European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 8, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Penny s path to being her own guardian by Nancy Shu Lin s associated press Penny Todt Reckof Bath Maine was 18when she lost her Molher to cancer. Mildre Roderick was just 39.please. God Penny prayed every sunday As her own 39th year Drew loan end. Just ice me live to be 40 " on new year s eve 1966. Penny Roderick turned 40 Tor the birthday she thought would never come she got a string of beads some new colouring books and a Rush Foj Jeler Sinahon the Day i turned 40.1 us said thais it i am going to become my own person.1 " to do thai she needed a judge s permission that moan opposing aunt Hedy the conscientious and Well meaning guardian who Lor 11 years had managed her Money Anil cooked her meals shampooed her hair and picked out her clothes Hedwidge Rheaume Whoso soil voice still carries races of inc French accent she brought with her irom Canada in 1d39. prom ipod Wann Roderick during her Chuich work Hal inc lord would provide Lor ins it aided daughter barn with cerebral palsy Penny was diagnosed mentally regarded and that s Haw she was raised the Only child of Loving protective parents. At school she was placed a Vii the Kihei slow learners in the ungraded class in the baseman a. At some Point she stopped going but nol before she had Learned to read and to question two Ihms Sho never slopped doing later that hunger Lor knowledge would get Penny noticed by the caseworkers who would help Point the Way 1o a new life. Bui in 1967. The year her father died of a heart attack. Penny s Pio specs wore lined a Letton irom the schoo superintendent was nil in took to strip away her Legal rights when it came Lime to appoint a guardian to was obligated says a Beaumo. Who d served As godmother four years before when at her urging. Penny was baptized she sent Penny to live with relatives and Koslor families Lor a Lime bul by 1975. I did t know where to Rheaume says she just had bad Luck within a Lew years people would die. After the Lou la or filth place. I decided to try it for the next 11 years Penny lived by her guardian s rules. But it was t aunt Hedy who helped pick out the sloped dress and Navy Blazer Penny wore to the. Salad Choc county courthouse in Bali last summer. On july 14. The Day she Calls my real Penny got the Gill of a lil Elime a probate court judge gave her a month s Freedom 30 Days to prove she could finally make her own choices. Special people that s the term i like to use for mentally retarded should Hove Snoie rights Lor themselves Penny says they should be sealed Mare like equals they should be taught to do everyday things like How to shop and do laundry. They should not to held Back just because they re today Penny lives alone in one of two Independent living apr laments managed by Iho Elmhurst association for regarded citizens. Hours is the one that smells perpetually of Pine sol and or Glenn. My irions always lease me. They say Penny you cleaning again?1 " for now a court Appo led conservator controls the j20.000 Hal aunt Hudy s careful invest cols have earned Penny most of it is lied up says conservator now on or Awn funny Roderick pop ttys a Falto Fhyr mind a Ltd Johnsoa Page 14 the stars and stripes David King a Bath lawyer who is eagerly looking Forward to the Day can say. Here s your meanwhile she lives on Hei $385 monthly social Security Check and j100 a month she earns cleaning under an Elmhurst training program sul her Lile is her own and in the sin months since the judge officially granted the petition ending her guardianship Penny has taken to Hgoc Maung with a vengeance she docs her own laundry shops Lor groceries and Cooks increasingly elaborate meats. Sometimes she shares them Wilt hot Boylr Nervd David Johnson who lives downstairs on a tour of inc nondescript one bedroom apartment she Points out her touches the fruit bowl on the table the spider plants on the Sill her prize collection of Lawrence wife records. And the new colouring books that Are More of an adult she lays claim to each piece of furniture with a proprietary pal As she passes shopping lists and menus papering the refrigerator attest 10 her Progress from her first Lenl Alve sandwiches to burgers and Frozen fish Slicks stuffed shells and Chicken a la King. I love to do Lamdry and grocery shopping Penny says i love paying Bills i love to Cooke i be made hamburgers and meal Loal also Blueberry muffins which was exciting and pudding did i mention pudding 1 f think this has Boon a very Good year fax me my Lile has changed so much i m like a big sri in a grocery to Elm nurse s 35 other retarded clients she s also a Symbol. They watch her dash purposefully to Market or laundry a tall slender figure in a stylish Denim jacket cropped Brown curls escaping a nil blocking Cap. Beyond the clapboard houses Iron Lampoon is and Brick warehouses of this sturdy old shipbuilding cily she underscores changing views toward the handicapped i think i Here Are probably some people who Don l believe in All this Independence says Alice Clark an old Friend of Penny s whose daughter is retarded. I be Iho Ughi about n Bolli ways but to tar i can sea Only Good i be never seen her do Happy. Ii she can have a Little Moe Freedom Ai uts stage of few life she certainly deserves the Cal Deco in november Penny voted Lor the first time. I exercised Rny human rights " he says her shoulders equating Ai the memory her caseworker. Jean Lockhart thinks Penny has l even scratched Itte surface Btl " soon Jean plans to help get her started As a Imp ill Volunteer with Hopes in will Lead to a Job i be to work at a Hospital i m a great Penny says people with ids Lov or than Penny s con learn to Lead relatively Normal lives be self supporting and Blond Mlo the Community according to dorm Zohnie a psychologist who levied nor an Outing to a rest Aurini gives her a Chance to practice the self assured a k that is replacing har old shuttle it s i Morlani cot to look she says. A m Locking More Normal than Independence was an unlikely Prospect Lor Penny As recently As 1980. When a Berg came to Elmhurst As executive director she a Clumsy and needy a scared Lati Bil who constantly asked for a real Basket ease Penny agrees
