My position at Ward and Ward is that of Chief Operating Officer.

My responsibilities are to oversee the day-to-day operations at Ward and Ward and the services that we provide for our individuals.


My mental health services career began in 1978 with an organization by the name of Community Multi Services. I was as a live-in apartment supervisor for 6 individual males who had diagnoses of mild to moderate mental retardation.

In 1988 I moved to Ward and Ward as a Transportation Coordinator where I managed the transporting of our individuals to and from their day programs, to their medical appointments and their evening activities. Also, my responsibility was to make sure the vehicles were being operated in a safe manner. I interviewed and hired the drivers as well as their attendants. I also made sure that the vehicle maintenance and the transportation logs were accurate.

I then held the position of Personnel Director with Ward and Ward

The majority of my education has been on the job training. Ive been working with these individuals for over 30 years in different capacities which has given me experiences most COOs in this industry cant match. I have certifications in Addiction Services, Child Psychology and Business Management Training

I truly believe my biggest contribution to Ward and Ward is being able to multi-task. Ive worn several different hats and thats vital as the chief operating officer, overseeing all of the day-to-day operations.

We will never limit our goals. We will continue to build on our goals and continue to live out our dream that everyone has a right to live a productive and a fruitful life in the District of Columbia including a developmentally disabled individual.


Michael McLean

My name is Renee Perry. My position with Ward and Ward Association is Human Resource Director. My responsibilities are to create strategic recruitment and selection plans, coordinate the companys equal opportunity programs to achieve a diversity goal, direct administration of benefit programs to include health retirement, death disability and unemployment, hire and fire, evaluate and recommend improvements to the benefit programs and coordinate the administration and negotiation of contracts. I also developed and coordinated grievance and meditate disputes, evaluate procedures and technologies and solutions to improve the human resources management. I recommend and establish company policies and procedures and serve on the plan and policy-making committees and other assigned duties.

My career in health services began September 23, 1978 the year that my mother opened a group home for the mentally challenged located at 703 Randolph Street, NW, Washington, DC. She was the first healthcare provider in the District of Columbia to open group homes. She in turn asked her daughter, me, to come in and work with her and I worked as a direct aide.

I attended North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, North Carolina and became a Certified Accountant from Temple Business School and later received a certificate as a Certified Nursing Assistant at the Regency School of Nursing. I train employees on passing medications to my individuals. I am used as an emergency Nursing Assistant.

 I have held many positions at Ward and Ward. First of all, back in 1978 I was a CRF Program Director working with the developmental disabled in areas of developing IHP at that time, trained staff and worked with the development disabled individuals. I assisted in writing IPPs, making staff schedules, court reviews and court appointments. I coordinated and conducted orientation for new staff and coordinated monthly staff reports for the Child and Family Services agency. Dr. Ruth Ward opened group homes and apartments for the Child and Family Services agency between 1978 & 1995.

From 1995-2000 I was the Program Director, supervising managers, house directors and implementation IHPs, implemented goals and objectives of each of the individuals with short term and long term goals, identified frequency in training and made sure medical concerns were addresses and followed up the nursing staff and keeping of all appointment and ensuring the follow up care referrals made by the primary care physician. I also planned vacation and social events for the individuals with weekend activities, arranged transportation to all events that were held in the DC metropolitan area and scheduled exercise classes and Special Olympics.

I became the Chief Financial Officer from January 2001-2007. I was Dr. Wards assistant, assisting with financial and fiscal management aspect of the company operations. I created and evaluated the financial programming plans for the individuals including budgeting, tax planning real estate and assets of the company. I coordinated changes and approved automated financial management system for the company and developed and implemented financing, accounting accountability auditing procedures.

