Texas lawmakers: Institutions should be fixed, not closed
March 16th, 2009
From the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Houston Chronicle:
A half dozen Texas legislators who toured the Corpus Christi State School this weekend say they want to reform, not close, the state’s institutions.
Arrest warrants have been issued for six current or former employees of the Corpus Christi facility, who are accused of staging fights between residents with intellectual disabilities. Cellphone videos of the fights emerged last week.
“There has been a lot of debate about closing or consolidating state schools,” said state Rep. Solomon Ortiz Jr. (D-Corpus Christi). “There is a need for state schools. We don’t want people to think we are trying to close them.”
Rep. Drew Darby (D-San Angelo) said he was touring the facility in support of the 12,000 employees of the ‘state schools,’ who he said are loving, caring people who have residents’ best interests at heart. Darby’s district includes the San Angelo State School.
Also along on the tour were Rep. Solomon Ortiz Jr. (D-Corpus Christi), Sen. Juan “Chuy Hinojosa (D-McAllen), Rep. Abel Herrero (D-Robstown), Rep. Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi), and Rep.Patrick Rose (D-Dripping Springs).
Some 4,950 Texans live in state-operated institutions, or about one in every 4,650 state residents. Texas has among the highest institutionalization rates in the country. (Source: “The State of the States in Developmental Disablities 2008,” by David Braddock, Richard Hemp, Mary C. Rizzolo, University of Colorado.)
(Photo from Corpus Christi Caller-Times)
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March 22nd, 2009 at 7:19 pm
The Texans should closes its institution replace it with community placements. That is very discriminatory against people with disabilities. Thank God I do not live in Texas and I would not want too.
There should not be no more institutions ever again in our lifetime.
People with disabilities do not belong in an institution. They should live like other people without disabilities.
Salem, NH