Comments on: Column: ‘What to do with Louie?’

By: Elisabeth's Mom

Elisabeth's Mom — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 02:49:00 +0000

This should be a wakeup call for every parent or caretaker to begin looking into what housing options are available in their state as early as possible.

I’m just surprised that no one in Illinois has made this an issue before and why it’s only surfacing now in 2009.

It is unfortunate that the family waited until the last minute instead of working with advocacy agencies to create an awareness about private or group home housing needs for Louie’s future and others like him, when Louie was younger.

I am aware of already 4 different housing situations in our community and my daughter is only 14. I have zeroed in on MR/dd, LADD, and several other private-group home options to make sure they’ll still be around when my daughter is ready to transition.

You better believe that you’ll hear about me in the news if something happens in Ohio where our housing options are limited to only institutions.

That will be our governor’s very last term.

By: GetToKnowTheBlue

GetToKnowTheBlue — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:05:58 +0000

Louis’ story is all-too common in Illinois. Help change our state’s broken system for developmental disability services by visiting http://www.gettoknowtheblue.org to download and send in a petition!

We need more access to community living options in Illinois!

By: letRVoiceBHeard

letRVoiceBHeard — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 22:10:18 +0000

This is terrible! We should be not going backwards in time to take care of our citizens. People with disabilities need various services and it doesn’t have to be in big home institutes either. Where’s the moral of that state? And hoping that other states don’t follow the trend. We do not need less services we need more or equal value. I agree it’s not just about services it’s about our civil rights being violated.

Let us not go backwards but forwards.