I know I'm probably going to get flamed but... This letter seems to make a lot of sense. We are struggling with this very issue in the agency/district that I work in. The truth is that a lot of jails are being used to house people who need treatment. Are there distinctions made between physical disabilities and mental illness? I've copied a lot of this thread and filed it, but these things have never been addressed. I for one do not want to repeat the "mistakes of the 70's" as they cost me dearly. Joan M. Wallyn On Fri, 16 Apr 1999 02:30:17 -0400 "I. STEPHEN MARGOLIS" <[log in to unmask]> writes: >-----Original Message----- >From: Majordomo List Server [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On >Behalf >Of Stephanie Thomas >Sent: Thursday, April 15, 1999 4:32 PM >To: micasa-list >Subject: FW: Roland Letter > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: Mark Johnson <[log in to unmask]> >Date: Tuesday, April 13, 1999 6:46 PM >Subject: Olmstead > > >>THIS LETTER WAS RECENTLY SENT TO THE REMAINING STATES (NOW, 8). HOW >DO YOU >>LIKE THE FIRST SENTENCE OF THE 4TH PARAGRAPH? GOVERNOR ROY BARNES, >GA, CAN >>STILL PULL THE PLUG ON THE APPEAL. LET TOMMY OLMSTEAD AND CARL >"EDDIE" >>ROLAND ( DHR, MH/MR/SA, Two Peachtree Street, NW, Suite 22-224, >Atlanta, >>GA, 3030-3142) AND GOVERNOR BARNES (240 State Capitol, GA, 30334, >>404-656-1776 or e-mail him, go to his comment page at: >>http://ganet.org/governor/contact.html, remember no www.) KNOW WHAT >YOU >>THINK IS "IN THE BEST INTEREST OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES." >> >>Thanks, >> >>Mark >> >>Last fall, your state supported Georgia's successful petition to the >U.S. >>Supreme Court to review lower court decisions in favor of the >plaintiff in >>L.C. v. Olmstead. As you know, the lawsuit was brought on behalf of >two >>state hospital patients claiming that Georgia officials violated >their >>rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act by continuing to >serve >>them in the hospital when they could have been served in a more >integrated >>community setting. >> >>No doubt, you and your public officials are being pressured to >withdraw >>your state's support. I am writing to urge you to stay with us and >to >>clarify why we took this case to the Supreme Court. I hope this >>information will help you answer opponents, who mistakenly believe >that >>Georgia is trying to hold people in institutions, that we are >violating >>their civil rights by not moving them to the community, and that we >are >>willing to undermine the ADA to support our position. >> >>We fully understand and appreciate the importance of the ADA to >people with >>disabilities. However, we content that the "integration regulation" >of the >>ADA does not address the issue of moving people from institutions to >>community services, and a finding in favor of Olmstead does not >weaken the >>law. >> >>Moreover, we strongly believe that the lower court rulings are not in >the >>best interest of people with disabilites. As it stands, the decision >sets >>a precedent for further law suits, including class action law suits, >that >>could require states to move everyone to the community whose clinical >>evaluation shows them capable of living in the community, without >regard >>for consumer or family choice. Unless we are willing to repeat the >>mistakes of deinstitutionalization in the 1970's, funding will have >to be >>available to support the services people need to leave the >institution and >>live successfully in the community. And, unless public officials are >>willing to find new revenue, the funding will have to come from the >state >>hospitals or from other existing resources (that may also support >needy >>programs). Moving money from state hospitals must be done in a >carefully >>planned way to avoid undermining services for those who remain. >Court >>orders can make that planning difficult. >> >>In short, Georgia is not opposed to deinstitutionalizatio, and we are >not >>taking a stand against civil rights. In fact, the state has made >dramatic >>progress in expanding community services, and without a court order. >Since >>1996, we have closed three hospitals, and since 1995, we have moved a >total >>of $83 million from hospitals to new community services. However, we >are >>opposed to moving people to community services if we do not have the >>resources to provide the supports they need. We do not want to >contribute >>to people with mental disabilities ending up in jails on on the >street. >> >>The outcome of L.C. v. Olmstead has far reaching implications for all >>states and their services to people with disabilities. We hope you >will >>stand with us. >> >>If you need additional information, please do not hesitate to call me >at >>404-657-2260. Thank you for your support. >> >>Sincerely >> >>Carl E. Roland,Jr. >>Director > > > > >NATIONAL ADAPT MAILING LIST - Adapt MiCASA List of Adapt Organizers. > ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]