Far, Far From Home: 21-year-old Darren Browne
September 8, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
21-year old Darren Browne’s family must make a 600-mile roundtrip to visit him. He lives in a residential facility in Birmingham because, according to the Evening Times, there are no specialist facilities for him in his own country, Scotland. While Browne has had a history of self-injurious and other behaviors, did authorities have to transport Browne to his new Birmingham home in a Reliance prison van without windows?
That is so sad. It drives me crazy only being able to see my son once a week- I couldn’t imagine it if he lived that far away.
At some point I hope that some of the energy that goes into increasing government funding for childhood autism interventions also goes into helping adults.
The Brownes’ experience also underscores for me why I really like it that Charlie goes to school in our home town, and doesn’t have to travel far to school.
A travesty so say the least. Quality educational residential services are alive and well when and IF there is funding for them.
Parents need to insist that the letter of the law is followed with regard to services…insist!!!