For two full days I sat through the talk of psychiatrists who tried to prove that I was not smart. They gave me names like a "vegetable". Some said I was like an infant. On the third and following days, many people came to the stand to say that I was capable of making my own decisions. My social worker, other psychiatrists, the psychologist from Hugh Mac Millan Center as well as my Bliss teacher who knew me for six years, all spoke on my behalf. They showed clearly that I could make my own decisions. I also went up on the stand and was questioned by all lawyers and Judge Matheson.

Shirley McNaughton who founded the Bliss Communication Institute translated my answers as I pointed to my Blissboard. I was very hot and sweating. I cried and took a bit of a break before finishing. My friends and my family cried too. They were very proud of me! After my testimony, everybody knew how I wanted to live my life.

Thursday afternoon the following week we went to court again. I was feeling afraid and excited! The Judge said I was a thinking human being and had a part to play in our community. I was very happy and excited and that night I could go out for supper with my friends. I did not sleep that night.

6. Finding a place.
After court I went to Participation House in Hamilton for 3 weeks on March 14, 1982. I found that this was a big home for 36 people with disabilities. I did not have anything to do. I felt bored. I talked a lot with a friend who had lived at Rideau Regional on the same ward as myself. I was happy to have her to talk with. I did not like to live there too much. On May 10, I came to Foyers Partage in Ottawa for one month. I went to school at McArthur Highschool. I was very excited and happy about this home. I went back to Smith Falls and decided to move to the home on Booth Street, June 17, 1983.

7. Living in Ottawa
I love going out, to shopping centers, for walks downtown and in parks. I like going to some football games and spending time with friends. I go to McArthur Highschool. I find it interesting especially math, life skills and history. In the summer I worked on the computer at the YM-YWCA and go to the summer program with the City of Ottawa. We do different activities like fishing, lawn bowling, camping, go to horse races, Upper Canada Village and Ottawa Exhibition. I have also gone on several trips to the Maritimes, Vancouver, Germany and Nicaragua.

Since I have been in Ottawa I have gotten two computers. One to talk face to face with, the other one to write my stories and do my homework. I got these through the Hugh MacMillan Center in Toronto.

When I came to Ottawa I had a severe curvature of the spine and had to wear a very large brace. I could not sit up for very long. I had a operation at the Civic Hospital. Since the operation I no longer wear the brace and can sit up all day and my back is straight.

I live in a small home with 4 other people and I have my own room. Some people work in the house, others go to school, work on computers, do silk screening, help people in Nicaragua. People in my home also do pottery, swimming, play soccer and bowling. I love it in Ottawa.

Justin