[this page contains a letter and below it an article from the newspaper Rocky Mountain News]

Atlantis Community Inc.
619 south broadway
denver, co 80223
303-297-3056


March 12, 1975

For Immediate Release

At a recent meeting between Dr. Parnell McLaughlin, Director of the Colorado State Dept. of Vocational Rehabilitation, his staff, and representatives from the Atlantis Community it was discovered that an additional $400 will probably be needed to finalize the Atlantis Early Action Program. Dr. Henry Foley, newly appointed Director of the Colorado State Dept. of Social Services, announced at a press conference, March, 1975 that a $3,000 grant will be matched with a $12,000 federal grant for the rehabilitation of seven apartment units at the Las Casitas Housing Projects. These apartment units will be designed specifically for severely disabled young adults in wheelchairs. Although officials from the Denver Housing Authority and the Architectural Consultant from Atlantis estimated the cost for rehabilitating the apartments to be $14,000-15,000, a more detailed study puts these costs in the neighborhood of $16,500. Since no more emergency funds are available from the Dept. of Social Services, the Atlantis Early Action Program will fall short about $400.00 in State matching monies. The Atlantis Community is therefore appealing to the citizens of the State of Colorado for this money. In the event that more than $400 is raised, this extra money shall be used for furniture, transportation and printing costs.

Applications for the Atlantis Early Action Program are now being taken. Disabled individuals should write Atlantis Early Action Program, 619 S. Broadway, Denver, Colorado 80223 for applications or call Cindy Montgomery, Glenn Kopp or Ingo Antonitsch at either 321-7269 or 297-3056.

[signed] Atlantis

Rocky Mountain News
Handicapped to get chance in apartments

photo: head shot of a man looking to the side. He is balding and has glasses, a jacket and tie. Caption reads: Henry A. Foley

Fourteen severely handicapped young persons will be given a chance to live together in apartments instead of being confined in nursing homes because of a jointly funded pilot program called "Atlantis."

The program was announced Thursday by state and city officials to an audience of about 25 handicapped persons who may become eligible to be the project's first residents.

"This program may not be unique in the country, but we hope it will become a model," said State Social Services Director Henry A. Foley. He said the state has pledged $14,500 to remodel the seven apartment units which will be used for Atlantis residents.

The apartments, which will each house two handicapped persons, are located in the Las Casitas housing project on Federal Boulevard between 11th and 12th Avenues.

Ingo Antonitsch, director of the Denver Commision of the Disabled and chairman of a seven-member board created to administer the project, said he hopes the first residents can move in next month. The board will screen handicapped persons now living in nursing homes or with relatives to determine which are best suited, he said.

Antonitsch said the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department has pledged $80,000 in federal funds to help plan the program. The Denver Department of Health and Hospitals has agreed to provide Atlantis residents with part-time medical assistance, he said.

Residents wlll be required to pay rent for the apartments. “We want to prove that even the severely disabled, when given a little moral support, can become sell-sufficient and integrate with the community at large," Antonitsch said.

Created on

Wednesday 10 July 2013

Posted on

Sunday 21 February 2016

Tags

apartments, Atlantis Early Action Program, Colorado VR, Dr. Henry Foley, Glenn Kopp, Ingo Antonitsch, Las Casitas Housing, Mayor's Commission on the Disabled

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• Early Atlantis Community, 1975

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