achievement considering the struggle it had to be born.

Until the 1960s, the community paid little more than lip service to improving the lives of those with mental handicaps. Instead of living and functioning within the regular community, they were placed in St. Brendan's Hospital with mentally ill patients.

This bothered more than a few concerned citizens, among them Mrs. Ellen Douglas, an assistant nurse at St. Brendan's. Of particular concern to her were adolescent boys with mental handicaps.

"They were beginning to adopt the institutionalised behaviour of the older male patients,'' she explained. "Psychiatrist Dr. O'Scanlon and Miss Marlene Simmons were also concerned about their influence on young, adolescent boys who were not insane. At the time, these boys were in St. Brendan's because they were emotionally disturbed and dangerous and their parents didn't know what to do with them, so they were put in St. Brendan's on medication.'' Among others, the trio felt there was a better way of dealing with their problems, and a day senior training centre at the Hospital was ultimately created. The concept was enthusiastically supported by the Committee of 25 for Handicapped Children, which donated transportation and educational equipment to the project.

"As a result, we were able to take the boys sightseeing, fishing, swimming and more. Everything we did was educational. For example, after they caught the fish, they learned how to clean and cook them,'' Mrs. Douglas explained.

Through her involvement in the programme and inspiration received from Mr.

Michael Saunders, a lecture nurse at St. Brendan's, Mrs. Douglas decided to make the field of rehabilitation of the mentally handicapped her career.

To this end, she completed studies at the National Association for Mental Health in Britain and earned a degree in vocational rehabilitation at Loretto Heights College in Colorado, USA. She also holds a teacher's training degree in special education, and has studied psychology, sociology and counselling at the University of Maryland.

Her work earned her a Paul Harris fellowship -- Rotary International's highest award. The organisation also sponsored her degree studies in Colorado.

Nonetheless, Mrs. Douglas still says of her career: "I think I was called by the Lord to do what I have to do. I feel if I don't do it the penalty of guilt will be too great for me. These people are very special, and what I like about them is that their motives are pure. Personally, I don't see a person with a mental handicap. In many instances that handicap is probably a blessing in disguise.'' While at St.Brendan's, Mrs. Douglas became convinced that the mentally handicapped should be living away from the hospital in their own residence.

Some agreed with her, others were not so sure.

In the end it was the word of a Roman Catholic priest, Father Pat Mackan of St. Anthony's church in Warwick, which carried the necessary weight.

"Father Pat took a great interest in the mentally handicapped because he had a parents' group at his church, and we were both members of the Bermuda Physically Handicapped Association,'' Mrs. Douglas explained. "Ultimately, we met and amalgamated. Together, we lit a torch. With the assistance of the Committee of 25, Sir Henry Tucker, Mr. Ward Young, and other outstanding people in the community we got the okay for a home for residents.'' Among the sites considered was a former dwelling for priests on Cedar Avenue which, because of its condition, the Roman Catholic church was anxious to sell.

It fitted perfectly with the recommendations of Dr. Chris Williams, a visiting British psychologist whom Mrs. Douglas knew.

"He said that for the project to be community oriented, the home must be centrally located,'' she said. "And Hope Homes surely is. We call it the most important square in Bermuda. In it we have a park, supermarkets, bus stops, churches, shops, a movie house, entertainment at City Hall, parades -- we've got it all!'' With Father Pat's assistance, a good price was negotiated and in 1983 step one in the dream to establish a community residence became reality.

But, as is so often the case, reality brought with it its own problems. The building, which runs from Cedar Avenue to Brunswick Street, was in need of major renovations. So, in addition to the burden of a mortgage, considerable expense was needed simply making the place safe.

It also needed a name. After much thought and discussion, Hope Homes came to Mrs. Douglas at a most unlikely moment.

"I was lying on the floor meditating, thinking about this home of practical education. As an acronym, I realised it spelled HOPE. Then I thought Hope Homes. The acronym of the second word explained exactly what we were about: habilitation, opportunities, motivation, encouragement, stability. Together, the acronyms summed up the essence of our philosophy.'' Indeed, Hope Hopes is based on normalisation of its people. "A person with a mental handicap is, first and foremost, a person who deserves all the due consideration that other citizens are entitled to,'' Mrs. Douglas stressed.

