Closure of State Operated Facilities

[Guest guest]

My name is Ellen Garber Bronfeld.

Address: 9725 Woods Drive, Unit 1501, Skokie, Illinois 60077.

Phone contact: 847-213-0660.

I am an advocate and on the Board of Directors of Anixter Center, Progressive

Services Network, Great Potentials, Inc., JJ's List and Best Futures, Inc. I

co-moderate a list serve of almost 900 families...well over 2,000 voting

citizens of Illinois.

Email address is below...

I would like to present written testimony as follows:

I am the parent of a young man with autism and I am STRONGLY IN FAVOR of CLOSURE

of all SODC's, including ville and Mabley. I am a proponent of closure

because it is the right thing to do both for individuals with intellectual and

developmental disabilities and it is the best use of taxpayer dollars to provide

community living arrangements. With appropriate supports, everyone can and

should live in his or her own community, close to family and friends. We need

to rebalance the system and reallocate resources. It is imperative that in

moving individuals to community, we take into account their specific needs.

Some individuals will need additional resources in order to maintain health and

safety. Many of the individuals who are funded at over $150,000/ per year will

need far less to live safely and productively in the community. We need to

build in incentives for providers who have been underfunded and unpaid. We have

an opportunity to do the right thing and to save the state money in the long

run. SODC employees can and should be trained to work in the community. Let's

bring DHS/DDD into the 21st Century and join Alabama, the most recent state to

close it's institutions for people with I/DD.

Thank you.

Ellen Garber Bronfeld, mother of Noah Bronfeld

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...