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Community Corner

Representative Cale Keable Visits Dawn Drive, Shows Support for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

April 7, 2014 [Warwick] – Chair of the Rhode Island House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, Representative Cale Keable, recently visited West Bay Residential’s home at Dawn Drive.  The home supports 6 individual’s with significant developmental and medical disabilities.  Prior to the creation in the 1980’s of homes such as Dawn Drive, which provides 24-hour nursing support, the only option for people with multiple significant disabilities was facilities such as Eleanor Slater Hospital.  It was not until private providers such as West Bay fought to be allowed to provide 24-hour nursing care (and receive all the necessary licensure) that individuals with severe disabilities in Rhode Island were able to live in communal settings.

Elaine Clemm, mother to one of Dawn Drive’s residents, noted during Rep. Keable’s visit that “West Bay has championed for all people, regardless of disability, to live in community settings.  Dawn Drive allows my daughter to do that, providing her the nursing support she needs.  In the past, individuals with multiple significant disabilities were treated as second-class citizens.  I think Representative Keable’s visit showed his commitment to ensuring Rhode Island continues to support all individuals with disabilities, no matter how profound.”

Rep. Keable, for his part, expressed great appreciation for the supports which West Bay provides. “It was important for me to see first-hand the continuing effects of the 2011 budget-cuts, and particularly how they have affected overall care in Rhode Island.  Mrs. Clemm explained to me how in the past when her daughter needed to be hospitalized, a support staff member from West Bay would accompany her to the facility.  Now, there is no funding to send the staff member.  This lack of funding flexibility is a problem.”
He went on to outline his strategy for supporting the developmental disabilities community. “I voted against the budget cuts in 2011, and I will continue to fight for the developmental disabilities community in Rhode Island.  I am working on legislation designed to improve both the level at which providers are funded in absolute dollars, and the mechanisms by which those funds are released.”

These were welcome words to the individuals, staff, and family member who attended Rep. Keable’s visit.  Executive Director Gloria Quinn expressed great thanks to him for taking the time to visit Dawn Drive.  "I am so pleased and appreciative of the time that Rep. Keable took to visit with the individuals who live at their home on Dawn Drive as well as one of our family members.  He was very respectful and genuinely interested in the welfare of each person that he met.  We are so fortunate to have such a legislative champion in Rep. Keable.  It is critical that the individuals that West Bay supports are neither invisible nor forgotten."

Representative Keable was recently recognized for his advocacy by the Community Provider Network of RI during Developmental Disabilities Awareness month (March).
           
West Bay Residential Services, Inc. provides residential, employment and day support services to more than 130 individuals with developmental disabilities.  West Bay supports individuals in making life choices, maintaining friend and family relationships and having fun while establishing their role within their community.

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