"That person has the right to life, care, training, education, work and civil responsibility.'' Owned and operated by the Association for the Mentally Handicapped of Bermuda, Hope Homes is run by a board of directors. Its staff is headed by Mrs. Douglas as executive director.

For the first year of its existence, Hope Homes did not house its clients -- as Mrs. Douglas prefers to call the residents. Instead, part of the building was used as an activities/learning centre for them, while the rooms were rented out to nurses in order to help defray expenses.

It proved a happy arrangement, because the nurses voluntarily became involved in the work of Hope Homes.

In the ensuing years, well over 100 volunteers have contributed time, finances, talents and resources to the success of the Hamilton residence. As a result, the clients have made significant progress in the areas of social competence, living and personal care skills, work placement, communication, and routine concepts.

Whereas it began with two residents, today the home boasts 22, four of whom live in a separate apartment on Union Street with a young man who acts as their role model.

"He does an excellent job,'' Mrs. Douglas said. It also runs a little restaurant, Island Hut, on Union Street as part of the rehabilitation programme.

"If a client wants to take someone to dinner, they are free to do so without the embarrassment of being misunderstood,'' Mrs. Douglas explained. Some clients hold full or part-time jobs and all enjoy helping around the home.

Laundry is a big favourite.

"It is a functional activity, which helps, and is also extra exercise since they have to climb steps to the line and reach up to peg the clothes,'' Mrs.

Douglas explained. "The whole concept is about caring for clothes.'' In the activities centre, clients learn many things with the help of full-time classroom instructor and registered nurse, Miss Joy Monish and assistant teacher, Mrs. Norma Gaiton.

As an educational therapist, Mrs. Douglas understands well the value of such programmes and promotes them keenly. Everything taught has a purpose: to develop physical, mental and social skills, and even earn money for Hope Homes.

"For example, we stuff envelopes, clean brass and silver, collect panty hose for our `preserved expressions' project, and create souvenirs from natural materials,'' Mrs. Douglas said.

It is not only in the classrooms that the clients learn -- the whole of Bermuda is a classroom, so far as she is concerned. Thus, her charges enjoy a wide variety of activities designed to arouse curiosity about and interest in their environment, science, and life skills.

"Whatever we do, however simple, it must be functional, creative and useful,'' Mrs. Douglas explained.

Behavioural skills are also be taught so that clients are not exploited by others only too willing to take negative advantage of their limitations.

"It is an awesome challenge to teach them right from wrong, what is acceptable behaviour and what is not,'' Mrs. Douglas admitted. "But when I meet a person who is deficient in the skills that I have, I am challenged. It is a 24-hour job.'' And of course it takes many hours of repetitive teaching to instil such skills because the increments of progress are measured in tiny steps.

But Mrs. Douglas has patience in abundance. Even though it can be sorely tried at times, she loves her clients -- who call her Mamma D. -- as much as they love her. The support of her husband Ivan has been wholehearted from the outset.

Looking back over Hope Homes' first decade, Mrs. Douglas is buoyed by the success the concept has enjoyed and the progress her clients have made. She has watched some grow from child to adulthood and move on to lead independent lives in the community. Some are her valued assistants.

But the path of progress has not always been smooth. The tragic death of her son, the sudden passing of Father Mackan, and unfounded accusations over alleged missing funds have all saddened her greatly.

The latter, in particular, has left Hope Homes bereft of money which once poured in -- money which is sorely needed to upgrade the aging facility and move forward with plans for the future.

"Not everyone lost sight of the vision, however,'' Mrs. Douglas said. "Some have remained faithful to us. There have been bad days and there will be better ones. The Lord didn't bring us this far to let us down.'' SHARING THE MOMENT -- Residents join Mrs. Ellen Douglas (centre) in celebrating the tenth anniversary of Hope Homes, a residence for people with mental handicaps. Located in Hamilton, what started as an experiment in non-institutional living has proved a great success.