He lived at Rainier School for 84 years. Now, he has a new home for the holidays
Contact Lisa Pemberton, DSHS Communications
lisa.pemberton@dshs.wa.gov or 360–902–7844
In 1939, Larrie Butts was in the first wave of residents to arrive at Rainier School, a federally certified DSHS training facility in Buckley for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Times were different then, and Larrie has seen a lot of changes in the world and at Rainier in the decades he lived there.
Among the biggest changes: The state’s residential habilitation centers like Rainier are much smaller. Rainier’s population peaked in 1958 at 1,918. Today, Rainier has 97 residents.
Over the years, RHCs adopted rigorous training programs (called active treatment) to help people build the skills they need to live in the community. Transition planning now begins during the admission process.
Federal law supports an individual’s right to live in an RHC if they qualify, there’s capacity and that is what they choose. And when clients choose to leave a facility, DSHS’ Developmental Disabilities Administration works to make sure they get the support they need to make it successful. For Larrie’s transition, DDA’s Roads to Community Living Program worked with Rainier Program Area Team E staff and an adult family home in Pierce County for nearly a year. The process included numerous transition planning meetings and five site visits.
“Larrie’s story is a shining example of staff carrying out our mission, vision and values of supporting people to live the lives they want to live,” said Dr. Tonik Joseph, DSHS Assistant Secretary for DDA. “It’s beyond inspirational.”
Find out what happens when Larrie leaves the only home he knew for 84 years to start a new life in the community, by clicking below to watch Larrie’s Story.