Writing in the Asbury Park [NJ] Press, Ann C. Martinelli argues in favor of a New Jersey bill that would consolidate state institutions for people with disabilities. She says the legislation would not force people to leave institutions; it would combine some facilities, and provide more community care options for all residents with developmental disabilities.

An excerpt:

The residents of the seven institutions in New Jersey are no more disabled than those who live at home. All must have access to services, something that is currently not possible when the Department of Human Services spends one third its $1.4 billion budget on 8 percent of the people it serves.

… We cannot segregate in schools, in the workplace or in any other areas of our communities. We should not be segregating our citizens with developmental disabilities in congregate living settings where many do not want to live, their families would choose other settings or their state guardians do not oppose community living. This conversation has been occurring for years.

Martinelli is president of Advocates for Alternatives Inc.

See also:

State must shut developmental centers — Robert Stack in the Asbury Park [NJ] Press

Group homes not for everyone — F.J. McGill in the Asbury Park [NJ] Press

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 at 12:51 pm and is filed under 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.