Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
 
Board
State Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
 
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3/16/18  10:07 pm
Commenter: Gerry Laporte

Making L'Arche Program Model Illegal
 

It's come to my attention that you have proposed regulations that would not permit assistants to live in group homes for the disabled, which is the model for the L'Arche program.  I first became familiar with the L'Arche program in the late 1960's or early 1970"s, when I attended a lecture by Jean Vanier, the founder of L'Arche.  I found Mr. Vanier to be an inspiration over the years and have admired the successes of the L'Arche program.    For the last 12 years or so, I have been a member of a parish church in Arlington where core members and assistants from the L'Arche community regularly attend events and are well integrated into our parish community.  If regulatory issues have arisen with particular aspects of programs for the diabled, your regulations should address those particular issues.  They should not eliminate an entire program model that has worked so well and done so much good for disable individuals over so many years and continues to work well from all outward appearances.   

CommentID: 63791