In January 2009, I became the CEO and President of Ward and Ward Mental Health Services. I provided leadership to the company and the different positions, oversaw the companys operation to ensure production, efficiency and quality service, effected management resources, planned and developed and implemented strategies for generating resources, approved company operation and procedures, reviewed activity reports and financial statements to determine progress and status of our objectives and revised the plans and objectives to the current conditions. I built a fundraising network using personal contacts, direct mail, special events. My goal is to build a foundation for Dr. Ward in 2010.

I found that through my education and experiences that Ive had I have received a lot of information in my present job as HR Director. Ive learned over the years that education is the key and doing this type of work you have to have compassion and love for this type of job.


My biggest contribution is my versatility. Ive held many positions and wore a lot of hats. I am able to give direction and see the whole scope of the program. Another of my contributions is the church as part of the program and working with the individuals as the musical director of the choir and chairman of the trustee board.


The first impact Dr. Ward has made on the health services industry is that she was the first provider in the District of Columbia to deinstitutionalize Forest Haven. Second, she was on the Mayors committee, and third, she was on the Presidents committee for the developmental disabled adults. Dr. Ward broke down stereo-types and barriers for the individuals because she demanded they be treated differently in the community.

Renee Perry

My name is Michael Warren and I am the Program Director at Ward and Ward Association Inc.

As the Program Director its my responsibility to make sure that all of the programs for each of our individuals are implemented in accordance with not only the government regulations but also to comply with the ISP thats formulated annually. In addition, Im responsible for the oversight of the QMRPs and our house managers.

I graduated from Morgan State University in 1981 with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration. I received a Management of Human Resources Certification in 1995. I received another certificate in Leadership and Interpersonal Relationship Training
in 1999.

Mr. Philip Ward and I, knew each other as kids growing up playing basketball. I had graduated and was in the management program at Giant Foods. He kept telling me about the exciting things that were going on over here at Ward and Ward and asked me if I wanted to be part of it. So I looked into it, came in and I began working with Ward and Ward as a house manager. I enjoyed what I was doing and it was much different than the career I had at Giant Foods. It was fulfilling at Giant but it didnt have the personal touch. I was a grocery manager so I was just looking at products and cans but when I began working at Ward and Ward I began to affect other people lives and I could see a benefit. I was able to help other individuals achieve their goals and it was much more rewarding and satisfying.


I started with one house and at that time our house managers were in the schedule. I was also responsible for hands-on training with the individuals, preparing meals and helping with their house skills and all of the other duties of the direct care staff.

As I progressed I managed 2 then 3 houses and at that point I spent more time managing and training the staff and oversight of the program. I did that for a couple of years and in 1995 I was promoted to Program Coordinator and I began to work hand-in-hand with Dr. Ward who was the founder of Ward and Ward Mental Health Services. She began mentoring and helping me to understand the vision of Ward and Ward. As the Program Coordinator I had oversight over the group homes to make sure that we fulfill our contractual obligation. We must be in compliance with the government regulations and give our individuals the support that they need to be successful. She showed me how to navigate the bureaucracy of downtown DC. She sent me to a Conflict Resolution seminar and to training on How to Effectively Communicate not only with the staff, but also with attorneys and family members. She was good, she realized that it had to be a team effort for the individuals to get the kind of support they needed and we needed to solicit the support from all those other avenues so that we could do our jobs more effectively.

When I became the program director, I saw the need to be able to have more knowledge of the medical side of the operation so I became certified as a Nursing Assistant not to be able to pass meds or anything, but so I would be able to understand the terminology when Im looking at records and so Ill have some understanding of the medical language.


My biggest contribution would have to be the passion that Ive developed for wanting to see our individuals be successful. I have noticed over time that the political climate has changed. When I first started, the D.C. government wanted to deinstitutionalize the individuals so that they could move them out into the community but it was just a physical move. Most of the programming and most of the other group home agencies were set up like institutions. We always practiced liberating through our programming by exposing them to things not just in the community but to total community inclusion. Some of the home practices are still regimented and they have a certain time individuals can eat. They had a certain time they had to do their vocational training, so it really wasnt centered around the individual, Our programs are truly individual. Although they live in a group home together their programs are individualized to suit their individual needs.

