Illinois institutionalizes its citizens with disabilities - of all types - at a rate higher than almost any other state. Illinois ranks 49th out of the 50 states in the percentage of adults with developmental disabilities being served in community-based settings. Approximately 80% of Illinois' long-term care dollars are allocated toward institutional care as compared to 20% for community-based care.

The Auditor General recently released the Compliance Examination on the Department of Human Services. It contains some interesting costs and statistics that are very revealing about the actual cost of operating state institutions in Illinois. The report had an entire section on the actual average cost per year per resident in state operated institutions. Prior to this report, many of the expenses for state institutions were hidden in other parts of the state budget. Expenses such as management of those institutions, capitol costs, etc. are reflected in other parts of the state budget and not included in the line item budget for each institution. So the institutional costs were more than their individual line items. The report pulls together all of the actual costs, and they are incredibly excessive.

If our savings are typical and if, as some have said that there are over 19,000 people in Illinois which would leave institutional settings to return to the community, the State could save an estimated $648,641,000.00 annually. Is anybody listening?

The Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v LC (1999) is an interpretation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that affirms the right of people with disabilities to receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs. The decision recognizes that unnecessary segregation of persons in long-term care facilities constitutes discrimination under the ADA. The goal of the Illinois Olmstead Implementation Act is to end the institutional bias in Illinois' long-term care system and the unnecessary institutionalization of people with disabilities and seniors who want to live in the community. We are working to create a long-term care system in which there is an equitable array of options to respond to individual needs and preferences. We are dedicated to ensuring full compliance in Illinois with the provisions of the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision.