We’re always happy to receive and publish letters to the editor. Yesterday VB reader Hazel Wyld, the mother and carer of an Island resident with severe learning difficulties, wrote to us concerned about the short notice those in residential care have been given that today will be their last visit to the Medina Centre. Ed
Today is a dark day in the history of the Island.
First you have to imagine you have severe learning difficulties.
Then you have either lost your parents or they are no longer able to look after you. Through no fault of your own, you are now living in a residential unit.
However, a couple of days a week you go to a day centre, maybe have made friends, certainly do some different things, maybe you look forward to it all week.
No more outings to Medina Centre
Now suddenly, with very little warning, you are told you can no longer have this outing, the council who is funding you to do this has said they will not fund you anymore.
Today will be your last day … maybe you do not really have enough understanding to know something else is being taken from you.
From now on, you will stay in your residential centre and the already overworked and underpaid staff will be told it is their job to entertain you.
Farewell party
Today the Medina Centre is giving you a “Goodbye BBQ” cos you won’t be allowed in there any more.
Maybe you don’t know it, but that is what is happening and the rest of the Island should feel angry for you and the council should feel shame.
Image: A.Drian under CC BY-ND 2.0
