The above was a recent headline in the Boston Globe, there were also stories in Maine newspapers including the Portland Press Herald. They used information from this news release, created by The Iris Network found here:
http://business.mainetoday.com/newsdirect/release.html?id=4423

This project has been supported by Federal and state housing monies, and will continue to be supported by the Federal Section 8 for renters program. I have to tell you, if I had been a board member for Maine Housing, this project was one of those I would have voted against — it is not necessary and ghettoizing, this "special housing" validates all of the stereotypes connected with blindness. Even the term commonly used by this group, "vision loss" is depressing and negative emphasizing the loss of something and the grief connected with it. "Poor things, they need special lights, special paints, special stoves, and especially someone there a good part of the time to help them out when they need to "see" something — Poor things!"

This project made me question the viability of Section 8 voucher process — Blind folks were pushed in line before many Portlanders who had waited years for vouchers!

Also, this project which revitalized an all ready existing building, a former "institution for the blind," is a money bag for its owners The Iris Network. The headline itself, "Open for Business" says a lot.

I do not fault the contributors to the project. They know nothing of blindness, they are sought by an organization that propagandizes the helplessness of blind and visually impaired individuals keeping the word "special" uppermost in the mind of the public.

The Iris Network validates all of the stereotypes connected with blindness, and their style of "independent living" emphasizes the HELP necessary to live rather than the teaching necessary to live on one's own. Support is important to everyone, however, creating apartments that are segregated only fosters the lack of real community inclusion that is so necessary for the acceptance of people with disabilities in society.

I realize 2 things, neither of which were "solved" by building this project.

1. Many persons who are blind with multiple handicaps need supports in their housing. Why build a ghetto for that?

and

2. The section 8 vouchers used were specifically directed toward people with disabilities by the Feds. Why build special housing, really just another institution, to use these valuable vouchers up?

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It is my contention that Affordable, Accessible, and Integrated Housing is the only way the human race will begin to view people with disabilities as part of the culture. Isolate us, hide us away, keep us in "special housing" and we'll find that they're easier to round up and dispose of when the propper time comes.

There — that's been building for 3 years while this project was completed. I spoke out about this at a meeting of blind folks a few years back, and the Iris Network couldn't, or wouldn't change their mind. And, just as an addition to the absurd, there was recently an article on the Alpha One web site, submitted by The Iris Network, telling about how someone had moved into one of these apartments last summer and they weren't allowed to use their stove because they hadn't been taught to use it and it hadn't been adapted yet. A friend and colleague said to me, "What's hard about using a stove? You turn a knob, hold your hand 5 inches off the surface, and you can tell which burner you turned on!" I would suggest its a bit more complicated than that, but I would also suggest that appropriate teaching methods have been used for years to help blind folks use stoves. It's not hard — its an attitude thing.

We must be vigilant, — "Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose,"

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