In these times of quick fixes to all problems no matter how large, there are few organizations that have the staying power of the ACLU to defend the civil rights of the most vulnerable.A Chicago Tribune editorial highlights Governor Pat Quinn’s plans to revamp the state’s program for institutionalized persons, moving people with developmental disabilities into community living environments. The piece also makes mention of the three community integration cases handled by the ACLU of Illinois.
One milestone: Quinn recently settled the last of three long-standing lawsuits aimed at forcing state-funded providers to offer less-restrictive options for care. The governor also has sought input from advocates for the disabled about how to manage the state and federal money available for a transition, establish a reasonable timetable and arrange for follow-up monitoring.
