Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Michael Barret's comment re creating restrictive fees for lower participation

[Alexander Robin A (alexande.robi]

My wife is disabled. At Eno Commons, the community was not only not 
discriminatory or resentful, it was very helpful to us and attempted to 
accommodate our needs. She had 3 surgeries while we lived there and it was a 
much easier experience there than in would have been in a regular neighborhood. 
People helped with food, giving me respite, walking the dog, etc. 
 
My soon to be cohousing in Madison, Arboretum Cohousing, also is bending over 
backward to facilitate handicapped members and not punish them for their 
inability to contribute to the same degree as others.
 
Robin Alexander

________________________________

From: alwview [at] aol.com [mailto:alwview [at] aol.com]
Sent: Tue 12/11/2007 9:18 AM
To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
Subject: [C-L]_ Michael Barret's comment re creating restrictive fees for lower 
participation



As a person with a disability, I've become rather concerned about the 
feasibility of participating in cohousing.? While people sometimes seem 
idealistic, one questions whether they are as altruistic.? If people's needs 
change or they cannot contribute in the same ways, does that mean that?they are 
to be undervalued?? How can?a person with a disability become part of a 
community if they have to be concerned about resentment or tension from other 
community members if they cannot contribute in exactly the same way?? Is 
Michael suggesting that a person with a disability should be charged 5x as much 
as a healthy individual because of the limitations of their disability?? Does 
this mean that elderly whom may be less able to contribute (financially too), 
would be charged more when they might least be able to afford it?? This doesn't 
sound very utopian to me.

Alan Weintraub
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