Pat Lando

Pat Lando was interviewed on April 29, 2012 by Karen Brewster and Marla Statscewich in Valdez, Alaska. From 1972-1999, Pat Lando worked at the Harborview facility for the developmentally disabled in Valdez, Alaska. He was superintendent from 1976-1999, when Harborview closed and he retired. Harborview was originally opened around 1961 with some of the residents transferred from Morningside Hospital in Portland, Oregon. The buildings were destroyed in the 1964 Earthquake and a newly rebuilt facility was opened in 1967. In this interview, Pat provides an overview history of the facility, the services provided, the facility organization and staff, and the controversy over institutional versus community and home-based care of people with developmental disabilities. He discusses residents coming from Morningside Hospital accompanied by nurse Lynette McCoy who then worked at Harborview for ten years. He talks about the relationship between Harborview and the town of Valdez and between residents and their families, working with the state's administration, type of care provided, effect on residents, and the fight to keep Harborview open.