A Legacy of Advocacy and Community

David and Margot Wizansky circa 2005

by Taraneh Arhamsadr

“Well, the idea really started on a beach in Puerto Rico.” 

Margot Wizansky sits back in her chair thoughtfully beside David, her husband of more than 50 years, as they both smile at the memory.

David and Margot are the co-founders of Specialized Housing, and I recently met with them to take a look back on the last 40 years and reflect on the experiences and events that made SHI the unique, tight-knit community it is today.

According to David, it all started in grad school – both the relationship and the work with the developmentally disabled community – but neither of them ever imagined that they would build such a meaningful legacy.

“I went to graduate school to find a wife,” joked David. “That's where the women were—the brilliant ones.” Soon enough, David met Margot, and the rest was history.

In search of a work opportunity, David connected with a fellow classmate deeply involved with a group supporting individuals with developmental disabilities from Brookline High School. After leading this community initiative for years, the classmate asked David to take the helm. 

What began as a casual gathering soon transformed into a self-advocacy group. The group, initially focused on socializing and activities, began shifting their focus toward the core issues surrounding disabilities based on experiences they were having in their own daily lives. Their collective efforts eventually evolved into the Massachusetts Self Advocates (MSA), one of the first groups globally to openly discuss the challenges of developmental disabilities. They shifted the conversation from the outdated term "retardation" to exploring human rights, responsibilities, and the proactive engagement of individuals with disabilities in the policy landscape.

“Nothing about us, without us.” This phrase is often used across human rights movements, as individuals who advocate for themselves are empowered to insist on their rightful seat at the table when it comes to making decisions, and this certainly rang true for the members of the MSA. As their work gained traction, their efforts were generally well-received and resonated in the spaces they were in.

Encouraged by the positive response, the group expanded its initiatives, including school programs where they engaged elementary school children in open, honest conversations about disabilities, fostering understanding and breaking down stereotypes. This education program eventually extended to high schools and even colleges. The group also traveled overseas to the UK as part of their advocacy efforts, participated in exchange programs, and presented before professional groups, including in the medical community. 

Notably, the MSA’s advocacy efforts led to tangible changes, such as renaming the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation to the Department of Developmental Services and altering rules around Special Needs passes on Boston area public transportation. 

It was the MSA’s drive for change and pursuit for independence that inspired what would eventually become Specialized Housing.

Back to that beach in Puerto Rico. David and Margot conceived the idea while on a memorable trip with their kids. In his work with the MSA, David became profoundly aware of the housing struggles faced by individuals with developmental disabilities. Some lived with their parents without a long-term plan, some lived independently but without sufficient support, and many experienced loneliness. 

What if they had a long-term place to call home, a place where they had all the support they needed and a built-in community—a place of their own?

David and Margot initiated conversations and sought seed money, hoping to turn the idea into reality. But the financial landscape proved to be challenging, and they were unable to secure any grants. That’s when David approached the original MSA group members, seeking permission to discuss the concept with their parents, who would be essential in securing funding and bringing this idea to life.

Soon after, a community space with great potential for this project became available in Brookline, MA, and David sought approval to transform the building into a unique housing community.

With support from Rik Holmes, a dedicated architect and developer, as well as an attorney, they conceptualized SHI’s groundbreaking model—turning individual bedrooms into condominiums, with each resident owning their own space. The legal, financial, and architectural frameworks fell into place, and the dream of a supportive housing community for developmentally disabled adults became a reality.

While putting in the legwork to get SHI’s inaugural home opened, Margot and David were also working other jobs and raising their kids Ben and Sasha, who were 12 and 10 when the first house opened. Ben even worked at the Brookline home as one of his first jobs some years later, and Sasha has provided extensive support over the years as well.

“It was just what they grew up with,” responded Margot, when asked how this work colored their family life. “It was just what we did.”

The plan was never to make Specialized Housing into a larger-scale effort. But support and urging from the original families, who believed in the model and its potential to be successfully replicated, as well as interest from new families who had heard about SHI through word of mouth, inspired David and Margot to expand. Each new house was strategically located to maximize walkability, independence and accessibility for house members, with close proximity to commercial centers and public transit, enabling its members to live, work, play, and have rich adult lives.

But beyond the homes themselves, Specialized Housing would not be what it is today without the people who have made it into a tight-knit, supportive community—the residents, their families, and the dedicated staff, some of whom have been with the organization for decades and even raised their own families in the houses.

“It takes a special person who actually sees and values [this work] and wants to be a part of something bigger,” said David when asked about the team. “These are people who want to be connected, want to be part of a community.”

When looking back on the last 40 years, this is what has been most valuable to Margot and David—being part of a wonderful community of caregivers. David described the opportunity to work side-by-side with competent, caring team members, parents and siblings who, in many ways, have become like a family themselves, as “a revelation,” and a culture he’d like to see continue long into the future.

With new, younger house members moving into the houses and forming multigenerational friendships with longtime residents alongside actively engaged families and team members who share Specialized Housing’s values, the positive energy is as strong as ever, and the dream of a successful future for this unique, supportive community will no doubt remain alive.