Inclusion Daily Express -- Governor's Closure Announcement Meets Little Resistance

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Governor's Closure Announcement Meets Little Resistance
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
January 28, 2008

WEST SENECA, NEW YORK--Last week, Governor George Spitzer announced that the state-run West Seneca Developmental Center would close before the end of 2010, and the 70 residents would be moved into homes in the community.

What is unusual about the announcement is that it was not followed by protests from family members of those residents or the 500 employees that now work at the 45-year-old facility.

In fact, according to the Buffalo News, some parents have been calling for the facility's closure for some time.

"Community living is so much better, so much more homelike," said Mary Ellen Murphy, whose son once lived at WSDC. "Society has moved forward, and it's a wonderful thing that we have the closure at West Seneca."

And David R. Chudy, the head of the union that represents many institution employees said, "It can be a good thing for consumers, and it can be a good thing for staff."

That could be because the state has promised all of those workers that none will lose jobs, and that many will be retrained for work in the community.

In his budget proposals, Spitzer added that the rest of the state-run institutions housing about 400 people with developmental disabilities, would be shut down starting later this year.

Related:
"Closing of West Seneca center reflects dramatic changes in care for developmentally disabled" (Buffalo News)
http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/260097.html

Copyright © 2008 Inonit Publishing
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