Eugene Walker (1954-2001)

A friend of ADAPT WV and the Northern West Virginia Center for Independent Living, Eugene Walker passed away on December 20, 2001.

We fought for 11 months to build the supports necessary for Eugene to return to his own home. We finally got everything in place, hours, services and equipment. Eugene had only been in his apartment for a day and a half when we were informed that his case management agency had contacted Adult Protective Services. This forced Eugene to relive the nightmare that had trapped him in the Madison House almost a year earlier without benefit of a fair hearing, simply for falling out of bed.

Since the case management agency felt that it was necessary to imprison Eugene for his own "safety", we were left with little or no choice but to provide the services ourselves. Members of the ADAPT WV group took turns sleeping on Eugene's floor and providing supports during unstaffed hours for six weeks (1,436 total manhours). We purchased garbage cans , plates, silverware, a gait belt, and an inflatable air mattress. These are all items and supports which could have been found by case management if they had worked with us rather then walking away from their responsibilities both as professionals and human beings.

The long term care system in West Virginia created this situation. The Department of Health and Human Resources MUST STOP burying it's head in the sand and hoping we will all go away. The department must work together with people with disabilities to develop a system which allows all disabled West Virginians to live in the home of their choice.

Eugene once told me that his disability did not define him. He saw himself as a teacher, soldier, and first and foremost a father. When he was placed in the Madison Eugene was pursuing a degree in Engineering. The sad reality of this situation is that the State of West Virginia did not view Eugene as a person, but as a Diagnosis and a commodity.

We will remember Eugene as he would have wanted to be remembered, a teacher, a soldier and a father. A strong spirit who would not allow the system to dictate to him the life he would live. Someone who finished his life the way he chose, FREE. Eugene Walker leaves behind his mother, a daughter, other family members, and all of us who will continue to fight for Real Choice in West Virginia.