In many ways, these advances have not meant a fundamental change in how things get done on a day to day, community by community basis. Despite decades of court cases, institutions remain open. Children are still routinely institutionalized across America. Some states are stuck in the service models that pre-date A New Way of Thinking. Gains made are easily lost because of shifts in leadership or funding. Empowering processes have become tools of disempowerment.
The National Association of Rights Networks has been talking about calling for a moratorium on the placement of children and youth with developmental disabilities in state institutions nationally. At least eight states now have essentially declared a moratorium in their states and on the other hand there are eight states that are putting a lot of kids with developmental disabilities in state institutions each year, including this year and last year. There are some other states in between.
Lynn Breedlove, Wisconsin Coalition for Advocacy
Remember, this is a state which is time warped in 1985, The state still spends two thirds of its money on institutions, one third in the community. The standard community program is an eight bed group home with a day program, sheltered workshop, sheltered employment, and that's it.
Allan Bergman, Anixter Center, Chicago