Book Description
Thirty years ago, as a young man working at a facility for children with autism, Dale DiLeo was shown a tiny, hot, and smelly bedroom. Reserved for those least trusted by staff, this room was lockedfrom the outsideall night long. It was named after Raymond, the rooms perennial resident.Raymonds Room makes a compelling case that people with disabilities are still locked away from the rest of society. They may not be housed in rooms like Raymonds, but they are placed in facilities and programs run by a public monopoly unwilling to change. Using research, anecdotes, humor, and engaging stories, DiLeo takes aim at the billion-dollar disability industrial complex that segregates people with significant disabilities from mainstream life. Calling people with disabilities societys hidden citizens, he describes a system that prevents people from working and living in their communities, despite techniques and approaches that can help even those with the most serious challenges work and have a home of their own. For 230 pages, DiLeo describes the downsides to current practices in the field and then offers up proven alternatives to open Raymonds room.
