Justice Dept.: Segregation in R.I. Programs Violates Civil Rights

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Thousands of Rhode Islanders with disabilities are “unnecessarily segregated” in state-licensed day programs and so-called sheltered workshops — some for decades — in violation of federal civil rights laws, a U.S. Department of Justice investigation has found.

Why Does Florida Place Children with Disabilities in Nursing Homes?

TAMPA, Fla. -- The letter from the U.S. Department of Justice is probably the best place to start.
It suggests in a simple, unadorned way how Florida has abandoned its most vulnerable citizens. Over the course of 22 dispassionate pages, it makes a point-by-point case of many of the state's shortcomings in caring for children with extreme medical conditions.
It highlights how Florida's apparent inclination to herd helpless kids into geriatric nursing homes is not only a violation of federal law, but also leads to the unnecessary ruin of families and can be an impediment to developmental progress.

As Virginia Prepares to Close Centers, Agencies Await Flood of Need

RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia will close its training centers for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the next 10 years, putting more than 1,000 individuals into community-based programs that already have lengthy waiting lists for their services.
Residents in state institutions will return to their communities and to a system of group homes and day programs by 2021 as part of an agreement between the state and the U.S. Department of Justice. The agreement ends legal action against the state started by department. The agreement will phase out four of five state institutions, which currently house about 1,000 residents total.
The state has agreed to provide funding for more than 4,000 additional people to be treated by community services agencies by 2021. But officials admit that will not cover all of the need. Thousands of people across the state have qualified for care in community programs but are receiving minimal treatment because no state funding is available.

Federal Complaint Filed Against Vouchers

DENVER -- A state advocacy group for the disabled is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Douglas County's voucher pilot, alleging it discriminates against children with special needs.
The Legal Center for People with Disabilities and Older People filed the complaint Monday with the department's Civil Rights Division, citing violations of federal laws governing the treatment of students with disabilities, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.
"Our allegation is that parents of kids with disabilities don't have an equal opportunity to benefit from the program," said Randy Chapman, the center's legal director. "The services offered by the private school partners are limited at best."
As evidence, the center submitted applications from the 19 private schools approved for participation in the pilot by Douglas County district leaders. They show some school officials readily admitting they do not serve all students.