Spring 2005 Edition

Opportunity Center     You might have driven by a thousand times and never noticed the old house on Fair Lawn Avenue, near Route 208. Inside is something called the Opportunity Center. It’s part school, part social center and part factory. It’s a day program for fifteen adults with various disabilities, including: autism, mental disabilities, Down’s Syndrome and cerebral palsy. The Center provides a “working environment” in very large quotes. It’s definitely not a very productive working environment. No one is forced to work and there is a lot more sitting around than working.  The people are happy to work, but there are few other places where they can; they can’t bag or stock shelves at Pathmark. Going to work makes them feel productive and they enjoy seeing the products in stores”, Crissa Skarimbas, the Opportunity Center's Executive Director, says. On a recent afternoon, the people at the Center put stickers and caps on shampoo bottles for the American Comb Corporation in Paterson. Thirty years ago, the founder of the company donated money to help start the Innovation Center. Ever since, the company has been providing projects for the Center’s clients. At the Center, most of the people are able to put the caps on the bottles. Not everybody can perform more difficult tasks, though, like tightening the caps or affixing the UPC codes. The kind of repetitive work the Center's clients perform, helps them maintain their dexterity. It is a form of occupational therapy. The Center also offers some educational and social programs. A volunteer music teacher regularly visits and two senior citizens read stories. Younger volunteers like to come in and play games like Simon Says and Hot Potato. These games can be a big deal for the people at the Opportunity Center. They require a level of physical and social coordination that the readers of Fair Lawn News normally take for granted. At the Center, Crissa said, “they love to watch oldies. They love I Love Lucy and slapstick like the Three Stooges. Anytime someone gets wonked on the head, they think it’s hilarious.” The Center’s clients periodically go on trips, most recently a performance of Disney on Ice at the Continental Arena. “They love it, seeing a live show is a big deal for these guys”, Crissa said. But, the experience can also be problematic. “Using the bathroom and getting to and from our seats can be difficult. Everything moves so fast, that our clients can get terrified. The world moves so quickly, it can be anxiety provoking." If you see developmentally disabled people at the mall, a museum or the theater -- you don’t need to be scared of them. They don’t have any communicable diseases and they are not violent. “Quite the opposite. When they are scared, they want to hold your hand. Developmentally, most are between three and five years old. They tend to be shy in public. Some are difficult to understand because of speech issues. Some are more aware of their disabilities; they know they are different and that makes them shy”, Crissa said, The Clients Some clients have been coming to the Center for a long time. Steven, started attending when he was 18 and Rusty when he was 15. That was about thirty years ago. Rusty looks perfectly normal. When he talks, though, it is difficult to understand him. He has never been able to learn colors or numbers. He seems to have a great sense of humor; one can’t help but smile, when he tries to say something funny and then laughs out loud.  He still lives with his Mom.  If Rusty's mother dies before he does, Rusty's sister will become his guardian. Almost all of the people at the Center can use the bathroom, although the staff need to remind them periodically. They can also eat on their own, although they can have trouble opening up packages (it is a fine motor skill that most do not have). Nearly all of them can respond to simple queries, like “what is your name”. One woman when asked, even knew the name of the U.S. President. Fair Lawn’s Police Sergeant Robert Boyle periodically speaks with the Opportunity Center’s clients about safety. He tells them they shouldn’t pick up any pills they see lying around. They shouldn’t go off on their own and they shouldn’t go anywhere with a stranger. He talks to them the same way he does as when he talks to a kindergarten class. Many developmentally disabled people die younger than other people, usually in their 40’s and 50’s. Recently, a 45 year old man who regularly attended the Opportunity Center died after developing pneumonia. Geraldo Rivera and The Rise of Group Homes About half the people who come to the Opportunity Center live with their families, the others live in group homes.   According to Police Sgt. Robert Boyle, Fair Lawn has three group homes -- on Ryan Road, Fern Street and 29th Street. He said “we don’t have any problems with them. They are usually well staffed. If the people were a threat to themselves or others, they wouldn’t be in one of these homes. They would be in an institution like Greystone in Morris County or Bergen Regional Hospital in Paramus.    “Since the 1970’s, group homes for developmentally disabled adults have became the preferred living situation”, Crissa said. In 1972, Channel 7’s rookie reporter, Geraldo Rivera, used a stolen key and entered a Staten Island institution for 5,000 people. Rivera documented the horrific living condition and physical abuse of its disabled residents, which included mentally retarded children. His report led to taking people out of large institutions and placing them into small group homes.  In a typical group home, four to six people live with a rotating staff that are present 24 hours. Supportive work environments, like the Opportunity Center, were also set up. “The goal was to make the residents part of society, not disenfranchised.”, Crissa said.    The Future In New Jersey, children with developmental disabilities stay in educational programs until they are 22. In the next few years, Crissa and others expect to see more adults with developmental disabilities. In the past 20 years, with the growth of fertility drugs, premature babies and the ability of modern medicine to keep them alive – there will be a greater need for group homes and places like the Opportunity Center.   For More Information  The Opportunity Center is a private non-profit organization . They usually charge a tuition (between $400 and $550 per month) and receive funds from group homes, the state, county, borough of Fair Lawn, local organizations, and donations. The Opportunity Center also accepts donations, such as children’s books, videos and games. If you would like to volunteer or find out more information, see www.theopportunitycenter.org     Photo above:  Crissa Skarimbas bending down to talk with one of the Opportunity Center's clients.