State should nurture those who need it most

I have a Down syndrome sister, age 49, who was moved from a productive workshop at Options in Linn County to an adult-oriented “day care” due to budget cuts. She was in tears when told she would be moved out of the program where she felt productive and positive and had developed a 20-year relationship with her bosses (friends).

We were told the decision to move my sister was made by Department of Human Services in Des Moines. They reviewed her file, but never met her. My mother and I know she is highly functional and still has a few years of work left in her.

Parents fought for decades so people like my sister would have the opportunity to grow and be nurtured and have a chance to “give back” to society in a positive way.

We believe we were moving forward and had put the dark days of state institutionalism at Woodward and Glenwood behind us, when the “retarded” were isolated and not allowed to fulfill their days as productive members of society.

The state has the money to fully nurture those who have fought great odds since the first day they were born. Please don't shun them now.

Wade Wagner

Cedar Rapids