Dad: Son 'Really Takes Off' In DPD Environment

Craig Smitheman, a current resident of Columbus House at the , is one of four children born to his parents Donald and Doris. All four were born with handicaps. And all four either currently live or have lived at one of the homes of the DPD.

Smitheman and his family lived in Union County, when he was young. He became an Eagle Scout in Union County.

“For his project, Craig went to group homes in the area and taught the residents about fire safety,” his father Don said. “He helped them put together a fire escape plan, and demonstrated stop, drop and roll.”

This is part three of a three-part series spotlighting Craig Smitheman and the Department for Persons With Disabilities. discussed Craig’s home life. highlighted his work day. Part Three discusses how Craig came to live in a DPD home.

Don Smitheman was involved with the Union County Association for Retired Citizens (ARC) for many years. And Mr. and Mrs. Smitheman knew that they did not want their children raised in an institutional setting.

“We knew we wanted a home type of environment for them, because we didn’t want to feel like we were abandoning them,” Don Smitheman said. “We wanted to know where they were and become part of their environment. But that type of environment didn’t exist when my children were young.”

When the DPD began adding group homes in 1977, Craig’s sister Denise was the first resident of Finnegan House, another of the DPD’s group homes. In fact, Don Smitheman helped to build Finnegan House. As openings became available at DPD homes, all of the Smitheman siblings became residents. Craig and his brother Gary are neighbors, with Gary living at Finnegan House.

Craig’s story did take a different turn in 2005, when he slipped and fell on ice, damaging vertebrae in his back. He had to go into a hospital with severe back pain.

“He was in and out of the hospital for a long time and his condition never got better,” Don Smitheman said.

Craig eventually went into a nursing home, and was moved into the long-term care wing. His father was very disappointed with the care Craig received there.

“One day I went to see him and the room was dark—there was no t.v. on, or anything, and he was just sitting there staring at the wall. I knew that was no good for him.”

Don worked to get Craig out of that setting, and, after a year of trying, was finally successful in negotiating Craig’s return to Columbus House. Don said that Craig has been improving ever since his return.

“He wasn’t happy in the nursing home. He’s happy at Columbus. He’s doing what he likes to do, and he has his cohorts to keep him company. He was deteriorating in the nursing home.”

Today Craig visits with his brother Gary often, as they are in the same work program. Don comes to visit at least twice a month, and often more.

“It was a godsend that he got back here,” Don said. “He’s really taken off in this environment. He’s back to 100 percent now.”