Indian Rivers Lighthouse Day Program is the only adult behavioral health program in Bibb County. On Sept. 27, the Lighthouse will close permanently. Becky Davis' son, Ryan, has Down Syndrome and has attended the program for the past five years. Becky said the closure will break Ryan's heart. “I want the people who made this decision to come and explain to Ryan and his friends why they can't be together anymore,” Davis said. “It will break their hearts and it breaks my heart to think about it. They need this. They absolutely need it.” Ryan is non-verbal, and Davis said the program has helped him come out of his shell a lot over the past five years. “He was happy when he was at home, that's for sure, but being with his peers has made him a lot more social and active,” she said. “It's been a big improvement.” Davis said the program not only helps patients, but their families too. “Without this program, a lot of families have to have one parent stay home with the child,” she said. “When my husband and I both worked, that was a big problem.” Currently, the program has 12 patients between the ages of 30 and 60. On Aug. 16, the family learned that Lighthouse would close just two weeks later on Aug. 30. On Wednesday morning, the facility announced it would push back the closing date to Sept. 27. Davis said she's sad to see the facility go because Indian Rivers won't tell her why it's closing. “Everybody needs their peers, their friends,” she said. “Ryan wouldn't understand if he was without his friends at the end of September. I hope the people who made this decision come and confront the kids and explain why they can't be with their friends.” WVTM13 reached out to Indian Rivers to find out the reason for the closure, but did not hear back.
BRENT, Alabama —
Indian Rivers Lighthouse Day Program is the only adult behavioral health program in Bibb County. On Sept. 27, the Lighthouse will close permanently.
Becky Davis' son, Ryan, has Down syndrome and has attended the program for five years, and she said its closure will break his heart.
“I want whoever made this decision to come out and explain to Ryan and his friends why they can no longer be together,” Davis said. “It will break their hearts and it breaks my heart to think about it. They need this. They absolutely need this.”
Ryan is non-verbal, but Davis said the program has really helped him come out of his shell over the past five years.
“He was happy at home, that's for sure, but being with his peers made him much more social and active,” she said. “It was a big improvement.”
Davis said the program not only helps patients, but their families too.
“Without this program, many families would have to have one parent stay home with the kids,” she said. “That was a big problem when my husband and I both worked.”
The program currently serves 12 patients, ranging in age from 30 to 60. On Aug. 16, families learned Lighthouse would close just two weeks later on Aug. 30. On Wednesday morning, the facility announced it was postponing the closure date to Sept. 27.
Davis said he's sad to see the facility go, as Indian Rivers has not given a reason for the closure.
“Everyone needs companionship and friends,” she said. “Ryan is not going to understand if he is left without his friends at the end of September. I hope that whoever made this decision will come and confront the kids and explain why they can't be with their friends.”
WVTM 13 reached out to Indian Rivers to find out why it's closing but has not heard back.
