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Letter in Support of Lincoln
Developmental Center
Dear Governor Blagojevich,
We are writing to thank and commend you for the leadership you have exhibited
regarding the Lincoln Developmental Center (LDC) situation. As advocates for
choice, we applaud your decision to re-open LDC and praise you for your efforts
to bring together advocates, families, providers, employees and consumers for
the benefit of all Illinoisans with mental retardation and developmental
disabilities.
You have made it very clear that LDC, upon re-opening, will be a
state-of-the-art facility. Many families of former LDC residents are grateful
that a new and improved LDC will again be an option for their loved ones. Many
people with severe and profound mental retardation who also have complex medical
conditions and/or behavioral challenges require and choose the specialized care
available in Illinois facilities. Adding LDC back to the mix of choices is the
right thing to do.
Your decision to re-open LDC fits squarely with the letter and spirit of Olmstead.
In this landmark decision, the Supreme Court recognized an ongoing role for
facilities equipped to safely and professionally serve some people with
disabilities:
"We emphasize nothing in the ADA or its implementing
regulations condones termination of institutional settings for persons
unable to handle or benefit from community setting...nor is there any federal
requirement that community-based treatment is imposed on patients who do not
desire it." Olmstead v. L.C., 119 S. Ct. 2176,
2187 (1999).
In addition to the Olmstead decision, state
information relating to the provision of a range of services, quality of care
research, and peer-reviewed cost comparison research, also support your decision
to ensure an array of service options in Illinois.
Re-opening Lincoln Developmental Center is the right thing to do. Your action
signals to advocates across the state and country that you embrace choice and
respect individual need. Each person with mental retardation has unique needs
and abilities. Providing and supporting a range of options indicates your
recognitions of these differences and your compassion for the special needs of
each individual.
With Gratitude,
The undersigned organizations (104 organizations, 26 states, 14
organizations from Illinois, 3 national organizations)
Illinois Organizations (14)
Clearbrook Parents and Guardians (IL)
Dixon Association for Retarded Citizens (IL)
Fox Center Families and Friends (IL)
Friends of Choate (IL)
Friends of the Jacksonville Developmentally Disabled (IL)
Illinois Coalition for Choice and Quality
Illinois Leauge of Advocates for the Developmentally Disabled
Kankakee Association for the Mentally Retarded (IL)
Lincoln Parents Association (IL)
Marklund (IL)
Meadows Parents Association (IL)
Murray Parents Association (IL)
Parents & Friends of Ludeman (IL)
Waukegan Developmental Center Association for Retarded Citizens (IL)
National Organizations (3)
Autism Research Institute
Prader-Willi Syndrome Association
Voice of the Retarded
State and Local Organizations (86; 26 states)
ACTION for RHCs (Residential Habilitation Centers) (WA)
Alliance of Louisiana Developmental Centers (Families & Friends) (LA)
Altoona-Cresson-Ebensburg Centers' Association (PA)
Association for Hunterdon Developmental Center (NJ)
Beatrice State Development Center Family & Friends Association (NE)
Billings Fairchild Center (OK)
Booneville Human Developmental Center Parent Group (AR)
California Association of Psychiatric Technicians
California Association of State Hospitals/Parents Council for the Retarded
Cedar Lake Lodge, Inc. (KY)
Central State Family Group (KY)
Coalition of Families (NJ)
Coalition of Families and Friends (PA)
Community Coalition for Education Options (MD)
Concerned Citizens For The Mentally Retarded (MA)
Concerned Families of Hazelwood (KY)
Council of New Jersey Developmental Center Presidents
Denton State School Family Association (TX)
Developmental Disabilities Health Alliance, Inc.
The Dever Association for the Retarded, Inc. (MA)
Fairview Families and Friends (CA)
Families and Friends of Care Facility Residents (AR)
Families and Friends of the Woodward Resource Center (IA)
Families United (WA)
Fernald League for the Retarded, Inc. (MA)
Florida's Voice on Mental Retardation
Frances Haddon Morgan Center Parents Association (WA)
Friends of Fircrest (WA)
Friends of Rainier, Inc. (WA)
Friends of the Retarded Citizens of Connecticut
Glenwood Citizen Advisory Board (IA)
Green Line Parent Group (CA)
The Greater St. Louis Parents Advocacy Group for Mentally Retarded Citizens,
Inc. (MO)
Hamburg Center Family and Friends Association (PA)
Hilltoppers, Inc. (TN)
Holly Community, Inc. (MD)
The Home and School Association of Southbury Training School (CT)
Kansas Neurological Institute Parent/Guardian Group
Maryland Coalition of Advocates for the Retarded
Massachusetts Coalition of Families and Advocates for the Retarded
Mental Retardation Association of Missouri
Mental Retardation Association of Nebraska
Mental Retardation Association of Utah
Missouri Association for Retarded Persons, Inc.
Northern Oklahoma Resource Center Parent/Guardian Association
Northern Wisconsin Center Parents Group
Ohio MRDD Parents Speak!
Oklahoma Association of Health Care Providers
The Ohio Leagu for the Mentally REtarded
Oregon Voice of the REtarded
Parent Association for the Retarded of Texas
Parents and Associates of the Institutionalized Retarded of Virginia
Parents and Associates Advisory Council of Southwest Virginia Training
Council
Parents and Associates of the Northern Virginia Training Center
Parents and Friends Association Community Services, Inc. (NJ)
Parents and Friends Association of Selingsgrove Center, Inc. (PA)
Parents & Friends of Hammond Developmental Center Assn. (LA)
Parents and Friends of Southeastern Virginia Training Center, Inc.
Parents and Guardians Association Of the Coastal Center (SC)
Parents and Relatives of Oakwood Facilities (KY)
Parents of Woodhaven, Inc. (PA)
Parents, Relatives and Friends of Polk Center (PA)
Parent Hospital Association Sonoma Developmental Center (CA)
Patrons of Partlow (AL)
Pennsylvania League of Advocates of Concerned Families of Retarded Citizens
People for Fair Taxes in Washington (WA)
Pinecrest Parent's Association (LA)
Porteville Developmental Center Parents Group, Inc.
Relatives and Friends Association of White Haven Center (PA)
Rosewood Center Auxiliary, Inc. (MD)
Save Agnews Now (CA)
South Carolina Parents and Advocates for the Developmentally Disabled (SC)
Southeast Arkansas Parents Group
Southern Wisconsin Parent Committee for the Developmentally Disabled
Southwest Developmental Center Parents Organization (LA)
The Stewart Home (KY)
35th Legislative District Democrats (WA)
Utah Health Care Association
Valley Association for Retarded Children and Adults (CT)
Volunteer Interpreter Group Out Reach (American Sign Language/Medical) (FL)
Voice of the Retarded of Alabama
Wisconsin Parents Coalition for the Retarded, Inc.
Wisconsin State Employees Union Council #24 AFSCME
Whitten Center Parents Club (SC)
Western Center Parents Group (PA)
Wrentham Association for Retarded Citizens (MA)
Yakima Valley School Parents Association (WA)
