ACTION NEEDED: Intense Fight to Close Murray Developmental Center in Illinois

from our colleagues at the 'Going Home Campaign' and Access Living of Chicago...

Dear Access Living friends and allies, As part of Access Living’s commitment to increase the independence and inclusion of people with disabilities in community settings, we have long supported Governor Quinn’s Rebalancing Initiative, which includes the closing of Jacksonville Developmental Center (JDC) and Murray Developmental Center in Centralia.  The state recently reported that there are only a couple people left to move out of JDC and JDC is no longer listed on the Illinois list of state operated developmental centers.  See http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=31359. The effort to close Murray, however, has met with huge opposition from Murray employees, families of Murray residents, and others.  Local disability rights advocates report that the pressure to keep Murray open is more intense than the pressure to keep JDC open.  Opponents of closure have filed two lawsuits, one in federal court and one in state court, seeking the reversal of the Governor’s and Illinois legislature’s considered decision to close the Murray institution.   It is time for disability advocates to demand that the State of Illinois be permitted to proceed with the closure of Murray so that Illinois can shed its painful legacy of warehousing people with disabilities in large state institutions.  The State Operated Developmental Center system was developed at a time when families had little choice but to place loved ones in institutions because they could not obtain adequate community supports and services. Today, Illinois community providers are working to expand and provide services in community settings.    We must continue that trend. Access Living is part of the “Going Home Campaign” coalition that supports the closure of the Murray Developmental Center.  Unfortunately, the process of transitioning consumers out of Murray was brought to a halt as the result of a temporary restraining order issued by a federal court judge.  We believe the judge needs to hear from members of our community about why Murray should close.  So, we are asking you, our friends and allies, to write letters to the judge explaining why you support community based services and the closure of Murray.  Please send those letters to the Going Home Campaign, not directly to the judge, and the campaign will forward them to the judge.  Instructions on submitting a letter are below my signature---be sure to scroll down to read the instructions.   The staff at Going Home will mail the letters to the judge. Can we count on you to write a letter, and express how important community living is for people with disabilities? Let’s go Illinois! Please let me know if you write a letter so we can keep track. Amber Smock Director of Advocacy, Access Living *** From the Going Home Campaign, www.goinghomeillinois.org:  Rebalancing of the Developmental Disability System – Close Warren G. Murray Developmental Center. The U.S. Federal Court issued a temporary restraining order that stops the transition of Murray Developmental Center residents moving into the community; a court hearing is scheduled for September 9th.   Murray Center is scheduled to close at the end of October but this court ruling could stop the closure.  It is time to take action and show our support for self-advocates living in the community by closing state institutions through writing a letter to Judge Marvin E. Aspen in support of self-advocates living in the community by CLOSING Murray Developmental Center.  We need A LOT of letters from around the state that offers a broad perspective from self-advocates, guardians, research analysts, industry experts, medical professionals and community leaders.  Letters will be gathered and presented to the Judge Aspen in court on September 9, 2013.Se Please address the letter to: Judge Marvin E. Aspen Everett McKinley Dirksen United States Courthouse Courtroom 2568 | Chambers 2578 219 South Dearborn Street Chicago, IL 60604 Send all letters to the Going Home campaign office:  Email:   GoingHome@morrealepublicaffairs.com Fax:  312.277.7477 Mail: 8770 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 1300, Chicago, IL  60631 Please reach out to Michelle Arnold with any questions.  She can be reached at 773.867.8564 or michelle@morrealepublicaffairsgroup.com.