What Our Parents Say


You're All Angels
Nancy Mack, Debbie's Mom

Dear Staff,
My heart is warm with Love and Prayers to all who helped Debbie. I don't know all your names but I remember your faces.

Everyone there went above and beyond the call of duty to your jobs.

Debbie was at Fort Wayne for over 33 years. I've never had a complaint of her care and everyone showed such love and caring for her.

I hope you'll all be rewarded in heaven because to me you're all angels. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Nancy Mack, Debbie's Mom

In Appreciation
Pete & Sally Peters, Fort Wayne

We appreciate the care, compassion and concern that the facilitators have shown our son throughout the entire time he's been here. They spend their own money to buy toys for him. It's heart warming to see what they do for him.

Pete & Sally Peters
November 5, 2005 - Family Meeting at the Developmental Center

Son Got Loving Care At State Center
Elizabeth Chapman & Howard Chapman, Fort Wayne

As parents of a client of the Fort Wayne State Developmental Center, we notice that most of the articles and editorials about the center over-look the many dedicated and capable employees there. These people collectively have given many years of professional service on behalf of those in their care.

Our son's years when he lived at the center would have been much more difficult and challenging had it not been for the kindness that he received from such workers. Their efforts on behalf of the residents have often gone far beyond the requirements of their jobs.

Amid all of the criticism, please take a moment to recognize the work and talent that have been provided over the years by these wonderful folks.

Elizabeth Chapman & Howard Chapman
November 6, 2005 - Fort Wayne Journal

Developmental Center Does Job Well
Fredus N. Peters, Fort Wayne

As a parent with a son at the Fort Wayne State Developmental Center for more than 20 years, I naturally read with interest articles on state and federal inspections of the facility. For the most part, these articles trumpet tens, if not hundreds, of violations and imminent loss of federal funding, and they generally portray the facility as poorly managed and in need, if not in danger, of being shut down immediately.

I think that folks should know that there is another side to the picture.

My son, who has both mental and physical handicaps, has been a resident there for more than 20 years, and that has given me an opportunity to view the situation with some objectivity.

I believe that he has received excellent care by a staff that is concerned and caring.

I remember one Christmas day when he was home for a visit. One of the staff came to our house on his own time with an audio cassette, purchased with his own money, that he knew my son would like. The list of such little thoughtful incidents is very long.

We must remember that the residents there are very difficult to care for. Many cannot communicate and many are prone to injurious falls. An unfortunate number have a tendency to explode emotionally without warning and often try to inflict harm on themselves or on others.

Some are physically intimidating, and controlling their outbursts requires several staff with considerable physical strength. Some are prone to sexual misbehavior; others to stealing. The list is endless. And each individual must be cared for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Government regulations are onerous and often conflicting. Residents must be locked up to prevent their wandering off, yet those very locks deprive others of their rights of free movement or even of safety when they may not be physically or mentally able to use a key.

The state sends new patients, often those requiring extra staff, yet sets budgetary limitations that only can be met by reducing staff and keeping the already low wages very near minimum.

I even understand that there is an unannounced "budget" requiring the return of some of the regular funds to the state as "unspent" so the government can show a "surplus."

Hopefully, in this age of cynicism, many of your readers might have suspected that there is an "other side" to the story. I just wanted to present my views as a long-term Developmental Center parent. Thank you, Dr. Mukherjee and staff, for a job very well done under the most trying circumstances.

Fredus N. Peters
October 12, 1997 - Fort Wayne Journal