CRITICALLY IMPORTANT HEARING IN SPRINGFIELD, APRIL 16th

[Guest guest]

Charlotte Cronin suggested we contact IPADDU. The Illinois Council

on Developmental Disabilities recently released a report

called " Blueprint for System Redesign in Illinois " (see IPADDU files

for report and summary). There is going to be a subject matter

hearing on the " Blueprint " next Wednesday, April 16th in the House

Disability Services Committee. It will be at 5:00 p.m. or

immediately following adjournment of the House in Room D-1 of the

Stratton Building. Here is the link with the hearing information

http://www.ilga.gov/house/committees/hearing.asp?

CommitteeID=530 & GA=95.

As background, The Committee had a subject matter hearing on

Wednesday, March 12th. Following the hearing individuals approached

the Chair and requested an opportunity to hear testimony (both pros

and cons) re the Blueprint. That is the purpose of this hearing. As

you know, there is power in numbers, so we're trying to get as many

people as possible to attend the hearing and possibly provide

testimony in support of the Blueprint.

Charlotte thought many of you would be a good resource and thought

you might be willing to share your stories. It is critically

important that families who desire community based supports and

services for their sons and daughters offer testimony in support of

the Blueprint. You can view the entire Blueprint on our website at

www.state.il.us/agency/icdd. If you have any questions, please feel

free to call me or Kerry Flynn at (217) 782-9696.

Thanks,

on

Investment Coordinator

Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities

830 S. Spring Street

Springfield, IL 62704

P (217) 782-9696

F (217) 524-5339

EDITORIAL from Ellen:

I know this is not easy to ask families to drop everything and rush

to Springfield, especially with the Rally scheduled for the day

before. It is critically important that those who can, go and give

testimony. The Blueprint calls for the closure of some of the

Institutions (State Operated Developmental Centers) over the next

several years. For those who support funding for community based

supports and services, it is your opportunity to speak up and speak

out. This Hearing will, no doubt have a large number of folks from

the State institutions and the union giving testimony against the

Blueprint in order to prevent closure of the institutions. If that

is all the legislators hear, than that is all they have to go

on...the Blueprint will sit on a shelf gathering dust and we will

continue to rank 51st and in the 40's in funding community based

supports and services for people with disabilities. If you are

satisfied with things as they are in this state, feel free to do

nothing...otherwise...I urge you to take action! If you cannot go to

Springfield, read at the very least the Executive Summary of the

Blueprint, write your family's story and how recommendations in the

Blueprint will be beneficial to your family and child (if that is how

you feel) and send the testimony to your local state Senator and

Representative. I will find out who else the testimony should be

sent to...I believe State Representative Kathy Ryg is chairing the

Hearings and should also receive a copy.

More on this as I get more information.

Ellen