University of Virginia Library

Deceiving Looks Mask Active Involvement
Of Local Center For Mentally Retarded

By Donn Kessler
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

A sense of shock set in when we saw
the center for the mentally retarded in
Charlottesville for the first time. A plain
two story house, one's first impression is
that of despair. Certainly no activities can
take place that will help skill the mentally
retarded.

Upon stepping within the house,
however, we realized that we shouldn't
have judged the book by its cover. Inside
were over a dozen people, ranging from
16 to 34, and some with IQ's less than
40, but they were all producing useful
items for sale.

No Babysitting

Henry Tappen, the director of the
program, soon explained to the visiting
students from the Education School that
the purpose of the center was not to babysit.
Rather, the mentally retarded, most of whom
were not educable, were taught useful trades on
a contract basis. Pay was provided by private
companies for which the work was done and in
some cases amounted to $1.40 an hour.

That was the income that Joan was making.
Multi-handicapped with severe emotional
problems, Joan was one of the few cases in the
center that had an almost normal IQ. Classified
as dull normal, she came from a middle class
home and completed her special education in
school at 16.

Joan's basic problem was that she knew she
had emotional problems. The plan of the
center's staff was to keep her mind busy with a
machine while allowing her to accomplish
useful activities.

Jack's Problem

Jack, however, had a different problem.
Multi-handicapped with no intelligible speech,
Jack had been kept at home for almost 27
years. While being mentally retarded, he was
also kept busy with work. He was preparing
furniture in the basement of the house.

Mr. Tappen explained to visitors that Dan
was not very bad off. His comprehension of his
environment was excellent and he was
becoming more independent as time went on.

I sensed he was correct when I saw Jack
wink at one of the girls in our group.

The director stated that the center is part of
the Charlottesville-Albemarle Association for
Retarded Children. The association, which is
completely private and runs on contributions
and certain fees from families, set up the enter
in 1969.

"There are only two full time workers,"
explained Mrs. Thomas, one of the workers.
"Otherwise, there are three half-time workers
and approximately twelve volunteers."

More Volunteers

"We always need volunteers," continued Mr.
Tappen. "The only people working here from
the University are faculty wives. Students who
could set up regular schedules to work would
always be welcome."

Upon this note, we began to prepare to
leave. A sense of despair now came over us as
we pulled out of the driveway. Not pity for the
mentally retarded, and not a sense of
hopelessness, it was, rather, a feeling of anger at
ourselves that we took so much for granted.