Ron

541 Days Road, Kingston, ON K7M3R8, CA

The Reclamation Project: The Value of Living Life at the Helm

Stories of life in an institution and the voices that closed them

Ron

My name is Ron and I am a 63 year old man with intellectual disabilities. I went to live with my foster parents when I was 2 years old and was adopted by them in my early teens. My parents chose to care for me at home and not have me institutionalized. My parents had 9 children, 3 biological and 6 adopted. Nancy Wallace-Gero and Ruthann, who’s stories are also included in this project, are my siblings.

When I was 5 years old I broke my leg. Because I was in so much pain and agitated with the doctors working on me, they had to put me under general anaesthetic. While under, I had a seizure and was then diagnosed with epilepsy.

I went to regular school until Grade 8. I was in an occupational program in a special education classroom, segregated from regular classrooms. My class size varied from 5-8 children. I was picked on a lot but this was normal behaviour. I was taught the same curriculum as others but at a slower pace. I feel I was held back to a certain degree because I didn’t catch on to what was being taught. I went to Highland Park High School but I don’t remember much of grade 9. When I showed up for the first day of grade 10 I was told that I was done my education and there would be no further instruction as I was no longer learnable.

I did not partake in any extra-curricular activities at my school because it was unsafe because of my epilepsy. As my family would spend most of their weekends at the family cottage, I never made friends outside of school.

I went to work at an adult training centre in 1973 doing photocopying work. I had this job for 9 months.

I went to ARC Industries for 9-10 years where I folded napkins and stuffed envelopes. While there, I acquired job coaches through ODSP to help me gain employment. I then worked for 12 years at the United Way print shop.

I have worked for the past 23 years in the mail room at the Department of Fisheries and absolutely love it. I have a very strong bond amongst my co-works and management.

My job coach helped me to get all of my jobs. I still have a job coach who follows up with me from time to time to make sure I’m not having any problems or upsets at work. I have never experienced any bullying at any of my jobs.

I have a very active social life. I have lots of friends at work and in my bowling league. I belong to a social network group that someone told me about in 2009. I decided to go, paid my $50 membership fee and have been enjoying it ever since. There are 25-30 participants, some who also have intellectual disabilities. We go to movies, swimming, camping, have a bowl-a-thon, and go to sports games. I am on the Board of Directors for this network where I represent clients to have a say at the board table.

I also enjoy going to the casino a couple of times each year with my social group but I know my limits of spending my money and respect them.

My co-workers and I received an award from the Deputy Minister of Fisheries in recognition of a job well done.

Last year I won the high single in my bowling league by bowling 209!

I have never had a partner relationship as I have many friends and have always liked being a bachelor.

I definitely feel I am a member of the community. I look after my own finances and buy all of my own things. I live and share all of the expenses with my sister Ruthann in our own townhouse that we bought together. Ruthann helps me with my clothes shopping because I don’t like to shop. We have a joint account for house expenses and our own personal accounts. We have never had a late payment in any of our obligations.

We have neighbours that help both of us and when we require any rides to the airport, train stations or anywhere else they are there help out. They are also willing to assist us with house maintenance or any repairs, and also suggest who to contact if they can’t be of assistance. I occasionally go to visit my sister Nancy in the Windsor area. I also enjoy taking the bus to the different malls, and sit and have a coffee and watch all of the people go by, just to get out of the house.

I take the bus or get rides from Ruthann when we go places together or to medical appointments. I am very grateful for this and will treat Ruthann to dinner from time to time.

I can cook, usually with the microwave, and I even prepared a turkey dinner once. Ruthann does most of the housework because she prefers it that way but I help out when I can.

We have a lovely home. Every Christmas Eve for the past 30 years, we host a get together for our cousins and their children.

I think about retiring in a couple of years. What would I like to do in my retirement? I would treat every day like it’s the weekend, relax, and do whatever I feel like!