I remember when Dr. Ward instituted a College For Living program which was the first of its kind. The individuals would meet 2 or 3 times a week in a college like setting where groups were doing functional academics, arts and crafts, physical fitness. They would choose their activities just like in college, They had multiple opportunities to get experiences and different disciplines. It was quite successful. It became very costly so at this point weve discontinued it. We are hoping to get funds to start it up again.

Dr. Ward always instilled in me you had to have a passion for wanting to support our individuals. Youre not going to get your name in the paper unless you do something bad. Youre never going to get any positive publicity its always going to be negative. Youre not going to receive any rewards, but what you do get is the satisfaction in knowing that you have helped the individuals who under normal circumstances would not be able to have the freedom, success or the quality of life that they have. Thats what motivated me to be sure I do the best that I can to help our individuals get the best.

Being the first you set the bar, but the responsibility now is to maintain that high level of performance. Absolutely, being the first you dont want to disappoint or come up short in providing services to our individuals. So absolutely, you maintain that high quality and we want Ward and Ward to maintain that leadership provider role for the District of Columbia.

The fact that we are the largest provider in the DC Metropolitan area gives affirmation that we are doing our job properly.

When I speak to a family member or advocate of an individual, I inform them of our longevity of excellent service. Weve been in this care providing service for over 30 years and in those 30 years we have assisted hundreds of individuals be successful and we continue to search for ways to meet the needs of the most difficult individuals.

All of our individuals have the common diagnosis of being developmentally disabled.
We have individuals that have acute medical issues, mental health diagnosis, and weve even had individuals in the past come out of the court system with criminal backgrounds and in all of those cases we still were able to devise a program to help that individual so that they could live in the community.

Dr. Ward was known for never turning down an individual. There have been several occasions when on Friday at 4:00 the government would call and say they need to place somebody. She would never turn them down. We have that same philosophy now. We dont turn anybody away.

We care for them all!

MikeWarren
Mike Warren

My name is Breonna Harrison
and I am the Quality Assurance Representative for Ward and Ward.


My responsibility as a Quality Assurance Representative is to be well versed about the agency's strategic planning as it pertains to the policies and procedures as they relate to the District of Columbia municipal regulations. This means that I have to understand the policies under the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services with emphasis on the Department on Disabilities and the Department of Mental Health.


I had an uncle who was diagnosed with Down's syndrome and mental retardation. I began my career in health services officially at theTR Recreation Center, which is a therapeutic recreation center under the District of Columbia government. I began my career in health services at the age of 14.


After having a position every summer with the DC therapeutic recreation center, my first professional position after graduating with my Bachelors Degree was with the Department on Disabilities Services formerly MRDDA. I was an in-take case manager and promoted to an individualized rehabilitation planner.

When I started with Ward and Ward approximately a year and a half ago in early 2008, I was a QMRP assigned to female individuals in the group homes that we service here at Ward and Ward. After completing that position I was promoted to the Quality Assurance Representative.

I was introduced to Dr. Ruth Ward, as a result of needing emergency base residential services for an individual when I was serving as the in-take case manager for MRDDA. She came to my rescue on a Friday evening about 5:30 when someone literally walked in off the street and left an individual with me because they were unable to provide services and care for that person. I literally called adult protective services and literally exhausted our list all the way down the alphabet to the Ws where Dr. Wards business was listed under Ward and Ward. I was not able to find a provider that was willing to come in and help service the individual. She came out to MRDDA located on O Street around 7:30 PM and picked him up on that Friday. She provided him with services all weekend long without a contract, without a verbal or written agreement from the government and promised me that he would be cared for the weekend and she would bring him back on Monday to start the proper procedure and paperwork along with the adult protective agency.

