Congratulations on your outstanding editorial calling for the closure of the Lincoln Developmental Center.
This symbol of Illinois’ outmoded and costly institutional system of caring for people with developmental disabilities should be bulldozed as soon as all its residents are relocated so that no future governor can resurrect it in order to attract votes and political contributions.
I do take exception, however, to parts of Celeste Garrett’s article in the same edition.
The article suggests that we advocates who have been fighting for the closure of LDC are doing so because we are all somehow tied to state government.
Nothing is further from the truth.
I have been associated with both United Cerebral Palsy and the Association for Retarded Citizens.
I have been advocating for the phasing out of institutions for the past 47 years and, as your editorial mentions, almost all states have been moving in this direction.
Although more normalized and humane care is provided in small, integrated homelike community settings, Illinois has chosen to protect the jobs of state employees rather than do the right thing.
It’s time for our political leaders to move Illinois forward in our disability service system.
And they can begin doing so by shutting down the Lincoln Developmental Center.
