Life On My Own - Developmental Disabilities from Institution to the Community

"It was like going to a strange place. I had to get used to the place. What they did was my mother and father drove over to the building where they did the signing to let the person come to Pineland and then from there I went to a hospital."

Paul Easton went from foster home to foster home as a child, ending up in Pineland, Maine’s large institution for people with developmental disabilities. When he finally made it into the community, he could have a life most of us take for granted – a job, a wife, and choices of his own.

Find a full transcript of this podcast here: https://maineddc.org/transcript-paul-easton

"They had to have bodyguards when I take a shower and everything. Just for one minute they didn’t leave the area. They had to have bodyguards there to watch out what you’re doing. I didn’t like that either. Privacy. That’s not good."

Jim Reed was sent to Pineland, Maine’s large institution for people with developmental disabilities, as a boy. His story could have ended there, but instead he made his way back into the community, and has built a life that has choices and freedom.

Find a full transcript of this podcast here: https://maineddc.org/transcript-jim-reed

"But when he came back home I believe there was a time when Mom and Dad talked to him, not knowing really if he understood, but just telling him that “We didn’t know. We didn’t know what was happening, we didn’t know how sad you were We didn’t know what was going on and we will never, ever send you away again.” And he just began—I think at that point he began to heal."

Vicki Schad’s brother Bobby was always “special”, but until his family made the decision to send him to Pineland, Maine’s large institution for people with developmental disabilities, they didn’t know how vulnerable his differences would make him.

Find a full transcript of this podcast here: https://maineddc.org/transcript-vicki-schad

"When night time comes, you know, one of the worst things that happened was that superintendent was leaving the building, you know, and leaving the kids all unattended and they had big guys up there, coming down, beating us up, you know."

Richard Raymond’s life began in poverty and led to his being institutionalized at Pineland, Maine’s large institution for people with developmental disabilities. But the end of his story is one of resilience and of having choices for living a life on his own terms.

Find a full transcript of this podcast here: https://maineddc.org/transcript-richard-raymond

"My folks couldn’t come for a while, because where I was just—It hurt me to see them to leave and I got really upset and crying and stuff and they were going to come in and put me in a straitjacket and give me a shot. I finally calmed down, you know, it took me a while, but it was just like they put me there and they went off. It hurt me so bad, you know. It wasn’t my kind of place to be."

Maryann Preble was institutionalized at Pineland, Maine’s large institution for people with developmental disabilities, after her mother died. A chance encounter with her brother led both to her leaving Pineland, and a life of work, marriage, and advocacy for others like her.

Find a full transcript of this podcast here: https://maineddc.org/transcript-maryann-preble

"This aide come took me down the stairs and ripped my dress and they treat me like a wild animal. If you don’t get up at roll call they put you in the other bed until you get up. They treat you like a crazy person."

Vanessa Munsey as a young girl was sent to a foster home, and from there ended up in Pineland, Maine’s large institution for people with developmental disabilities – but her story didn’t end there.

Find a full transcript of this podcast here: https://maineddc.org/transcript-vanessa-munsey