Dear Editor: 50 years ago Wisconsin began deinstitutionalizing vulnerable people. I was part of an effort to establish reasonable minimal standards for community based living arrangements.
The rules required programming so people wouldn’t be warehoused. It was challenging to raise funds for housing and programs.
Supported workshops have been an important community service that promote normalized socialization, comradery, fun activity and learning. Rarely funded beyond being sparsely staffed, clean, safe and comfortable, their purpose was not entrepreneurial. Any money paid to the participants was incidental to the enjoyment of the activities and friendships…