My education formally began during the summers as a summer youth employee. Just like the direct care staff there is some minimal training that you have to take in terms of understanding the population that youre getting ready to serve. I received training every summer as a therapeutic recreation specialist and I received my Bachelors degree from University of Maryland Easton Shore. I received a full scholarship because I had the patience and drive and the understanding for the population. I was able to get a full scholarship to be able to get a Bachelors degree in Rehabilitation Services and Counseling with emphasis on the disabled population. After completing my Bachelors degree I worked for the Department of Disabilities Services then I went to the University of the District of Columbia on a scholarship and I received my Masters degree in Disabilities Program on Policies. Earlier on in life I was being exposed to living with my uncle who was diagnosed with Downs syndrome and mental retardation. At 9 years old I began to notice the difference between him and me. When I wanted to stop playing he wanted to continue to read the Cat in the Hat book and he wanted to read the same Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star books that I read. Thats when I became inquisitive. When I was out doing things he still wanted to do the child-like things at 45 years old.

One of my contributions at Ward and Ward at this particular time is I took the passion that Dr Ward had for the individuals. Her philosophy is just get it done. My biggest contribution was to identify the areas that the staff needed assistance with in providing the best care. The direct care staff has the heart for the individuals. Sometimes people view persons with disabilities as someone who is incapable of doing certain things whereas they have the right to make the same mistakes as you and me. Another of my contributions is the developmental training module that we currently have in place because I thought that was the area of need. Ive been here and developed the training module and it has contributed to the deficiency that weve had. Weve gone to no deficiencies at all, especially in the programming area. Now I have a hiring process where they have to go through orientation for 5 days, on-site training shadowing period where we make sure the person is prepared. I currently have a process where we are looking at the persons needs and matching them with the right Individual.

Its funny because the reason my uncle came to stay with us after my grandmother died. She literally had horror stories from hearing about how the individuals were treated in group home settings. My grandmother grew up in the Forest Haven era and my grandmothers last words to me and my family members was if you all put him in one of those homes, Im going to come out my grave and get you all and thats exactly what she said to us and that was put in our heads and as a family we had to figure out a way to continue to care for him in his natural home setting. If I had known back then the type of services that was available at group homes that did provide quality service I would have encouraged that so that he would have the independence. But to make a long story short, it was the horrifying stories that my grandmother had that kept my uncle from not living with me or being around the family all of the time. I work hard because I try to let families know that this is a good provider because I work here and I would let my own family member live under Ward and Ward. If that was my uncle this would be what I would want for him and thats what I strive to do each and every day.

The 3 things that Dr. Ward has done that has made an impact on the health service industry is that she has established a sense of business, entrepreneurship and service, meaning that you can take what you love and turn it into a business. Thats what we should strive for. So many people are going to work for 8 hours and hate it because theyre getting paid for something that they dont love doing. Taking something that she would have done for free and turn it into a business is one of biggest impacts on the health service industry. Secondly, is being an African American woman and having a sense of independence and strategic thinking. Being a doctoral candidate at a time when it wasnt popular or necessarily the thing to do while being a business woman. Holding on to her dream of education is the key and owning your own business is the key to success. Lastly, is the impact on the individuals themselves. When Dr. Ruth died a sense of loss was felt by people whose lives she touched. Her loss was felt by the individuals. There was worry and concern. Their energy level was down because of how they lived and their sense of not having Dr. Ward around. She was always just a phone call away. They thought the heart behind the agency was gone. Dr. Ward was the type of person who would say you need it, I got it, so you got it. No questions asked.

If a loved one is in need of residential services, I would not only recommend but advocate to receive services through Ward and Ward because not only is it an established entity but its also a flexible and evolving industry. We have policies and procedures where we are able to find a balance for all parties involved and address issues the families want and the individuals need. We pride ourselves on the biggest monsters  policies and procedures, wants and needs. These monsters tend to collide and we work for all parties to come out in a win-win situation and that the best possible choice has been made for the individuals.

