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Governor's Office Tells Advocates Lincoln Estates Will Never Open As Developmental Center
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
September 11, 2007

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS--"Under the leadership of Governor Blagojevich the four 10 bed homes that are located on the former campus of the LDC Center [Lincoln Developmental Center] will never be opened as Developmental Centers."

Those words came out of the mouth of Grace Hou, assistant secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services, in front of a crowd of ADAPT activists, who had come from all over the country to push for less institutionalization and more community-based supports for people with disabilities.

Hou, along with Matt Summy, Deputy Chief of Staff of Governor Rod Blagojevich, spoke to the disability rights advocates Tuesday after several hundred of them effectively shut down all access to and from the James R. Thompson Center, the state's office building, for about six hours.

The commitment to keep Lincoln Developmental Center closed was one of three promises that the demonstrators sought and received from Blagojevich's office. Through his representatives, the governor, who was out of his office Tuesday, also pledged to meet with ADAPT before October 17, and to have ADAPT at the table when the state develops protocols for its Money Follows the Person Demonstration Program. That program would allow Illinoisans with disabilities who are in nursing homes to spend their Medicaid long-term care money on in-home and community-based supports instead.

Police helped escort the demonstrators to the Thompson Center where the non-violent direct action resulted in no arrests or citations.

Former Governor George Ryan ordered Lincoln Developmental Center to be shuttered in 2002 following years of ongoing allegations of abuse and neglect at the facility, which housed about 250 people with developmental disabilities.

During his successful campaign for governor, Blagojevich promised to reopen LDC and get its 400 employees back to work. Blagojevich's original plan to reopen the 128-year-old institution was later scaled back to erecting a $10 million "community" of four buildings on the LDC campus to each house 10 people.

Following campaigns by advocates who said the plan would set the community living movement back decades, Blagojevich said in May 2006 that he was having second thoughts as to whether it made sense to continue with the "Lincoln Estates" project. The governor's next budget included no money for operating the facilities.

But Blagojevich seemed to reverse himself -- again -- this summer, as the Department of Human Services sought a permit from the state's Health Facilities Planning Board to begin operations at Lincoln Estates. About 20 activists interrupted the planning board's July 24 meeting, chanting "No more Lincoln!"

Related:
"ADAPT Closes Institution, Scores Seat at MFP Table and Meeting" (ADAPT)

http://www.adapt.org/adaptpr/index.php?mode=A&id=263;&sort=D
"Illinois Governor's Commitments" (ADAPT)
http://www.adapt.org/freeourpeople/aar/chicago/news04.htm
"Lincoln Developmental Center -- Illinois Governor Strives To Return To The Past" (Inclusion Daily Express Archives)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/institutions/il/ldc.htm

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