https://blue.feedland.org/?river=http://data.feedland.org/blue/feeds/Mattmuss.xml Tue, 18 Feb 2025 16:18:48 GMT feedland v0.6.43 https://cyber.harvard.edu/rss/rss.html Tue, 18 Feb 2025 16:18:49 GMT http://rpc.rsscloud.io:5337/pleaseNotify Tue, February 18, 2025 11:18 AM EST <p>The Guild for Exceptional children has been an institution in Bay Ridge Brooklyn. The Guild is an organization that serves people with developmental disabilities. “The Guild just celebrated a client’s 90th birthday recently, ” said Michael Fanto.</p> <p>Fanto’s son, Peter was a part of the guild for over forty years. He heard about the organization through a neighbor. “I’ll be honest with you, at that time I never heard of any type of disabilities. After Peter’s was born, that&#39;&#39;s when I heard of Down Syndrome,” Fanto said.</p> <p>The organization was a social gathering for parents with children who had disabilities. Fanto mentioned that they ran boy scouts, halloween parties, etc. As the organization grew residences opened.</p> <p>According to the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign, “More than 77 percent of the individuals with disabilities in the study lived with their parents or with another relative, while 17 percent lived independently with support and 6 percent lived in group homes.”</p> <p>Parents of children with disabilities are hesitant of moving them out. There are questions that parents must ask in making that decision. “It’s a difficult life change when your child is born with conditions. As you get older, it’s difficult to take care of them,” Fanto said.</p> <p>Peter’s step mother who was involved for the majority of his life. She described when Peter lived with others it would help him. “When Peter would interact with people like himself, you truly did not see a happier person. He had friends like any person would.”</p> <p>Peter passed away this past November. “When we held the wake for Peter, everybody from his residence came.Even other residences within the guild came over to pay their respects. It’s great knowing that there are people out there who care about you in times of need,” Fanto said.</p> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 16:18:48 GMT https://blue.feedland.org/?item=788791 https://blue.feedland.org/?item=788791 The Guild for Exceptional children has been an institution in Bay Ridge Brooklyn. The Guild is an organization that serves people with developmental disabilities. “The Guild just celebrated a client’s 90th birthday recently, ” said Michael Fanto. Fanto’s son, Peter was a part of the guild for over forty years. He heard about the organization through a neighbor. “I’ll be honest with you, at that time I never heard of any type of disabilities. After Peter’s was born, that''s when I heard of Down Syndrome,” Fanto said. The organization was a social gathering for parents with children who had disabilities. Fanto mentioned that they ran boy scouts, halloween parties, etc. As the organization grew residences opened. According to the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign, “More than 77 percent of the individuals with disabilities in the study lived with their parents or with another relative, while 17 percent lived independently with support and 6 percent lived in group homes.” Parents of children with disabilities are hesitant of moving them out. There are questions that parents must ask in making that decision. “It’s a difficult life change when your child is born with conditions. As you get older, it’s difficult to take care of them,” Fanto said. Peter’s step mother who was involved for the majority of his life. She described when Peter lived with others it would help him. “When Peter would interact with people like himself, you truly did not see a happier person. He had friends like any person would.” Peter passed away this past November. “When we held the wake for Peter, everybody from his residence came.Even other residences within the guild came over to pay their respects. It’s great knowing that there are people out there who care about you in times of need,” Fanto said.