The basis of the philosophy of the Dunfirth Commune is "identifying" the personalities of autistic persons, establishing their capacities, according to their abilities and personal dignity, for profiting from education, training, care, and participation in the development of the commune." ( quote from the folder of the Irish Autism Association). The community creates a home-like environment and both management and personnel are aware of the individual needs of the residents and of the wishes of their parents. A close collaboration between the community's personnel and the parents encourages the achievement of mutual respect and trust, so that the residents can prosper and develop in a pleasant environment, without stress.

A concise description of the Danforth Commune was written by Mr. Jerzy Pomianowski, basing on his interview with the president of the Irish Autism Association, Mr.Pat Matthews, which we quote below without abbreviations (from the Information Quarterly IMPULS no 10).

The DC Community (Dunfirth Community Centre in County Kildare) was established in 1983. It occupies 7O acres, and is situated 5 km away from the nearest settlement. It started with one house and has grown to its present size, comprises 11 houses, which provides residence for one, two, three, or four occupants. These houses form a settlement with three modules. At present DC is the "mother" of a network of 6 centers situated in different parts of Ireland, which are in different stages of organization.

At present 36 patients live in DC. They are called co-workers: 32 men and 4 women, at the age of from teens to the thirties. There are about thirty employees (instructors), one manager, three local managers, one for each module, and teams composed of several people for separate modules and tasks. No employee lives permanently in DC. They reside in neighboring villages, 5O% quite close, the rest at a larger distance. They commute to work;some of them occasionally stay for a night shift.

Daily occupations are organized according to an intensive program, alternating training (instruction) with work and rest. The type of main activity one will engage in is planned individually: work on the farm (production of organic food, which is then sold in neighboring groceries and hotels), weaving , pottery, work in the kitchen, and other auxiliary jobs, such as wall painting etc.) During the day the instructors work with the patients in the following proportion: during training one instructor has two assistants, during rest, one instructor has four co-workers. There are night shifts (the personnel on duty sleep in special rooms). Usually there are three or four instructors on a night shift, who watch over separate modules. One four- person house is reserved for patients with sleeping problems. These night shifts are rotated.

Five or six farmers are employed for work in the fields, working together with residents. During the weekends and vacations some of the patients go for excursions which they plan themselves, at home or abroad. e.g. in July 1996 five patients with three accompanying personnel went to Morocco.

DC does not employ any medical personnel. Some of the workers have nursing training, but they work in other areas. Medical services are provided by the doctors and personnel of the general (in Ireland, as in England) state run health service. There also exists a health service based on family doctors and specialists.

Drugs are administered for medical reasons exclusively; they are not used for behavior correcting or control. This is achieved through training and adjusting the patient to the DC conditions (the results are said to be astonishing). In case of the appearance of new symptoms (obsessions, etc.) the personnel strive to modify the patient's environment, and wait with patient watchfulness for the symptoms to recede.

The expected result of the therapy is that the patient will achieve a status in the Commonwealth and think of himself as a farmer, a cook, a weaver, a painter etc.

DC is partly self-supporting. Money collected from different sources and partly from parents and donations. Some of these funds are invested, creating a basic capital.

The aim of DC is assuring the patients a decent life, "with respect for their dignity and wishes."

Summary

The authors of the monograph on European farms (Jane J. Giddan, Norman S. Giddan) list the following characteristics of the farms:

1) They are situated in rural areas, where soil cultivation, gardening and housework constitute a basis of meaningful work, and provide varied forms of activities, suited to the needs and abilities of individuals
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2) The experience of residents is connected with everyday living and work performed, as well as leisure (rest) time is integrated in a stable permanent situation, and determined by a natural cycle of the day and season.

3) The independence of the residents and the personnel, whose common, arm-in-arm efforts overcome the social isolation of an autistic person.

4) In planning the program there is individualization, taking into con-sideration the needs, abilities, and preferences of every person. This is com-municated in writing to all persons included in contact with the given patient.

5) The principles of behavior modification and structured instruction regulate everyday life, tuition, problem solving, and help to control difficult behavior.

6) Insistence on constant training of the personnel, with sensible use of professional consultants.

7) The stress is on communication, emphasizing visual means, based on sequences of pictures, sign language, and on communication systems stressing the meaning of words.

8) Patients are included into a broader local community, outside of the residence;.

9) Family support is constant and utilizes various means (visits, holidays, celebrations, letters, telephone conversations, etc.)

The monograph is certainly very useful to parents intending to help create a farm for their grown-up children, who are new to the task. Unfortunately, it does not cover all the questions we would like to ask, and that is why we are counting on discussion and sharing the ideas from all people interested in this subject. Perhaps creating the organization, The Network of International Farm Communities for Autism- NIFCA, as proposed by Mrs. Jane J. Giddan at the Congress Autism-Europe in Barcelona will facilitate the flow of information and permit reaching the most suitable solution, considering real experiences. I invite you to take part in the discussion.

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