The Cottage
The first of its kind in Darien Connecticut, this house provides the six residents with a permanent home in an environment that allows them to engage in independent and group… READ MORE >
THE INSPIRATION
In 1966, Dr. Burton Blatt published the photographic exposé Christmas in Purgatory, a searing portrait of life in a mental institution that brought national attention to the abuse of people with mental retardation in America’s institutions. This event eventually led to the closing of institutions like Willowbrook Hospital and pioneered a inclusive system of treatment for people with disabilities. Dr. Blatt helped initiate community living programs and family support services. And, as a national leader in special education, he called for programs to integrate students with disabilities into public schools and worked to promote a more open society for them.
More than 40 years later, his nephew, Charlie Hammerman, a former Merrill Lynch professional, former Assistant United States Attorney and father of a child with cerebral palsy, is now blazing a new trail in helping those with disabilities realize their full potential, by offering a business-inclusive model. Charlie has combined his knowledge of money management and financial markets with his mission to propel further inclusion in society for people with disabilities.
