University of Virginia Library

Commune In Foothills

Last fall he began his little
community on a 400-acre tract
of woods and rolling farmland
in the foothills of the Blue
Ridge mountains near Crozet.

There were then only
three retarded adults, or

Villagers as they are called, and
five co-workers. Today
Innisfree Village, an
interdependent working
community with mentally
retarded men and women is the
home for 11 Villagers, 13
co-workers and 12 children.

Innisfree Village provides an
alternative to the large
institution where the
handicapped person is kept
sedated 24 hours a day. The
Villager is not viewed as a
patient to be entertained, kept
occupied or treated with
special condescension. Rather,
Innisfree provides an
environment where the
handicapped Villager and
non-handicapped co-worker
can live and work together.

There are no institutional
kitchens, dormitories or mess
halls. Instead the Villager eats
meals with co-workers in a
family atmosphere within their
homes.

Modeling his community
after the Camphill Movement
established some 30 years ago
in Copake, New York, Heinz
Kramp's community is one in
which "volunteers choose to
live with the handicapped, not
for the handicapped." Here it
is hoped that the mentally
handicapped can live a vital
and productive life in an
environment free from
distraction and hostility. Here,
at Innisfree, the mentally
handicapped may develop a
sense of belonging to a
community in which he can
make significant contributions.

Mentally retarded adults
who are accepted as Villagers
at Innisfree must be at least 17
years old and must be able to
manage their own personal
hygiene. They must also
demonstrate a certain promise
to work and live compatibly
with others. "This," says Mr.
Kramp, "is indeed necessary
for Innisfree to be successful in
the kind of living situation
which we promote."