FY09 Priority: Community Integration

Goal D: To Facilitate The Community Integration Of Individuals With Disabilities By Protecting Their Rights To Receive Appropriate Supports And Services In The Most Integrated Setting

Under state and federal laws people with disabilities have the right to live in integrated settings in their local communities with the appropriate supports and services. However, many individuals with disabilities who are in both large and small facilities encounter barriers that make it difficult or prevent them from living in an integrated setting. Examples of such barriers include rules and policies that have a disparate impact on individuals with disabilities, the absence of community-based services, and the diversion of scarce resources away from community-based services.


Objectives:

D.1.          To advocate on behalf of children returning from out-of-state residential placements for appropriate discharge planning and placement in the least restrictive environment;

D.2.          To investigate systemic causes for the lack of appropriate community-living and assisted-living options for individuals with disabilities, including young who are exiting the children’s system;

D.3.          To monitor applications for Certificates of Need to prevent the diversion of scarce resources from community-based programs and services;

D.4.          To assist individuals with disabilities who have been denied access to programs or services because they have been denied a reasonable accommodation or utilize a service/companion animal;

D.5.          To meet with the Commissioner for the Department of Health and Social Services and advocate for the development and implementation of a comprehensive, effectively working plan for ensuring community-based services for individuals with disabilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Olmstead.
 

Examples of ADA and §504 cases include architectural barriers in buildings, parking deficiencies, individuals denied access to programs/services because they have a service/therapeutic animal, individuals denied medical, legal, or community services due to the failure of the provider to obtain interpreter services, and individuals with disabilities who face discrimination in hiring, promotion, or termination where there was a failure to provide reasonable accommodations.