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Speaking out for People with
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Meet Our Families

The vast majority of VOR's members have become involved in this organization because someone they care about has intellectual and developmental disabilities or autism In this section, we will regularly share their stories. Their own stories in their own words explain WHO VOR represents and WHY we do what we do.

Do you have a story or pictures to share? We welcome your submission. Please send it to hdwyer@vor.net, or call toll free 877-399-4867.

Photo Consent Form

Oct 16, 2025 | Meet Our Families

VOR is seeking photos of – 1) Your family member(s): Please email pictures to info@vor.net with this signed photo consent form, along with your name and the first name of your family member. Your photo cannot include other individuals unless we also receive a photo consent form for those…

Surviving the Inclusion Delusion: Danny at 40

Oct 16, 2025 | Meet Our Families

By Jill Barker My son Danny is forty years old this week. He has multiple disabilities resulting from brain damage acquired during his first few days after birth. He functions at the level of a 6 to 12 month old infant and always will. And, yes, I know he is not really an infant. We do not…

VOR Time Capsule from 1999

Feb 2, 2024 | Meet Our Families

VOR's Jane Anthony recently unearthed a video that VOR members made 25 years ago, promoting the need for intermediate care facilities as an important component of a full continuum of care and service options. The year was 1999, right around the time that the Supreme Court submitted its historic…

Recommended for You - The VOR Book Club

Dec 4, 2023 | Meet Our Families

We are happy to share some books written by VOR's Authors!

The Autism Surge: Lies, Conspiracies, and My Own Kids

Jul 29, 2023 | Meet Our Families

By Jill Escher, July 20, 2023 Rates of autism are skyrocketing. The question isn’t just why—but what we need to do about it right now, and what’s holding us back.

In Memory of Mary McTernan, Past President of VOR

Feb 28, 2019 | Meet Our Families

We celebrate the life of Mary McTernan, and mourn her passing. Mary was a long-time member and past President of VOR (2004-2009). She was the mother of a child with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Mary Elizabeth McTernan.

In Memory of Don Putnam

Apr 21, 2017 | Meet Our Families

April 7, 2017 We are sad to announce the passing of our own Don Putnam, of Kentucky. Don was a member of VOR for over two decades. He is survived by his wife Nora of 61 years, his four children, including his son David who resides at Oakwood, and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. …

In Memory of Samuel Golden

Mar 11, 2016 | Meet Our Families

Sam Golden, one of VOR’s founding members, passed away on March 8, 2016. He died peacefully, at the age of 89, after batting malignant melanoma since last summer. “There are some people who come into our lives that you know from the start are special. Sam was one of those people. I met Sam more…

In Memory of Charles Hart

Feb 20, 2016 | Meet Our Families

On January 25, 2016, Charles Hart, one of the original founders of CCMR, Inc. (Formerly, The Hogan/Berry Parents Association) passed away and ended 50 years of advocacy for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) and their families. Charles Harts’ entry in to advocacy…

VOR and Me, Hugo Dwyer

Nov 20, 2015 | Meet Our Families

VOR and Me For those members who I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet, I would like to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Hugo Dwyer. My sister Marty and I are co-guardians of my brother Tom, who turned 59 earlier this month. Tom has lived at the Southbury Training Center (STS) in…

Our Son Forrest

Jul 3, 2013 | Meet Our Families

Our son is at Fircrest, an RHC. Our son’s life was literally saved by Fircrest. Our story is one you should listen to, because there are thousands of people like our son who are entering the system and many of them will need the services that the RHCs offer which cannot be met ‘in the community’. A…

Holly Honeymoon: Victory is Christmas present for one family and hope for others

Jan 31, 2013 | Meet Our Families

by VOR, January 31, 2013 After an eight year journey, Virginia (“Ginger”) Massa now calls Holly Center home. Families in similar situations across the country will appreciate what a monumental challenge it was for Ginger and her family to secure placement at Holly Center. As a Medicaid-licensed…

Home At Rainier

Apr 20, 2012 | Meet Our Families

By Fr. James Boyle Friends of Rainier News February 2012 Edited by J.R. Hardman, attorney and cert. pro. Guardian Persons with developmental disabilities are above all else human beings. Society often sees their disability first and the person later, if at all. Because they are persons first,…

Edwin Sanchez's ordeal in a group home

Jan 20, 2012 | Meet Our Families

The STS Blog Southbury Training School January 18, 2012 Community-based care in group homes is certainly appropriate for the vast majority of people with intellectual disabilities. But it doesn’t work for everyone. If you don’t believe that, talk to James Sanchez. If anyone’s experience…

Thomas' Story

Jan 13, 2012 | Meet Our Families

By Cheryl Felak, RN, BSN * Seattle, Washington * Dec. 31, 2011 Related Video: Fircrest - A Vital Public Asset Related Audio: From Crisis to Stabilization - Thomas' Story Thomas now lives at Fircrest, the Residential Habilitation Center (RHC) (a state ICF/MR and specialized…

