Photo credit: Michael Tercha, Chicago Tribune / June 15, 2011

According to Chicago Breaking News, U.S. District Court Judge James Holderman approved a settlement today, paving the way for adults with developmental disabilities to move out of large institutions and into smaller community based settings. They write:

A federal judge on Wednesday approved a settlement to a long-running civil case that will force Illinois to begin moving hundreds of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities into more community-based homes and apartments of their choice.

“I firmly believe that the state of Illinois, the citizens, have been well-served by these efforts,” said U.S. District Judge James Holderman, who congratulated lawyers who have spent months negotiating terms of controversial case.

“I will issue an order promptly,” he said, noting that he had received only two objections out of 21Ö responses filed with the court. “I will announce informally today that my position is that the consent decree should be approved and this should be the law that is followed.”
....
Ligas, 43, who has Down’s syndrome, will be able to move out of his current 96-bed home at Sheltered Village in Woodstock within 60 days. The state has 90 days to complete its first draft of a transition plan to move hundreds of non-plaintiffs who are covered under the decree, according to the document.

“I am so happy today,” said Ligas, who planned to celebrate at Jimmy Johns. “My family, too.”

Read the whole thing.

The Chicago Tribune has an excellent profile of some of the individuals with developmental disabilities who will be affected by the settlement of Ligas v. Maram:

When Stanley Ligas talks about moving out of the 96-bed facility where he has lived for years and into a small, community-based home for people with developmental disabilities, he describes it like this:

"You know how Jiminy Cricket sings, 'When you wish upon a star'? That's what it's like for me. It would be a dream come true."

Ligas is one of several plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit that might soon give Illinoisans with developmental disabilities more opportunities to live in community homes.

"I want to work full time," said Ligas, 43, who now lives in the Sheltered Village facility in Woodstock and gets out a couple of days a week to work at a nearby Popeyes restaurant. "It's really what I need. I'm ready to move."

Read the whole thing.