Billy's Story
"More Than an E-Mail Discussion Group"

A REFUTATION OF ALL ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF INSTITUTIONALIZING ANYBODY BECAUSE OF MENTAL RETARDATION



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Recently, it was learned that Sonoma Developmental Center is "seeing some admissions of children who are in the developmental center for the first time." Also, the "Redwood Unit" has been opened for young adults with challenging behaviors on what was the Oaks Unit. These events have been described by insiders as "troubling" and "deja vu written all over it.  Instead of the Oaks Unit; now there is the Redwood Unit with the same issues and concerns, just the people are a little older." This is to reflect on "deja vu", the Coffelt v. DDS lawsuit, the events leading up to it, and the results for one young man, Billy Coffelt.
But, is it a snakepit on the inside? That's what is was recently called. The Center says it's been mislabeled.
Thomas Ward, Clinical Director: "We weren't prepared to deal with this type of population and particularly at the rate they came in." They are kids with aggressive, often destructive behavior.  
There have been a number of other parent complaints. Not of abusive staff, but of abusive kids. Aggressive kids hurting each other. The clinical director understands. Though, he says bumps and bruises are expected with this group.
Thomas Ward, Clinical Director: "First of all, we didn't want them here. We felt they were problematic, too much to have in a large institution like this. We tried to keep them out. They are everything from suicidal to aggressive and destructive, etc." It is a group of patients Sonoma has traditionally not dealt with. One thing all involved agree on, the state is to blame. There simply is not adequate funding for enough community homes. Smaller places where these kids can get the attention they need.
In Sonoma, Janet Yee Channel Seven News.
Channel 5 Bay Sunday 1990 (click for video)
Billy's Foster Home 1993 (click for video)
Billy Coffelt is a happy, curious 15-year-old. He loves the texture of leaves and twigs. But Billy wasn't always this calm. Billy is severely mentally retarded. And when he lived with his family, he often hurt his brother and sister. Eventually, his parents  couldn't handle him. They put him in a state hospital. Things got worse.   
"He was quiet, with the potential of being aggressive with other children.  And he was often sad.. He looked sad."
When Billy was beaten by somebody at the hospital, his parents hit the roof. They wanted a better home for him, but none was available. They filed a lawsuit and forced the state to start a new foster care program for children with serious developmental problems. The program is run by FamiliesFirst, Inc. A state agency that runs a variety of programs for emotionally-abused and developmentally-disabled children. Billy now lives in a home with his foster mom, Esther Davis.
Esther likes to tell how Billy picked her from among four possible foster moms: "He came over to sit down on the chair. He put his head on my lap, and then the meeting lasted about 45 minutes. He stayed there, and I stroked his head. And I said right then, 'this is the child I wanted.'" Esther says she's seen a big change in Billy since he arrived at the home. When he first came here, he would often be aggressive to the point of hurting himself, and he could only speak a handful of words. Now, Billy can say more than 200 words, and he seldom has aggressive outbursts.       

Esther has 6 children of her own. All grown. She considers Billy her baby. The two have developed a unique rapport:
"Burger King!""Burger King? You just had Burger King!" "Pizza!" "Pizza? Okay. In a few minutes, you're gonna have pizza. Would you like pizza for lunch?"
(Laughter)   
Billy laughs when he's happy. For now, he has everything he needs. In Sacramento, Cynthia Sanchez, KOVR 13 News.
Billy's father says allowing another family to take care of his son was the toughest thing he's done. But he did it for the welfare and safety of his children and the family. Right now, Billy's dad is pushing for a law that would allow children to stay in foster homes through adulthood. Currently, a child has to leave his foster home when he turns18.