Hi, my name is Howard Holland. I was diagnosed with Bulbar Palsy, a disorder that causes the deterioration of my muscles. At this time I was living with my family and attending Brunswick High School. I left High School and went to work at the Jeanne Bussard Center where I was a printer and worked in the laundry department for 30 years.

My dream was to live in my own apartment. That dream came true in 1995. Chris from The Arc helped me find an apartment and sign the lease. The Developmental Disabilities Administration provided funding so that I could hire someone to help me with living on my own. I was happy to have the help from my new friend. My friend also helped me go to the grocery store and pay my bills. My apartment was near work so I could walk every day. I even walked when it was snowing. I liked working. I liked my apartment. I was proud I could do this on my own.

In the fall of 1997, I had pneumonia  which was complicated by my Bulbar Palsy. I wanted to stay in my apartment, but was not able to afford the amount of in home care I needed to address my health concerns. Eventually I moved into Citizens Nursing Home. The Nursing Home was the only option at the time to receive the help I needed everyday.

Now I am stuck living where I do not want to live. The Nursing Home knows that I want to leave and live on my own again. The Freedom Center, a new center for independent living in Frederick, MD has been contacting Nursing Homes to find out if there were people with disabilities who would want to live on their in their own home and they were told no. The only reason they found out about me is because my friend, Vicki, told them about me. She is the Freedom Center Board President and is also with The Arc.

Chere from The Freedom Center came to see me and asked me what I wanted. I have made a new friend in Chere. I still have my old friend Chris, but because I live in a nursing home I have lost my DDA funding to pay for my attendant care.

Now I have many friends working with me to get out of this nursing home. Once I leave, I will have all of the community support I could possibly want to prevent this from happening again. This time, I may be able to get a Medicaid Waiver from the Community Choices program and also may be able to get DDA funding again.  With these in place and with my friends, I’ll be able to live on my own. I’ll be able to cook again. I’ll be able to visit friends again. I’ll be able to go bowling again. Maybe I’ll even be able to work again.

It is really important that others like me know about community living choices and have the chance to get out of nursing homes to live in their own homes just like everyone else. I look forward to the day I have a place to call my own again.