The State of Illinois recently announced plans to close multiple residential units at Choate Development Facility located in downstate Anna, Illinois, including closing general units for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Many of these individuals are covered by a federal consent decree intended to move people with intellectual and developmental disabilities from large institutions to community-based settings.
In response to the decision by the State, the ACLU of Illinois – counsel in the case that resulted in the consent decree – issued the following statement about the announcement regarding the closures at Choate:
For too long, the State of Illinois relied on large institutions like Choate to house people with intellectual and developmental disabilities – people who can live and flourish in the community rather than such large, warehouse type settings. The transformation at Choate is an opportunity for Illinois to create and build momentum toward creating pathways – smoother pathways – for moving people who want to live in the community rather than large, restrictive institutions.
Choate has been plagued for years with reports of harsh conditions and even abuse of residents. Given that similar reports regularly emerge from large institutions, it is even more urgent that Illinois invest in community-based services and housing, not warehouses, for people who can and want to live in the community.
We look forward to continuing to work with the State through our litigation to create more humane and humanizing residential opportunities for our clients.
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