Movie fans may know Irish actor Colin Farrell from his roles in blockbusters such as “The Batman,” “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” and “The Banshees of Inisherin.” They may not know that Farrell, whose eldest son James has a rare neuro-genetic disorder called Angelman syndrome, is also a disability activist and founder of the brand-new Colin Farrell Foundation. Earlier this year, Farrell started the nonprofit to honor James and to help adults with AS and other intellectual disabilities and their families.
Next month, James Farrell will turn 21, and like so many other young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, he will become ineligible for many of the services and supports he received as a youngster. The Colin Farrell Foundation “is committed to transforming the lives of individuals and families living with intellectual disability through advocacy, education, awareness, and innovative programs. As Farrell told People magazine in a recent interview, “Once your child turns 21, they’re kind of on their own. All the safeguards that are put in place, special ed classes, that all goes away, so you’re left with a young adult who should be an integrated part of our modern society and more often than not is left behind.”
The actor hopes his foundation and its initiatives make a difference for young adults like his son.
With the needs of young adults with ID and their families in mind, the Colin Farrell Foundation hopes to create more affordable and accessible community-based housing and day programs. Additionally, the foundation will work to increase wages for direct support professionals (DSPs). According to the foundation’s website, “most DSPs love their job and the clients they serve but are driven from the field due to poverty level wages. There is a significant workforce crisis within the intellectual disability community due in large part to the systemic underfunding of social services.” The foundation believes that it’s also necessary to provide other incentives to attract new DSPs and to ensure that current DSPs stay in the field.
The foundation will also advocate for funding and policy changes including:
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- increased funding for Medicaid and Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)
- Making HCBS mandatory, rather than optional.
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- Establishing guaranteed benefits across states so that people living with intellectual disability can move to another state and not lose HCBS.
- Streamlining eligibility to ensure access to services.
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The foundation recognizes that caregivers of children and adults with ID experience high levels of stress that are detrimental to their health and inhibit their ability to provide optimal care to their loved ones. Camp Solas, an initiative to provide education, networking and respite opportunities for caregivers is expected to launch in the near future.
“Camp Solas will offer caretakers the opportunity to attend an inclusive retreat where they will learn about available services and programs for their loved ones while forging deep connections with families who are navigating similar challenges.”
While their caregivers enjoy the retreat, they’ll be able to rest assured that their children are enjoying camp activities such as sports, arts and crafts, and adventures staffed by trained volunteers and staff members.
The foundation is hosting its first fundraiser – a winter ball – this December in Chicago.
For more information, visit colinfarrellfoundation.org.
