By James V. Horrigan
Staff Writer
If all goes according to plan, by this time next year ground will be broken on the Morrison Developmental Center’s new home in Scarborough, said Jim DeCamillis, executive director of the 51-year-old agency, formerly known as the Cerebral Palsy Center.
DeCamillis and the Morrison Center board of directors recently kicked off a $2.5 million capital campaign to help finance the construction of a 25,000 square foot facility in Scarborough on a portion of the former Highland Avenue Golf Course. When the $6 million project is complete the Morrison Center’s existing Scarborough location on Route One, as well as its headquarters on Martin’s Point in Portland, will be relocated to the new facility.
Several weeks ago, as part of the capital campaign kickoff, the Morrison Center hosted a community meeting at Camp Ketcha to raise awareness of the agency. DeCamillis said the event was planned to talk about the center’s future, as well as raise money. But there were other, unexpected consequences, he said.
“There were two or three families that just showed up to learn more about the center, people with individuals in their families who had certain developmental disabilities. It was great from that perspective; they were all Scarborough people and they got to hear a little bit about us and see what we’re all about and where we’re going to be moving,” he said.
DeCamillis called the approximately 75 disabled individuals at the center consumers; he doesn’t like the word patient or client.
“These people have choices now; they can choose where they want to go. Just like you and me, we consume products. Well, they consume products, too, albeit different products,” DeCamillis said.
He pointed to the center’s high staff-to-consumer ratio and said there are about 35 teachers and therapists serving the 75 consumers. One of the reasons why the center changed its name is because these days cerebral palsy sufferers account for just 30 percent of Morrison Center consumers, he said.
“They all have some sort of developmental disability, such as spina bifida, autism and other kinds of neurological disorders,” DeCamillis said.
One of the clients is Zachary Peninsi, 30, of Old Orchard Beach, who has attended the Scarborough program for six years. DeCamillis said Zachary’s parents, Frank and Evelyn Peninsi, attended the event at Camp Ketcha and told area residents the many ways their son benefits from the programs offered at the Morrison Center. DeCamillis said Frank Peninsi called the center a supportive environment with a range of educational facilities and urged those in attendance to contact the center and learn more about the capital campaign.
Evelyn Peninsi said it was difficult to find words to describe her feelings about the Morrison Center.
“It was life-changing as far as my son is concerned. He’s never had a program that has done so much with so much dedication in so many ways,” she said.
Evelyn Peninsi said low pay in the rehabilitative field leads to high employee turn over, but applauded the Morrison Center for the consistency of their staffing. She said it allows them to get to know the consumers.
“My son doesn’t talk but they know what he wants and needs because they’ve known him for so many years. I can literally not worry about him while he’s there because they are just so dedicated and hands-on,” Evelyn Peninsi said.
Evelyn Peninsi said she and her husband know their son enjoys his time at the Morrison Center, and feel certain he would let them know if he did not.
“But that is not the case. He loves everybody there and that really makes all the difference,” she said.
One of the most comforting things about the campaign to build a new facility is the peace of mind it giver her and her husband as they get older.
“I know that if something happens to me, Zach will be able to go to that program. He will always have Morrison family. The idea of them having a new facility makes me want to cry; it’s just a miracle,” she said. “This really is fabulous.”
DeCamillis said the center is selling its Portland headquarters to Martin’s Point Health Care. The proceeds, capital program and investments will not cover the entire cost of the $6 million project.
“We’ll probably finance the rest of it,” he said.
For more information on the Morrison Center, see www.mdcmaine.org.