The Arc of the United States

this bill doesnt include the Community First Choice Option, correct? or expansion of MFP?

Is anyone listening?

Florida is just a mess for services for our people, it's a shame......................

NO NEW INSTITUTION

A lawsuit filed today asks the court to stop the Commonwealth’s plan to build a new 75-bed institution for people with intellectual disabilities in Chesapeake. The suit, brought by The Arc of Virginia and the Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy, argues that the plan violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other federal laws.

According to the suit, Virginia plans to build and fully populate a segregated facility on the Southeastern Virginia Training Center (SEVTC) compound for a cost of more than $23 million. Virginia will place 75 residents from SEVTC in the institution, regardless of whether any of them actually require institutionalization. In fact, last spring, Virginia sponsored a review of the residents of Southeastern Virginia Training Center and concluded that each and every one of them can be served in the community. The study found that none of the residents at SEVTC had needs that were any more complex than people already living in the community. ... Read More... Read More

Under federal law, Virginia may not discriminate against people with disabilities. In order to meet this obligation, the suit maintains, the Commonwealth must conduct an “individualized assessment” of the needs of people with disabilities and meet those needs in the “most integrated setting appropriate” to them. These requirements led the Supreme Court, in the Olmstead case, to hold that “unjustified institutional isolation is a form of discrimination.”

Nevertheless, the plaintiffs allege, in defiance of the ADA and the Olmstead decision, Virginia has chosen to ignore the individualized assessments it secured just last year and segregate 75 individuals in an institution.

“People with intellectual disabilities, even those with the most complex needs, can live full and safe lives in Virginia’s community - and thousands do, every day,” Jamie Trosclair, Executive Director of The Arc of Virginia, said. “Yet Virginia is planning to spend millions and millions of precious state dollars to segregate people, to require them to live in isolation. This is intolerable.”

The suit was filed against Governor Kaine, Secretary of Administration Viola Baskerville, Secretary of Health and Human Services Marilyn Tavenner, and other state officials.

The Arc of Virginia is a state-wide organization with 21 chapters, advocating for the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy is an independent state agency, with a mission to advance the rights of Virginians with Disabilities.

Yes!!

This is wonderful! I am disappointed that the media is not giving as much attention to the disability and transgender communities victories with this legislation. They seem to be touting it just as a victory for the LGB community, but people with disabilities and transgender people experience violence at equally high rates as LGB people.

BRAVO, President Obama! :)

Now, I only wish Governor Tim Pawlenty (Republican-MN), here in Minnesota would also support comparable legislation. No luck so far. (Thumbs down, to Gov. Pawlenty). For information about Gov. Tim Pawlenty's stance on this issue, please see: ''Advocates call anti-bullying veto a ‘lost opportunity’ ''. Minnesota Independent: News. Politics. Media.
URL: http://minnesotaindependent.com/35560/advocates-call-anti-bullying-veto-a-lost-opportunity

As for, "There are far more important and pressing issues than this", ... it is a whole different story if you are on the receiving end of it. What may not be important and pressing to you may be important and pressing to someone else.

Imagine what it's like for someone with a disability to be watching something on TV, only to find that the role model they're watching making devaluing comments such as this.

We may not ever get rid of stupidity or ignorance, but we can give people less opportunity to publicly offend and harrass.... Read More

Sometimes this is hard to understand if you have never been close to someone who has a disability.

Our school district is promoting "Abilities Awareness Week", and as part of that, they are showing a video that you can download from the website. Check it out if you get a minute: http://www.imtyler.org

Beautiful video, Charlie! I'm reposting onto my FB page. Thanks.

Faxed my two senators this afternoon...