When we were researching examples / models of existing Down syndrome centres worldwide, the Pathfinder Village, situated in Edmeston, New York caught our attention. Pathfinder Village, established in 1980, is a private, non-profit, residential community for people with Down syndrome (from age 5 onwards) which lies on the most idyllic piece of New England real estate.

It would be difficult to find such an attractive development to holiday in, let alone be the site for a residential centre. The 10 colonial style, residential homes at Pathfinder Village offer its 87 residents comfortable, bright accommadation, where boys, girls, men and women live, share household activities and meals.

The 23 acre development boasts its own school, which offers education to residents and day students. Older residents work in the community around the Village and avail of vocational training/activities also through the wider community.

Also on site are major sports facilities, a church, the Kennedy-Willis Center for Down syndrome which provides education and counselling to families and the Villages Bakery and Cafe in which many of its residents work and provide a service to the community in which they live.

There will be those who would regard a development such as this as a system which isolates people with Down syndrome from community and family life and creating for all intents, an institution with a garden of Eden type frontage.

And in putting this critical viewpoint to Pathfinder, their spokesperson stated that, "What we are offering is choice. We are not saying that our way is right or wrong, we are simply offering our residents an opportunity to live alongside their peers, sharing experiences, responsibilities and creating for them a family-like atmosphere ".

Many would advocate that the best way for the integration of people with Down syndrome is to proceed at pace and for them to live at close quarters to community life - which in Ireland means living at home or in sheltered accommodation, which can mean that people with Ds are mixed with individuals with differing learning disabilities.

The spokesperson for Pathfinder went on to explain that in the main people with Ds will prefer to live with other people with Ds. "In some cases, people with mixed learning disabilities share residential community homes. But this can lead to anxiety and distress for people with Down syndrome who do not react well to the behaviour which can be prevalent in those with more aggressive or disruptive disabilities."

Perhaps the Pathfinder Village would not be for everyone but for us in the DSC, it certainly has a fairytale like quality, a striving to create something of perfection and protection for people with Down syndrome.

www.pathfindervillage.org