Remembering Robin Sims

Jun 30, 2011 | Meet Our Families

VOR has lost a dear friend and amazing advocate. On June 23, Robin Sims lost her battle with cancer. Robin had served as VOR’s President since 2008 until about a week before her death when her health required that she resign. Her dedication to to our…

Three men and their home at Templeton

Apr 1, 2011 | Meet Our Families

COFAR Blog February 11, 2011 Part 1 of 2 On a freezing cold morning last month, the fields of snow shone in the sunlight as Tony Shepherd drove through the Templeton Developmental Center campus in Baldwinville in central Massachusetts, pointing out the sights. “It’s God’s country,” he said, of the…

Meet Jacob Beebe

Nov 23, 2010 | Meet Our Families

By Ed and Virginia Carraway Jacob is mentally handicapped, almost nonverbal, and must be attended to most of the time. He is overly friendly to all he meets, which poses some concerns. We hope to place him in a gated community of a State Center (ICF/MR) where he will be safe to wander and socialize…

Meet Robert Zitzmann

Nov 23, 2010 | Meet Our Families

By Carola Zitzmann Robert is mentally retarded, with brain damage, austistic tendencies, and needs supervision most of the time. He is non-verbal, needs assistance in dressing/undressing, bathing, shaving, teeth brushing, toileting, as listed all his daily living needs. He lives in a…

Meet Phillip Miller

Nov 23, 2010 | Meet Our Families

by Mary Paulsen Phillip has severe autism and is virtually nonverbal. As an adult, he as Obessive-Compulsive Disorder and is still hyperactive. He is a large man and can be assaultive/dangerous when he does not get his way. I placed him at our "state institution" when he was five because of my…

Meet Aaron Underwood

Nov 22, 2010 | Meet Our Families

By Kevin and Rebecca Underwood Our son, Aaron, was born 8 weeks prematurely in December, 1979. While he survived the birth, the life long effects from subarchnoid and pulmonary hemorrhages are devastating. It was our intention to provide Aaron's care forever. However, his medical needs outpaced our…

Battling Chase's Demons

Apr 19, 2010 | Meet Our Families

Source: The News Observer (April 4, 2010) Seven years ago, Randi Davenport's son fell apart. Just as he turned 15, about the time most kids are learning to drive, Chase tried to strangle himself with a cord. He was convinced that people he called "the nailers" were coming to kill him. He went…

Advancing Individual, Not Professional, Choice

Apr 19, 2010 | Meet Our Families

My name is Rick Eastin. I was born with cerebral palsy and as a result of my disability I attended special classes for persons with mental and physical disabilities from the age of 3 to 14. My time at the school was, in many ways, a painful experience because my own disability impacts me in three…

Carsten’s journey to Sonoma Developmental Center

Dec 18, 2009 | Meet Our Families

By Ana Mettler About the author: Ms. Mettler is Carsten's mother. She tells the story of her son's long journey to Sonoma Developmental Center in Northern California. His journey involves a very successful "inclusive" educational experience to a sad saga of one failed group home placement after…

"I Found You!"

Dec 18, 2009 | Meet Our Families

By Emily McDonough About the Author: Ms. McDonough is a volunteer at Fernald Developmental Center in Waltham, Massachusetts. She wrote about her experience as a Fernald volunteer in college application essay. Hide-and-seek is a game in which the searcher’s goal is to find another individual…

John Henry's Story

Sep 18, 2009 | Meet Our Families

By June Peach, Louisiana Our son has been successful because of a 10 year period he lived in a large facility and because he works daily in a large facility now while living at home. He is now 47. Here is his story:

Frank David's Story

Sep 14, 2009 | Meet Our Families

By Linda Selman I am the mother of an autistic and mentally retarded son, Frank David Selman. At twenty-four, Frank David is one of the thousands of developmentally disabled adults living in this nation's Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICFs/MR). Although they make up only…

Fernald Fighters

Aug 26, 2009 | Meet Our Families

"I came to Fernald to help these residents out, and in the end, it was those who could not speak who helped me learn so much about myself." By Laura Marmion As a young girl I didn’t know much about the Fernald Center; a massive state-owned property for mentally handicapped adults in the heart…

All about Anne Golden

Apr 23, 2009 | Meet Our Families

Submitted by Sam Golden Anne was the third of our four children. The first two were Daniel and Jonathan, born, respectively inh 1951 and 1954. She was born on April 7, 1956, so she is now fifty years old. Our first two children were boys and, after our experiences with Anne we decided to have…

My Jimmy J.

Apr 23, 2009 | Meet Our Families

My Jimmy “J” Submitted by Fanny Janazzo We were married for 12 years before our son, James Mark Janazzo was born. He was born on May 15th, 1959 and is our only child. My husband and I were very happy to know we were going to be parents. My pregnancy was normal and it was going to be a happy…

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