I am 100% satisfied with my current role with Ward and Ward. I believe in Dr. Wards philosophy once you love what you do and you do what you love it doesnt feel like work. Im here to contribute my knowledge, skills and passion for doing what I love. I can volunteer although I get a paycheck. You get to a point in your life when you work at a place and it doesnt feel like work, thats a blessing to me. I can only explain it as priceless. I am not saying that its not a stressful job, planning a vacation can be stressful, but at the end of the day when you can walk away knowing youve made a difference in somebodys life, its priceless. I am 100% happy as the QA here at Ward and Ward.


Breonna Harrison

My name is Rose Carter and I am a Registered Nurse. My position is
Clinical Manager of Ward and Ward Association Incorporated.

My position incorporates a gambit from health and wellness issues for our individuals of whom we have 59 and the health and wellness of each individual with their attending associated staff LPNs, RNs and direct care staff.

In the days of dinosaurs about 1993 was when I first received an inkling that I was in the wrong field. So I decided to quit my job at Bell Atlantic and become a nurses aide. My salary was cut to 10% but I learned a lot about myself at the Northwest Healthcare Center when I was placed on a unit as an aide caring for 16 diabetics with no legs, both knees and legs were amputated. I worked 7 am to 7 pm. Thats when I realized it wasnt all about me, but what I had inside of me could benefit somebody else. That lasted for about one year then I decided to go to LPN school. That next year I was a proud graduate of The Harris & Career Center and became an LPN. Then I began my real career caring and advocating for others. Lo and behold I found out that an LPN has the smallest group practice in the world. I began working at Sibley Hospital for one year; At Howard Hospital I became aware that I needed to go back to school to further my education. In 1999, I went to PG College and received my associate degree as an RN. I did my rotation in psychiatric care at Prince Georges Hospital which is now Dimensions. I did my maternal at Columbia Hospital for Women. Throughout my career Ive gone out to help other people and when I found out I couldnt do what I wanted to do, I couldnt use my skills, I went back to school. In 2000 I found myself at Bowie State University. I received my 4-year degree in nursing and began to specialize in psychiatric care. Lo and behold my problem was my population had psychiatric issues and health issues and sometimes they had mental issues that might be considered to be mentally retarded. I received a certificate in 2005 to become a certified DD nurse or ID nurse which is Intellectual Development to Disabilities. Ive been a proud CDD nurse since 2005. This is what Im doing currently and I always seek to offer myself to others and gain education and am currently working on my masters in nursing.

Before I became a nurse I graduated from the University of San Francisco as marketing major. Ive learned that you have to work as part of a unit, but you have to be an individual. You have to market your services so that people know what you have to offer and know where to find it. So when I became a marketing major (quote unquote), I decided when working at Bell Atlantic (formerly C&P), I decided to sell PBX and digital systems and became number one in my sales group because I learned how to work on a team and I also learned how to work independently and make tough decisions and put the time in. I am a firm believer that there is nothing to gain without pain. I dont think a person can succeed without trying. You have to have a plan or you will fail. Thats where I learned being a telephone installer, central office technician, every job that the telephone company had that was non-management I had.

Ward and Ward has been an industry leader for over 30 years. I believe that Ward and Ward have something new to offer. Ward and Ward benefits from the hard work and determination of its staff and employees. We show that individuals who have been classified or dehumanized as retarded or less than a subclass population can succeed. Ward and Ward is the vehicle that I want to use to ensure that each citizen in the District of Columbia is entitled to basic efficient healthcare. Healthcare promotion and wellness is a goal. Your health is your wealth so I believe that working hard shows others that if I can do it side-by-side with you, together we can succeed. I think that Ruth Ward had a dream and she believed in educating her staff. She offered herself. Ruth Ward as an example continued to go to school throughout her life and further her education and she also continued to give back to others. So if I can model myself after a role model or mentor, my working hard making sure that all of the efforts of Ruth Ward is not in vain.

