Q&A: James Boles on People Inc.
Updated: 03/25/07 8:34 AM
People Inc. is this region's largest human services agency. With more than
2,500 full- and part-time employees, it annually serves more than 12,000
people who are developmentally disabled, independent seniors or have special
needs. James Boles, president and CEO, discussed the agency's history,
growth and future.
Q: Since the movement began inthe early 1970s to deinstitutionalizethe
developmentally disabled,what progress has been made?
A: We have made a lot of progress in New York State. We're much further
ahead here than most of the country. Institutions have been closed and people
have been integrated into the community where they belong.
Q: Why the focus in the area ofindependent affordable seniorhousing,
though you provide manyother services for the disabled?
A: Twenty-three states have combined their disability services with their
senior services in what usually is called the Department of Long Term
Care. This is what we are doing at People Inc. The service needs of seniors
are very similar to the service needs of people with disabilities.
Q: During this era of reform inAlbany, is this a "best practice"that Gov.
Eliot L. Spitzer and theLegislature can learn from thenon-profit
community?
A: Yes. I would say the way we provide services to the developmentally
disabled could be replicated for the elderly in New York State. We do it well
for the developmentally disabled with state oversight. The quality is there and it is less costly. However,
what about the very large nursing homes? Couldn't these people who are living in nursing homes be
cared for in smaller units, similar to group homes? We think they can. We have quite a few group homes
with seniors who happened to be disabled. They're living out their lives in these small group homes in
the community, instead of a large, 500-bed facility where it's just hard to have a home-like atmosphere.
Q: You serve on an advisorypanel for the president and membersof the House and Senate on
issuesfacing the developmentallydisabled. What are you putting forward?
A: One of the big areas I think will have an impact in a lot of ways is a National Disability Week,
similar to Black History or the Women's Movement. We're working on it at the state level with the help
of Assemblyman Mark Schroeder. Children will learn about and celebrate the history of people with
disabilities. How they were treated - good and bad. These children are going to be employers, friends
and neighbors of people with disabilities. Over a period of time, that education is going to help a lot in
terms of acceptance. That's one of the areas I'm pushing.
Q: Your agency has partneredwith the Golisano Foundation tocreate a virtual Web site called
theMuseum of disABILITY History.Why is it important for people tounderstand the history of
peoplewith disabilities?
A: We have an excellent virtual Web-based museum called the Museum of disABILITY History
(www.museumofdisability.org).Since our launch in October we have had more than 1 million hits. It is
state of the art and has a ton of information that's easily accessible and user-friendly. We're probably
going to go much more Web-based and now we're in discussion with the Golisano Foundation about
expanding.
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