Benefits to supportive communities for all
Abuse in group homes will continue because groups that claim to advocate for people with developmental disabilities (The Arc, Disability Rights Washington and Developmental Disabilities Council) do not listen to the families of these vulnerable people [“Report: State ignoring abuse in group home,” news, Dec. 17]. The families are the experts and know what it takes to keep their loved ones healthy and safe.

Many of these unreported, uninvestigated and unpunished criminal acts have come about from the push to deinstitutionalize. The risks of deinstitutionalization clearly outweigh the benefits now.

We, as a community, need to realize there are benefits to supportive communities for all — not just the elderly, wealthy, “over 55” crowd or any other group that lives in a gated or planned community, but also for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

—Cheryl Felak, Seattle