Historical Photographs
Photo Album: 1980s
Bob and Jessie DeBoer finished reading one of Jessie's favorite books.
July 22, 1982 – To Bob DeBoer, making his daughter Jessie, who has a brain injury, "neurologically normal" is a relatively simple matter. "It's not miracles," he says. "It's a lot of hard work and understanding how the brain works."
Jessie, age 2 ½, isn't so analytical. One look from her dad brings an insuppressible, coy grin to her face – a grin that says their partnership is all it will take.
With a mouth full of cookies, Jessie looks like any kid her age. And in some ways, she is. She disappears from the room, laughs, whimpers, and says "no" a lot.
But there are important differences. She walks with a heavy, dragged-out motion, hunched forward, and wears corrective shoes. Her longest sentences consist of two words. She cannot focus on objects close to her.
Those are symptoms of the oxygen deprivation that Jessie experienced during her birth by Caesarean section. Seizures followed, and she was placed in intensive care for two weeks. For the first three months of her life, she was given barbiturates to prevent more seizures.
Jessie, age 2 ½, isn't so analytical. One look from her dad brings an insuppressible, coy grin to her face – a grin that says their partnership is all it will take.
With a mouth full of cookies, Jessie looks like any kid her age. And in some ways, she is. She disappears from the room, laughs, whimpers, and says "no" a lot.
But there are important differences. She walks with a heavy, dragged-out motion, hunched forward, and wears corrective shoes. Her longest sentences consist of two words. She cannot focus on objects close to her.
Those are symptoms of the oxygen deprivation that Jessie experienced during her birth by Caesarean section. Seizures followed, and she was placed in intensive care for two weeks. For the first three months of her life, she was given barbiturates to prevent more seizures.
September 2, 1986 – Phillip Person was one of about 2,300 Minnesotans classified as having developmental disabilities who was eligible to vote in the September primary.
Photo: Stormi Greener
April 23, 1987 – Kathleen Pine watched as Scott Burpee, resident of Kennelly House, removed dishes from a table. Pine served as Executive Director of Dakota's Children, which operated homes for adults and children with developmental disabilities.
Photo: Darlene Pfister
Cindy Tangen, a special education instructor with Dakota County Vo-Tech, helped students learn how to dance with a partner. One of the program's goals in 1987 was to give the students a typical high school experience.
Jeanne Drange with her 17-year-old foster son Wayne. Drange also cared for two other foster children in her Roseville home. She received an award from the Ramsey County Department of Human Services on November 5, 1987.
Photo: Minneapolis Star Tribune
Marcella Nord held Bethany Ferradas, who dined at Nord's home.
November 19, 1987 – Nine students from Kathy Nord's special education class at Kenny Elementary School in Minneapolis went on a field trip of sorts Thursday — they went to Nord's' in-law's home for a full Thanksgiving dinner. Nord has established her own Thanksgiving tradition of sorts; she's been taking her class to her in-law's for dinner for eight years now.
Her students spent time each day this week going over mealtime etiquette in preparation for the event. On their way to dinner, they all stopped at Bachman's to pick up a gift for the couple they call "grandma and grandpa."
Marcella Nord, who the kids call "grandma," gets a visit from Bethany Ferradas after the child opened a present containing a stuffed animal from Nord. Nord gave each of the children a present and several of the kids gave her presents.
Her students spent time each day this week going over mealtime etiquette in preparation for the event. On their way to dinner, they all stopped at Bachman's to pick up a gift for the couple they call "grandma and grandpa."
Marcella Nord, who the kids call "grandma," gets a visit from Bethany Ferradas after the child opened a present containing a stuffed animal from Nord. Nord gave each of the children a present and several of the kids gave her presents.
Karen Kilmore, a 43-year-old woman with severe developmental disabilities, lived at the Faribault Regional Center. In this photo, she was being fed by Chris Michel, Developmental Program Services leader at Faribault. Mower County officials wanted to move Kilmore to a smaller facility in Austin, MN despite the objections of her family. The trend of moving people with developmental delays from large institutions to group homes was increasing in 1987.
Photo: Joey McLeister
April 7, 1988 – Colleen Doyle helped her 13-month-old son with Down Syndrome to select a toy from the toy lending library sponsored by the Arc in Blaine. The library was founded by Arc executive director Robert Brick to supply the needs of families of kids with disabilities who might not be able to buy expensive toys, child development materials, and adaptive equipment.
Photo: Duane Braley
June 23, 1988 – Shane Fairchild, 12 of White Bear Lake, left and Richie Noll, 11 of Rochester, MN tried out the elevator at the Radisson Hotel in downtown St. Paul where they were attending a spina bifida conference.
Photo: David Brewster
September 1, 1989 – Dave Frelix, age 12, from Gillette Children's Hospital played miniature golf during the 3rd annual Variety Club Como Zoo day for children with physical disabilities. Over 100 children and 200 volunteers took part in the day's activities, which included lunch, entertainment, pony rides, and miniature golf. Children from Gillette Children's Hospital, U of Minnesota Hospital, Courage Center, and Homeward Bound had children take part in the event.
Photo: Bruce Bisping
July 23, 1989 – Josh Beadell, 8, got a steadying hand from his father Jeff Beadell during a lively game of croquet at a reunion picnic for children who have had Rhizomoty surgery at the University of Minnesota Hospitals. The surgery is performed on children with cerebral palsy in an attempt to restore typical or near typical muscular control to their legs. Josh Beadell had his surgery performed in December of 1987. About 25 youngsters attended the function held at Battle Creek Park in St. Paul.
Photo: Marlin Levison
Andrea Davis, 3, raised her hand to answer during science period at her day care center, 1989.
Photo: Sam Richter
Story time meant the books were signed as well as read, 1989.
Photo: Sam Richter
March 19, 1989 – Steve Allcorn was a picture of concentration as he joined other Special Olympians in a bowling tournament held at the Burnsville Bowl in Burnsville. A basketball tournament at Burnsville High School was also part of the annual event.
Photo: Joey McLeister
Richard Welsch and his daughter, Patricia, at the residence where she lived in Brooklyn Park in 1989.
Photo: Regene Radniecki
August 26, 1989 – An angry Richard Welsch and five other parents of children with developmental disabilities sued the state of Minnesota 17 years ago because they said their children were being abused and neglected in state hospitals. The lawsuit helped to make changes in the treatment and care of people with developmental disabilities.
"How do I feel about it?" Welsch said when asked. "I don't feel much at all. It's been so long. But I guess when I think about it, I can feel my life has been a success because I've accomplished something. I helped change a system that needed changing."
Welsch, 72, a retired Coon Rapids real estate agent, said that he's glad he could make a difference. He is still angry, however, maybe even bitter, about the treatment that his daughter, who he said was overdrugged and injured, received 20 years ago in the Cambridge State Hospital.
"How do I feel about it?" Welsch said when asked. "I don't feel much at all. It's been so long. But I guess when I think about it, I can feel my life has been a success because I've accomplished something. I helped change a system that needed changing."
Welsch, 72, a retired Coon Rapids real estate agent, said that he's glad he could make a difference. He is still angry, however, maybe even bitter, about the treatment that his daughter, who he said was overdrugged and injured, received 20 years ago in the Cambridge State Hospital.