Dr. Ruth Ward was one of the original people who believed that people did not have to live at Forest Haven and in order to show that it could be done she offered herself. So I think offering ones self and going that extra mile to make sure that something is done right and educating yourself at each level in your life are three things that Dr. Ward showed us

Being the first providers and the largest provider within this City, means that people trust you. When people trust you, you have the responsibility to be the best, so when DHS has identified (quote unquote) Ward and Ward or Dr. Ruth Ward as being the largest, I would like to see in my lifetime they add the word best next to the largest and I would like to be a part of that dream within my lifetime. I believe that being the largest next to being the best would ensure that Ward and Ward would provide the legacy of Dr. Ruth Ward.

Dr. Ward has been the driving force behind the family center type. Two technologies that Dr. Ward put in place was the cybernize treatment. Mr. R. G. was the first recipient of cybernize therapy at Georgetown University Hospital. He was the only person with MR classification in the whole country to get it. They used this treatment for cybernized prostrate surgery. There are many treatments, but his treatment is something that is new and used for people with MR. Ward and Ward is pioneering things, theyre looking for the best solution for you, the most common, not the cheapest but the best solution to maintain the health. Dr. Ward collaborated with a lot of agencies in the DC government. Dr. Ward worked with the Department of Health for our population with MS, DD and ID. Recently for the first time Ward and Ward worked with 3 other providers scheduling immunization clinics within the community to showcase the spirit of our individuals participating and integrating themselves in the community as a whole. They are not sheltered but are participating just as any other entity in society. When you have DD and ID and youre off the medications, the doctors always send you to the lab. Ward and Ward as an agency and the 3 other providers partnered with Providence Hospital for timely and efficient lab delivery services to our population. MetroAccess has been a great help in our community and were working with everybody to instill in our individuals that you are just like me, I am just like you.

Ward and Ward have a 30 year commitment of being the best and has made the commitment to take cases that no one else will. When Dr. Ruth Ward walked out of the walls of Forest Haven 30 years ago, she brought to her own personal home individuals that no one else would service. Thats how she began her company, so we will continue to provide the best care that any person could ever imagine for our individuals. We are committed to being the best, the best programming team, the best healthcare team, and the best outcome meaning health promotion and prevention. Thats the best you can offer a person in the DD or ID setting. We provide the opportunity for the parents and the lawyers to come visit on a monthly basis to meet with us and express any type of reservations or questions. We have an open door policy and will take care of any request within 30 days regarding healthcare issues or programming. We will seek the proper placement for your family member. This is a family business that Dr. Ruth started and she bought 3 people into her own home and began her business. We are a family and we are one.

1989 I had the pleasure of working at the border baby unit at Howard University and there was this womans name, Ruth this, Ruth that, Ruth, Ruth, Ruth. I understood that she took babies when no one else would. That was during the crack epidemic and we had a lot of babies that had G-tubes and had nowhere to go. Our social worker would always call this woman Ruth and she would always say yes, never a no. These children had many medical issues and considered to be medically fragile. I got another job in another field at the Hospital for Sick Children as a volunteer which was mandatory for internship. There I heard the same name, only Dr. Ruth Ward. Here it was the same situation when families would no longer be able to care for their children Dr. Ward offered them a home. Lo and behold in 2007, 2005 I began working with this company that this lady started. So my respect for Dr. Ward started in the late 80s. During that time I never saw Dr. Ward but her spirit was everywhere. When ever I went where populations were underserved I heard the name Dr. Ruth Ward.

I want to be number 1. I want Ward and Ward to be known as the agency that promotes and prevents any mishaps for the health and wellness of any individual. I want to make a difference in the lives of others. I have children and I am a member of the church. I would like to do something that would make a difference. I love others.

Rose Carter R. N.

