1. Aren’t people with developmental disabilities
in developmental centers and other institutions too
disabled to live in less restrictive community settings?
No.
In fact, in California, for almost every person
who lives in a developmental center or other institutional
setting, there are many more people with similar
disabilities who live in the community successfully.
People don’t need
to live in institutions. Almost any service that is
provided in an institution could be provided in a
non-institutional setting. Serving people with developmental
disabilities in institutions is historical and outdated.
The trend, nationally, for the past 30 years has been
toward deinstitutionalization. A growing number of
states (now 11) have closed all their state institutions.
California made a promise
to people with developmental disabilities over a quarter
century ago to end unnecessary institutionalization
and provide the opportunity to choose community-based
services and supports. While significant progress
was made, the promise is unfulfilled for thousands
who remain unnecessarily institutionalized.
2. Don’t people die
at higher rates in the community than in developmental
centers?
No. Although a few widely reported studies by one
researcher, Dr. Strauss, came to this conclusion.
His studies were never validated, verified, or replicated
by any other researchers. Other researchers who
are leaders in the field of mortality research have
stated that the press and Dr. Strauss misinterpreted
and misapplied Dr. Strauss’ research data.
It is more important to look at the studies of quality
of life done by Dr. James Conroy and others. These
studies show that people who move from the developmental
centers to the community are significantly better
off – they are happier, learn new skills,
have fewer challenging behaviors, and become part
of their community.
3. Shouldn’t
family members and people with developmental disabilities
be able to choose institutional care?
Virtually
none of us would choose to be institutionalized
if we had real options available. We should not
assume that people with developmental disabilities
would choose otherwise.
Many
people currently living in the developmental centers
were placed there years ago when there were no other
options. Families are comfortable and familiar with
care provided there. There are also concerns over
quality of care in the community.
But
quality of life improves for people who move out
of institutions. Studies consistently show significant
increases in satisfaction and decreases in concerns
of people and their family members after leaving
state institutions.
4. Can
the state now afford to pay for the resources needed
to provide community-based services and supports for
people in institutions?
Cost
should not be used as a reason for restricting basic
human and civil rights. Moreover, community care
is almost always less costly than institutional
care.
Especially
in these difficult fiscal times, the state can no
longer afford to annually spend almost 25% of its
developmental disabilities budget on the 2% of people
living in developmental centers. Those resources
could serve far more people in community-based settings
and, even more importantly, allow them to live more
independent and productive lives as part of rather
than segregated from the community. Federal dollars
used on institutional care can also be re-allocated
to support community care.
5. Where
will the housing and other needed services come from
for people moving out of institutions?
Institutions
are very expensive – they cannot be the answer
to the affordable housing crisis. California has
not made full use of federal programs for people
moving out of institutions.
The
Agnews Closure Plan relies on new and creative affordable
housing options, which could be expanded to serve
as a model for the entire state.
6. How
will the closure of Agnews be different than the dumping
of psychiatric hospital patients back in the 1960s?
When
the mental health patients were released back then,
there was no money and very few community-based
programs. The Agnews Closure Plan is very different.
It is the result of extensive and careful planning
by a broad spectrum of stakeholders. Under the Plan,
no one will be moved until an individualized plan
is developed and needed services and supports are
in place.
