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VOR’s Weekly E-Mail Update, distributed every Friday that provides members with “real time” news items from across the country. Each week the most recent Weekly Update will be featured here. To receive the Update directly, please consider joining VOR. Just $40/year for individuals.
No Update November 23, 2012 - Happy Thanksgiving!
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VOR, a national organization advocating for high quality care and human rights, strongly objects, in substance and in principle, to the National Council on Disability’s (NCD) newly released “Deinstitutionalization: Unfinished Business” policy document (110 pages) and accompanying “toolkit” (how-to manual) (201 pages).
VOR represents thousands of individuals, families and legal guardians, organizations and advocates around the country who value individual choice and recognize that true person-centered planning begins with the individual and his/her needs. One size does not fit all. An array of quality service and support options is needed to ensure that choice, based on individual need, is accommodated.
NCD used more than 300 pages to advocate for closing specialized homes – Medicaid-licensed Intermediate Care Facilities (ICFs/MR) – serving our nation’s most profoundly disabled citizens. This insensitive, reckless attitude will cause these vulnerable individuals to suffer grievous harm and even death.
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Read VOR's Letter to President Obama
Read VOR's Letter to Key Members of Congress |
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VOR's Past President, the late-Robin Sims, held a press conference in her state capitol to announce the results of a residential survey that she helped spearhead. The survey was simple. It was sent to family members and guardians of New Jersey State Developmental Center residents. The survey asked recipients if they were happy with the current placement of their loved ones, or would prefer community-based care instead. The results were overwhelmingly (96%) in support of continued ICFs/MR placement. The press conference at the state capitol was an effort to reach lawmakers and the press with these statistics, and point out the serious flaws of earlier state surveys and studies that have been used to justify downsizing and closure proposals. In coalition with many families, Robin fought fire with fire, developing a survey for families and guardians that asked just one simple, unbiased question.
A Press Release was issued and The Star Ledger featured the event and survey.
Videos from the press conference are also available: http://vimeo.com/8177809 (Sims, intro), http://vimeo.com/8057837 (Sims, extended), http://vimeo.com/8059191 (Rocco Mazza, sibling), http://vimeo.com/8177135 (Assemblywoman Huttle on Choice), and http://vimeo.com/8177251 (NJ State Senator Bucco on Choice). |
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Justice for Predictable Tragedies
Letter to the Editor
Submitted October 24, 2012
VOR, a national organization advocating for high quality care and human rights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, applauds the lawsuit featured in the article “Treated Like Product, Not People” (October 21, 2012).
Although saying “I told you so” when discussing disability policies is of little comfort to the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the provider ENMRSH, Inc. and New Mexico’s Department of Health, the alleged abuse and neglect at the heart of the suit is sadly predictable.
Across the country, states, including New Mexico, have embraced the “enterprise of giving people away,” turning a blind eye to the profound needs of those displaced from specialized residential programs in the name of “deinstitutionalization.”
Read complete Letter to the Editor |
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VOR Congratulates Cristy Dwyer, our New York State Coordinator, for her outstanding academic achievement!
(SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Sept. 26, 2012) SUNY Empire State College School for Graduate Studies student Cristy Dwyer ’08, ’10, has received the Association of Council Members and Trustees of the State University of New York annual Award for Excellence and Student Initiative Scholarship.
“This scholarship recognizes your outstanding academic performance and extraordinary commitment to your campus and community. Your enrollment at Empire State College, attaining an associate and bachelor’s degree while working for the Alcoholism Council of New York, coupled with your dedication to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, were inspiring to our selection committee,” said Pierre Alric, president of ACT.
The $1,250 scholarship provides the recipient with a $1,000 award and $250 toward a donation to the charity of the recipient’s choice [VOR].
Read complete release |
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Update: Judge accepts revised settlement; preserves choice
Illinois Judge sides with choice; rejects proposed settlement and decertifies class
Residents of Illinois’ private facilities for persons with developmental disabilities and their families celebrated an early-July decision in Ligas v. Maram. The lawsuit, filed by Illinois’ Protection & Advocacy against the State of Illinois, has concerned families of private facility residents after learning of its filing in 2005. The lawsuit, filed by just nine plaintiffs, was filed on behalf of a class of 6,000 people.
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