The Denver Post 2/28/1975

(Handwritten note at top of the page: Hey Bar - Congratulations! What's your projected involvement in it?)

[Headline] Cooperative Project
Disabled to Get Apartments
By Sharon Sherman, Denver Post Staff Writer

Fourteen young disabled persons are expected to move from nursing homes into apartments of their own within three months as part of a cooperative project paid for by city, state and federal funds.

The young people would rent at a reduced rate renovated apartments in the Las Casitas Homes, at 11th Ave. and Federal B1vd., operated by the Denver Housing Authority. They would receive medical, rehabilitative and counseling services from community agencies.

The project, named the Atlantis Community Early Action Program, will be funded through the Denver Mayor's Commission on the Disabled. It was designed by members of Atlantis Community, Inc., a committee of disabled and able-bodied persons working to create a planned community for the young physically handicapped.

"I don't think this is the final answer (to problems of the young disabled in nursing homes), but it's a beginning with good possibilities,” said Dr. Parnell McLaughlin, director of the Colorado Division of Rehabilitation, through which the money for the project will come.

The early-action program is expected to cost $16,417 initially.

A little more than $3,000 of that has already been committed by Dr. Henry A. Foley, director of the Colorado Depart Social Services.

That money will make it possible for McLaughlin to tap unused federal matching funds available to Colorado for rehabilitation projects.

"We're still about $400 short, but I think we can work that out,” McLaughlin said.

Las Casitas was chosen for the early-action program because it is built on relatively flat terrain, with some open space available, has access to bus service and is near the Westside Neighborhood Health Center.

The aim of the program, according to the written proposal, is “to offer a normal way of life to the severely disabled.”

In addition to rent subsidy, the project would provide residents with a program coordinator and home-care attendants who will see that medical, education, transportation and other services are available. Residents will receive the attendant care needed and will be billed only for the actual hours of service they receive.

[Subheading] SCREENING PROCESS

Those persons renting the units will be selected by a screening committee of disabled persons from Atlantis Community, Inc. The screening process will include a written application, supplying background, medical and financial information, and an interview.

If the Atlantis Community is achieved, the units at Las Casitas would become “satellite" housing for the community.

Created on

Wednesday 10 July 2013

Posted on

Sunday 21 February 2016

Tags

apartments, Atlantis Community, Atlantis Early Action Program, attendant services, attendants, CO Dept. of Social Services, Colorado VR, community based services, Dr. Henry Foley, home care, Las Casitas Housing, Mayor's Commission on the Disabled, youth with disabilities

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• Early Atlantis Community, 1975

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