My name is Matthew Reese and I serve as the pastor of Lee Memorial Baptist Church. I first met Dr. Ward back in the late 1970s, and at that time it was Community Multi Services and at that particular time I served as one of the house directors or house managers on 13th Street, NW, Washington, DC and in that capacity I had about 6 individuals. My first exposure was working at the group home so it was on-job training.

My education is a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Masters of Divinity degree from Howard University. In my studies with the masters program we dealt with individuals at the Howard University psychiatric ward.

I think what makes my ministry unique is that the individuals are involved with the church. We have a congregation that is made up of mental disabled population. The whole choir and 90% of the church are made up of the disabled population. The fact that they are familiar with one another they dont feel stressed or out of place. They feel right at home. Thats one of the unique things about this church. I say that because they have the same desires and wants what everyone else would want. I dont necessarily see it as unique. I see it as a holistic part of life. Other folk who have come here see it as unique but I see it as a holistic approach to life and I think that thats how they see it. Its a part of their life that they enjoy.

Dr. Ward used to take her individuals to other churches in the city. Members of other congregations would look at them strangely, in fact, one pastor told Dr. Ward not to bring her individuals to church again because it created a disturbance. So thats what led her to develop a spiritual center for her individuals. It was a positive thing out of the negative experience that God placed in her heart to develop a church for her individuals. Although the church was started for the individuals it was opened to the community at large.

As Ive reflected over the years and often reflect upon, the 3 things that I came up with are;

1) Freedom for her individuals,
2) For them to live out their dreams
3) For the individuals to think more holistic.

Let me try to put some light on those 3 things. I would put Dr. Ward in the same category of Harriett Tubman who had the Underground Railroad for slaves. She was responsible for giving freedom to many of the slaves. I also would put her in the category of Dr. King who led the movement here in the 60s for black Americans to achieve the things that we have achieved. I put her in the same category of people of that caliber because of what she has done for the developmental disabled population in terms of helping them to obtain their freedom from institutions. People in institutions have dreams but they probably couldnt live out the dreams that they had. So I think the major breakthrough for her was to liberate them so that they can get to live out their dreams regardless of what their dreams were. Ive been to some of the plays the individuals would have and its interesting to see that the things that they are asking for, the things that they are searching for are things that they are dreaming about. Well the same thing they are dreaming and asking for are the same as in the 60s. They want a car, they want a house they want freedom, they want employment, they want to be able to come and go as they choose and those are some of the same things that we were asking in the 60s. I think the things that Dr. Ward has done, even though it may not be written in history, are the contributions that she has made to this population of people.


As Ive always stated from the pulpit on many occasions, even when she was alive, I am privileged to have known her to have worked for her. I remember her telling me on several occasions, I think it was the 70s when President Nixon was in office, that the discussion of deinstitutionalizing began she was able to begin group homes for individuals from Forest Haven. I think that she has created a blazing trail for the developmental disable population. Then you see the other 100 agencies who serve the developmental disable population. So that lets us know the type of trail that she has created.

Again, it speaks to the great legacy of Dr. Ward and this is why I place her in the same category as a Dr. King or Harriett Tubman and Thurgood Marshall or many of our black leaders who have had so many difficult obstacles in their way and being a black woman who was born in the. We know that her life was not an easy life and for her to have made strides and to have done great things speak to her will. As my father used to say where theres a will theres a way. She has made great pathways for folk who have come behind her and that she also developed group homes speaks volumes to the great work that Dr. Ward has done. I think also DHS recognize, how DHS has changed their policies so the individuals have more say so about their own life now. I know here I serve on the human rights committee and you just cant treat an individual any kind of way. They have a total say so about what goes on in their life now. Youre not just making decisions for them anymore. They make decisions for themselves and I think the dreams are coming true for the individuals.

Number one, you want to maintain the high quality that Dr. Ruth Ward always demanded and you want to increase your business. Those are the 2 things that I would like to see continued.

Matthew Reese
Pastor Matthew Reese