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Mike asked: >> Hello all- I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions of research or information about Camphill Communities? My brother is "working" at one in Ireland and I went and visted earlier this summer, and as far as I could tell it was a combination of a sheltered workshop and community living situation. Any guidance on this would be of benefit. Thanks Mike >> That's not a bad description, although they don't resemble other sheltered workshop situations in that there isn't (theoretically) the overseer/employee hierarchy or profit motive seen in enterprises like, say, Remploy. The goal is that the people without disabilities who live in Camphill Communities act to facilitate the choices of and to assist those living there who do have disabilities. A close friend's son lives in a Camphill Community in Ireland (he is an adult with autism and learning difficulties) and finds it to be a much more congenial situation than what "care in the community" permitted him in the UK (i.e., bedsit-based poverty with a revolving cast of paid caregivers.) He gets very agitated when dealing with noise, unexpected situations, and strangers, and gets bored having nothing to do all day but watch TV. In his rural community in Ireland, he works with the animals (which he definitely enjoys!), helps with all the stuff you have to do to keep the house running, and has formed friendships. It's not the right life for everyone--my autistic son would find it "dead boring," he likes city life and meeting people, and will probably be able to work a regular job and manage his own finances--but it's an option that some people well like. My friend speaks enthusiastically about the non-disabled people working there as well--said they do a great job of trying to live out the Camphill philosophy, and seem to be having a good time living that lifestyle themselves. I know there are lots of people who hate the idea of anyone with a disability living outside the "mainstream" community, but there are plenty of non-disabled people who choose a rural, quieter lifestyle as well, so I think that option should also be there for people with disabilities. Certainly my friend's son was experiencing no benefit (and much detriment, having been the victim of crime and bullying) living on benefits in an urban bedsit. That lifestyle actually offered him much less freedom and fewer choices than his current one does. More importantly, he's happier--he's non-verbal but very communicative physically so it's not hard to tell how he feels about things! Just my 2 cents... Mitzi Waltz PS: If you want to do some research on Camphill, start with Rudolf Steiner, whose "philosophy" it's based on. I happen to think Steiner's a bit of a crank, but oh well... The L'Arche communities, which are Catholic, have a similar ethos. Some L'Arche communities are urban. ________________End of message______________________ Archives and tools for the Disability-Research Discussion List are now located at: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html You can JOIN or LEAVE the list from this web page.