Let me compliment Lisa Black on her moving story “Broken family is whole again” (Page 1, Oct. 31). William Lutter and his family are together once again.
The Arc of Illinois believes that all children with disabilities should be supported in their homes with their natural parents. We further believe that adults with disabilities should be supported in their communities close to family and friends.
Unfortunately public policy in Illinois regarding individuals with developmental disabilities has been one of segregation and crisis management. Today Illinois has more than 3,000 individuals living in segregated state institutions. This is the fourth largest institutional population in the United States.
Illinois’ efforts to include children with disabilities in the regular classroom along with their non-disabled peers is ranked 50th in the nation by the Arc of the United States, a leading advocacy organization for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
Although things have dramatically improved for individuals with disabilities over the lifetime of William Lutter, we have a long way to go in Illinois. As advocates for individuals with disabilities, we say everyone is entitled to a full life in his or her home community regardless of the severity of the disability. This should be the public policy of the state of Illinois. Segregation is discrimination. It is time we overcame discrimination in Illinois.
