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Home » News » Archives » November 2008 Archives
November 2008 Archives Landmark Agreement Will Improve Services for People With Disabilities November 13, 2008 Sweeping reform will dramatically expand opportunities for community living and create meaningful individual choice
"Experience around the country shows that when given a meaningful choice, people with disabilities thrive in community settings," said Benjamin Wolf of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, co-counsel in the case. "This agreement will truly change the lives of thousands of Illinois residents." Today, Illinois ranks 51st among all states and the District of Columbia in serving people with developmental disabilities in small integrated settings, and most people with developmental disabilities seeking residential services are only offered placements in institutions, in violation of their civil rights and the law. Under the terms of the proposed Consent Decree, however, people with developmental disabilities living in large private institutions will be given the opportunity to live in community-based settings. The proposed Consent Decree also requires the State to provide services to people with developmental disabilities who are at risk of institutionalization and currently living in the family home. "This case is about choice, and now nearly 6,000 insitutionalized individuals with developmental disabilities and thousands of others at risk of institutionalization will finally be able to choose community living," said Zena Naiditch, President and CEO of Equip for Equality, which is serving as counsel in the case. "We commend the State for doing the right thing and we look forward to partnering with them to implement the agreement once it is approved by the court." read more » Close Gitmo & End Military Commissions November 10, 2008
Election Protection: Know Your Voting Rights! November 3, 2008
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