Coffee On Sundays

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.