"Coffee on Sundays" by Barbara Lawson Reesor
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ISBN 978-1-60264-169-3. $12.95. Softcover. 240 pages. This is the true story of “Rikki”, who was confined against her will to an institution for the mentally disabled for her entire adolescent years, only because she was blind and physically disabled. Tragically Rikki was not mentally disabled. This story depicts the author’s role in releasing Rikki from the institution. The story introduces a number of other residents like Rikki. Through them, readers experience the anger, frustration, despair and apathy of many of these young people. Readers also celebrate vicariously when residents discover themselves and a life of opportunity outside the institution. The names have been changed to protect individuals. This book supports the Ontario government’s intention to phase out these institutions in favor of community-based group homes. The story sheds some light on the controversy inherent in all large institutions. Furthermore, it shows how blindness coupled with other disabilities can lead to a mistaken diagnosis, and how confinement over a long period without education or an activity program can disguise true ability. Finally, it is a story about one aspect of Occupational Therapy, the only medical profession that concentrates more on the ability of the patient than the disability. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Barbara Reesor was born April 24th 1925, in Oakville, Ontario. After studying Occupational Therapy at University of Toronto, she accumulated extensive experience in adult physical medicine at rehabilitation centers and general hospitals in Ontario, Canada. She worked as an Occupational Therapist during the 1970s, and consulted in private practice in the 1980s in association with Ottawa Carleton Occupational Therapy Services. For three years, she served as a consultant on a resource team for a special program for the blind at the Rideau Regional Centre.Barbara was a member of the Board of Directors of Cheshire Homes Foundation, Toronto, for five years. She was also the Founder and President of the Therapeutic and Educational Living Centres for the Blind, which were named TELCI House and REESOR House. TELCI was the first Cheshire home for the blind in North America. In 1984, she was awarded the Order of Canada in recognition of her work with the blind, multi-handicapped adults. Login to review this product