From the Dallas Morning News:

A battle is shaping up in Texas over a bill that calls for drastically downsizing the state’s system of institutions that house people with disabilities. The measure would relocate thousands of institutional residents to community group homes or independent living.

The bill, which was filed today, faces strong and emotional opposition. Lawmakers who have institutions in their districts and parents of people who live in the institutions say closing the “state schools” would be disastrous for residents.

There’s little question Texas’ system of caring for its most vulnerable residents needs improving. A 2008 U.S. Justice Department report found pervasive abuse, neglect and other civil-rights violations in all 12 of the state schools. For the last two years, The Dallas Morning News has revealed mistreatment and poor living conditions for Texans with disabilities across all types of care facilities: the state schools, large private institutions and community group homes.

See also:

• It’s past time; Lawmakers must fix state schools’ intolerable conditions — an editorial from the Houston Chronicle
• Neglect, abuse at San Antonio state school — from the San Antonio Express-News

Earlier posts here.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 23rd, 2009 at 12:45 pm and is filed under Texas institutions, housing, institutionalization, law. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.