Paying the price

HERE we go again (The Age, 21/2)! A judge reluctantly having to send an intellectually disabled criminal offender to jail, because there is no alternative institution for the person. Why doesn't the State Government admit that the wholesale closure of institutions for the intellectually disabled and mentally ill, with no replacement facilities, has been a failure. Where family support is lacking, which is often the case, these extremely vulnerable people can be at the mercy of the law of the street.

There is still an opportunity for the Government to redeem itself though. It could provide new facilities on the grounds of Kew Cottages before they are all sold to a developer.

Bill O'Connor, North Fitzroy
Letter to the Editor
The Age
Friday 22nd February 2008


No going back

NO, BILL O'Connor (Letters, 22/2) here, where people with disability live, is the community. Not in institutions. People with disability paid a very high price when they were forgotten in institutions. Abuse and neglect is inevitable.

Happily, the future of the Kew site is already assured. About 100 former residents of the wards will be living on the former grounds. They will be in their own house, which will soon become their home. This has already happened for many other people from the former disservice. They have moved into houses in the suburbs and towns that they originally came from. There is no going back.

Mark Feigan, Reservoir
Letter to the Editor
The Age
Saturday 23rd February 2008


The disabled and the ill do need our help

THOSE opposed to selling Kew Cottages (such as myself) have never wanted a continuation of old-style institutions for the mentally ill and intellectually disabled.

What is desperately needed is an array of new government-built and owned infrastructure, including standalone houses, cluster housing, hospital and other medical facilities and respite facilities for individuals and their families.

Unfortunately, the closure of these institutions and sale of their valuable grounds has suited the "economic rationalist" model of reducing government assistance to the community. It has had unacceptable consequences, such as ever-increasing waiting lists for supported accommodation, and some intellectually disabled and mentally ill persons being sent to jail because the Government has no alternative place for them.

I have first-hand experience of growing up with a severely disabled sister. For her and our family, it was no joke. We needed all the help we could get.

I challenge the Government and deinstitutionalisation lobby to do something about the lack of infrastructure for the intellectually disabled and mentally ill. It is a seething issue in the Victorian community that will not go away.

Bill O'Connor, North Fitzroy

Letter to the Editor
The Age
Monday 25th February 2008