In favor of more residential options RE: petition against SB1124

[Guest guest]

I am in agreement with you .

I have seen these petitions and have run into people opposing this bill in Tallahassee for the last three weeks. While I respect everyone's right to advocate, I hope we can agree to disagree. I feel that those who are opposed to this bill and advocate for forced inclusion, must realize that everyone is different. Everyone has the right to live as they choose, including the developmentally disabled. Often times those living in group homes in communities under the '1000 foot rule' are more isolated than ever, because many neighbors do not accept them or choose to socialize with them.

They can only interact with their own group home roomates. I can understand why people might want to go out for a walk to get away or see another friendly face. That is why I am supporting this legislation. It can ensure protection and a safe environment.

All people, with the exception of prisoners and offenders on work release programs, can live around people like themselves if they so choose. Elderly folks, golfers, Cuban (or other ethnicities), gay or even nudists, can choose to live in communities with others like themselves, but developmentally disabled people cannot. They must meet at a park if they want to ride bikes with their friends who are also developmentally disabled, because they are not allowed to live near them.

Segregation is only truly segregation if someone is forced into it. I view this option more as protection, not segregation. We are not talking about small cottages with four walls and a cot. These communities have beautiful homes, exercise paths, employment options, transportation options, therapy, and many other opportunities. The arguments that claim 'this is how institutions started' may have been true 50 years ago, but they are not now. These fears are archaic and in this day and age of advocacy and inclusion, institutional segregation will never happen again.

SB 1124 simply provides an additional option for people who want to live near one another, with natural friendly supports, socializing opportunities, neighborhood watch groups, concentrated services, transportation options, safety and security, just like people do in any other gated community.

To those opposing this bill, I urge you to consider that your definition of a community may be quite different than someone elses definition of a community.

Respectfully, K. GoldsteinFloridians for the Future of the Developmentally Disabledwww.FFDDNews.com

To: sList From: walkman975@...Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 10:50:26 -0400Subject: petition against SB1124

I read the bill and I don't see how this discriminates against people with disabilities. To me, it looks like what many of us have wanted to get for a long time-the ability to have the choice of having our adult children live in a planned residential community without being subjected to the 1000 ft rule. This bill doesn't say anything about forcing them to live in these communities.

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