SPECIAL CARE

Rideau Regional offers in-house specialized services, such as behavioral assessment and management, dental care, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, emergency medical care, and nutrition and dietary consultation, all in a timely manner.

A HOME FOR THE SEVERELY MENTALLY DISABLED

Ontario had 16 residential institutions housing 6,000 people with a developmental disability in the 60's. Since then, 13 have been closed and those who could be integrated into the greater community have been. . About 1,000 people live at the 3 remaining Regional Centres; more than 40% are at the Rideau Regional Centre (RRC).

For 54 years the RRC has been home to 430 residents. They've lived here safely and happily for 30 to 52 years. That's a long time. The average person who lives here is 52 and RRC's two oldest residents are in their 80s!

CLOSURES ANNOUNCED

On September 9, 2004, the Minister of Community and Social Services announced that the provincial government was closing down the Rideau Regional Centre (RRC) and the other two remaining facilities in pursuit of its vision of full inclusion of Ontarians with a developmental disability in all aspects of society. What the government and press have failed to realize is that this is not possible for the people remaining in this centre. These people are differently able in the extreme and very different from the people who were moved out in the past -> this is why their families have serious concerns over the soundness of this government decision

ABOUT THE RIDEAU RESIDENTS

The remaining people are severely developmentally disabled. They are the most severely affected of all people who have ever lived at RRC. That is why they have not been moved yet.

They are severely developmentally disabled and at great risk physically and emotionally. How is it in their best interest to move them from what they consider their home?

Friendships have been established and strong bonds with staff members have been made. Residents feel they are in a community where they are happy. For many a change will induce severe psychological results and suffering.

They have always lived in a sheltered environment - they need such an environment. How can we ask them to cope with people and the pressures of being integrated into general society when none of them are capable of making an informed decision and many lack the ability to even go to the bathroom on their own?

"Most, if not all, will suffer extreme hardship if moved...including physical and emotional distress....

some will not survive."

VULNERABLE DISABLED RIDEAU RESIDENTS NEED YOUR HELP*

You must understand that the majority have physical handicaps on top of their severe (and in many cases multiple!) mental disabilities, as well as numerous health problems, including degenerative conditions. Many would have to be permanently hospitalized. They already have the perfect home for them. Why close it down?

Some 80 percent of RRC residents are classified as “severely mentally challenged” to “profoundly mentally challenged”, which means they have a very low IQ, generally below 40.

Few RRC residents can speak and most are without any verbal skills at all. A substantial number have limited self-help or personal hygiene skills, many lack even toilet training, virtually none are capable of making informed decisions.

Many have behavioral problems; more than 170 are destructive, more than 200 are prone to self injury and more than 240 are physically aggressive.

It is a tough job taking care of these people. The staff at RRC are highly trained and very capable. They do a superb job with some of the most trying of people. Not only do they take care of RRC’s residents but they treat them as if they were part of their family. Family members of residents have witnessed the excellent care their loved ones receive at the RRC for many years.

The residents and staff of RRC form a functioning society that no community based facility could replace. Neither the facilities nor the services are available within the community to provide for these people at this time. Most, if not all, will suffer extreme hardship if moved from RRC, including physical and emotional distress. It will be traumatic and some will not survive.

So families and friends of RRC residents are asking you to support their request that the Ontario government not close this facility. Please help us protect the disabled at Rideau Regional Centre. rrcacares@hotmail.com