Hoping to 
live free

Carl Walsh of Spring Valley displays a sign he made at Tuesday’s Freedom Quest ‘09 rally, held at the Peru Eagle’s Lodge. Walsh was one of hundreds of area residents who attended the rally, which was designed to increase awareness of the issues faced by people with disabilities in Illinois. The organizers hope for changes in Springfield that would allow people with disabilities to get the services they need to live “free, independent and inclusive” lifestyles. (BCR photo/Barb Kromphardt)

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PERU — They gathered on Tuesday. They came in busses and cars and vans, and filled the parking lot at the Peru Eagles Lodge, sitting in wheelchairs or standing in the afternoon heat.

They were some of the people with disabilities and their supporters in the Illinois Valley, and they were participating in the Illinois Valley Freedom Quest Rally, which was part of Freedom Quest ‘09.

Currently, Illinois ranks 40th in overall funding for people with developmental disabilities, and there are more than 17,000 waiting for services in Illinois. The goal of Freedom Quest ‘09 is to decrease the number of state-operated institutions by providing the services people need to remain in their own communities and to decrease the size of waiting lists for services.

One of those sitting in the sun was Carl Walsh of Spring Valley, who receives services from Horizon House in Peru. He was accompanied by his sister, Linda Bianchi, and her husband, Al.

“Special needs people, and there are many, many of them, are not getting their fair deal,” said Linda.

Linda said Walsh, who is 37 and has Down Syndrome, is doing well, and has never been in any other placement than his home.

Both Linda and Al were glad for the opportunity to rally for Walsh and other people with disabilities.

“Fifty years ago, a rally of this kind would never have taken place,” Al said, adding there’s been a lot of progress, and that rallies like Tuesday’s help make people more aware of the issues involved.

“That’s the main thing, getting the message out that these people have abilities,” he said. “They have more love than most people understand, and if everybody had their kind of love, the world would be a better place.”

Also participating in the rally was Jim Routh of Princeton. The rally was organized by People First of Illinois Valley, Horizon House, Gateway Services and other area organizations, and Routh represented Gateway Services as one of the organizers. Routh was involved at all the planning meetings, helping with the signs and arranging for donations of water from Princeton.

Sitting with about 30 other people from Gateway, Routh said he was glad to have the rally.

“I just hope that we get more people out of the nursing homes,” he said.

One area politician who attended the rally was Spring Valley Mayor Cliff Banks.

“I love this group, and these people are in my heart all the time,” Banks said. “They were a big support of mine in my campaign.”

Horizon House had invited all local candidates to come and speak to their constituents before the election in April, and Banks was one of those who attended.

Banks said he likes to visit with his friends whenever possible.

“I try to meet them in the morning before they go to work, and they’re excited about going to work. They just pace, ready to get in that van and come over here and be productive,” he said. “They come out of their homes, and I usually stop by and talk to them and see how their day’s going.”

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