Fernald Residents Guaranteed Proper Care

Waltham News Tribune

We (me; John Thomas, deputy director, Arc of Massachusetts; and Paul Spooner, director, MetroWest Center for Independent Living, Framingham) wish to state our strong objection to the comment in a recent Daily News article by David Schieldmeier of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, on the planned closure of the Fernald Development Center.  Mr. Schieldmeier stated that, "Dumping these residents into the community is tantamount to a death sentence."  This is an example of tired fear mongering.  The Dever School and the Belchertown School, two comparable state institutions, already have been closed with residents successfully moving into community settings.

Residents at Fernald receive lifetime rights under a federal court order that guarantees that their services must be equal to or better than what they are currently receiving.  Transferring residents out of the facility acknowledges the accomplishments that have occurred in Massachusetts and nationwide to close anachronistic institutions.

The agreement between SEIU Local 509 and state officials to move the union's employees working at Fernald to community-based programs means there will be no reduction in the healthcare work force.  Everybody wins, and as it should, primacy is appropriately being given to community-based services for people with disabilities.

BILL HENNING, Director

Boston Center for Independent Living