In defense of not putting a group home in Griffinsburg

I lived in The Village at Griffinsburg for many years, and I would like all of Culpeper to know that the residents of the Village at Griffinsburg are not the ogres that have been featured in the newspaper and by Mr. Brian Duncan.  They are people of the community who voiced their concerns about a single-family home being turned into a group home, and they had every right to do so.

Before coming to Virginia, I worked at a training center for adults with intellectual disabilities (I believe this is the term now used) for 15 years. I think I have a little knowledge of these special people in our society. They are loving people, but at times they can have dramatic emotional problems. I know this from the training center and having a group home in the neighborhood where I resided. I also have a grandson who has Down syndrome. I am no novice when it comes to people with disabilities.

There are too many liabilities in the Village at Griffinsburg — lake, no street lights or sidewalks, gravel road, electric fences and Route 634, to name just a few. They would be isolated, as the properties are large, and they would be far from town.

It was stated that there would be a care provider on sight at all times, and I know this would be true. Just remember, though, that these are adults and have rights as adults. They are free to go unsupervised, and this is where all the liabilities come in to play.

If Mr. Duncan would have looked at the situation more carefully and talked with the neighbors, he would have come to the same conclusion. Life is too precious to take a chance on someone being harmed needlessly.

Please do not be so quick to judge until you know all the facts.