The Sunday Denver Post, Feb. 29 1976

The first article on this page is a continuation of the story in ADAPT 39. The entire story is included there for easier reading.

Second Article Headline: Nursing Homes Depressing
[Subheading] At Atlantis Quadriplegic Finds 'His Peace'
by Fred Gillies

He's paralyzed from the neck down, and a machine breathes for him.

And generally he‘s confined to a bed or a wheelchair.

Yet John Folks, 20, smiled warmly last week as he spoke of his new home at the Atlantis Community for the handicapped in southwest Denver.

“Atlantis is freedom.“ John said with firm conviction as he lay in bed in his apartment at Atlantis.

While John spoke, a steady clicking and sighing came from the respirator which has been his constant companion since he was shot in the back of the neck four years ago by an unknown assailant. The bullet severed the
spine, resulting in paralysis of most of John's body.

With evident displeasure, John recalled his more than three years in nursing homes.

"At one of these homes," he said, "he was the only young person among all the elderly residents."

"There was no one to talk to - I just watched TV,” John said. "It was really bad. . depressing. . ."But at Atlantis. I feel different. This is the type of people I feel good with."

Atlantis, which has been in operation since last June at 2965 W. 11th Ave. came into being at the right time for John.

Atlantis officials say John was turned down by 25 nursing homes before he decided to apply at Atlantis and was accepted three weeks ago.

"It‘s hard to find a nursing home that will take a person with a breathing machine—it‘s too much care,“ John explained.

And nursing homes, John said, don't look too kindly on a young person who wants to enjoy the normal things such as rock music, a beer when he feels like it and conversations with friends at late hours.

When John is not confined to bed as he has been recently with the flu, he moves around in his specially equipped wheelchair which he steers with his chin. The wheelchair has a portable, battery-operated respirator which John must use most of the time.

John shares his Atlantis apartment with another handicapped person.

But he says he now has another prized freedom: he can be alone in his room from time to time.

"This is your place. and no one else's." John said with a quiet fervor in his voice.

Created on

Wednesday 10 July 2013

Posted on

Friday 12 February 2016

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Atlantis, attendant, Debbie Walters, freedom, home, John Folks, nursing homes, Physical Therapy, privacy, shot, ventilator

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