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| Study: IL Low on Help for Disabled |
(IRN) -- With the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a new report finds that Illinois ranks near the bottom of the list in quality of life for people with disabilities.
The report released Friday by the Chicago Community Trust and the Advisory Board of the Persons with Disabilities Fund (PWD Fund), finds that Illinois lags behind other states in the implementation of policies and fiscal resources to ensure successful integration of the disabled into the community.
Jack Catlin, co-chairman of the PWD Fund, says the objective of the report is to open a dialogue with businesses, the government and the disability community to move ideas forward and provide a better quality of life for disabled people.
A big concern, Catlin says, is the state's use of institutional care rather than community care. He says the state would actually benefit financially if it put more money into community support groups. Illinois pays an average per-person cost of $143,533 a year to state institutions for individuals with developmental disabilities. In comparison, the average per-person cost of community-based organizations is $53,291.
Key recommendations include:
* Shift long-term care spending from institutional care to community supports.
* Support transition out of institutions and nursing homes and prevent unnecessary institutionalization.
* Reduce separate schools and increase time in general education classrooms.
* Close achievement gaps by reducing drop-out rates and bring transitional planning up to federal standards.
* Increase employment rates in integrated community workplaces.
* Promote and support new employment paradigms along with traditional employment opportunities.
* Educate the business community on best practices for recruiting, hiring retaining and promoting people with disabilities.
(Illinois Radio Network) |
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