The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

Opinion

Discussion

February 19, 2013

Letter: NORCE’s fate can’t just be about money

Enid News & Eagle

My daughter, Samantha, 47, lives in Enid at the NORCE center, and has for 35 years. At present, we, the parents and guardians are fighting to keep the center open. We feel it better to have all the residents’ services under one roof.

When a child is prone to seizures, or must use a feeding tube for sustenance, it is only logical to maintain their stability under one roof. This requires several people per resident. The governor has taken the decision of the now defunct DHS commission, that this center is too costly to run, and is pulling out the residents. I have heard of no cost analysis being run in this instance, one that would show on paper which venue will be more costly to the state. I would like to see that accounting.

Gov. Fallin’s plan is to house our loved ones in small homes around in communities, with trained employees (sometimes at a 3-to-1 ratio) and staff them 24/7.

On the outset, this sounds like a wonderful plan.

There are two glaring flaws in the governor’s plan. One is that some of our people are not mobile; Samantha cannot take care of herself. She will not benefit by going out into the community. The community will be fine for those who are ambulatory, they enjoy activities and are capable to do so.

The other glaring issue is that our most vulnerable citizens needing immediate response from doctors or nurses won’t have it.

The solution to this situation is to update NORCE to accommodate residents of SORC, in Pauls Valley, and have our mentally challenged under one roof. Teach the teachable again, have the self-sustaining farm they once enjoyed and have their safe, secure, well-trained staff available to them again. It’s not always about the money, Gov. Fallin.

Suzanne Randall

Oklahoma City

Text Only
Opinion
Featured Ads
AP Video
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case Former Rep. Weiner Running for New York Mayor Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile Protests Outside Cincinnati IRS Office New Xbox One Entertainment Console Unveiled
NDN Video
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air! Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill DWTS Crowns a Winner Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal The Hangover Baby All Grown Up Olivia Munn Flaunts Her Bikini Bod Britney Spears Under Fire Once Again For Being A Bad Mom Arias Tells Jury What She'd Do if She Gets Life The all-new Xbox One RAW: Massive tornado strikes Oklahoma Nidal Hasan paid $278K while awaiting trial VIDEO: Teacher reunites mother and son after tornado levels elementary school in Oklahoma City Okla. tornado survivor finds dog buried alive under rubble
Seasonal Content
House Ads