State Sen. Terri Bryant represents an Illinois where more than 1600 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities live in state institutions. | Facebook
State Sen. Terri Bryant represents an Illinois where more than 1600 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities live in state institutions. | Facebook
State Sen. Terri Bryant represents an Illinois where more than 1600 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities live in state institutions.
The Going Home Coalition site’s short film showcases the struggles of these underrepresented demographics by displaying the lives of those who no longer live in facilities but work to live at home.
"The Going Home Coalition team is spending its Monday morning giving State Sen. Terri Bryant a rundown of the Developmental Disabilities service system in Illinois. It's a beautiful day for advocacy," Going Home posted on Facebook. "Thanks to Sen. Bryant for her partnership on the situation at Choate Center and for meeting with us."
The Illinois Council for Development Disabilities has collaborated with the Going Home Coalition for several years to strengthen in-home and community-based services in the area, and to advocate for funds to promote further engagement among people with disabilities and families receiving community-based services, according to ICDD's site.
The Illinois Going Home Coalition's vision consists of detecting positive individuals to join the responsive program, ensuring freedoms for disabled individuals. The ICDD has collaborated with the Going Home Coalition for various years to strengthen its home and community-based services. The establishment’s founders will work to increase its capacity, stating that “the Going Home Coalition's vision for Illinois is to be truly person-centered with responsive programs and systems that ensure people with disabilities have lives that are full and lived in the broader community,” the site says.
The retired director of The Arc of Illinois advocacy organization, Tony Paulauski, and Tamar Heller, head of the Department of Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois at Chicago, approved of the evidence supporting the positive effect institution closures would have on families.
The Going Home Coalition summed it up this way: “In this short film, we set out to explore the issue and give a voice to those who are thankful they no longer live in facilities. Because no matter the challenges a person may face in life, everyone deserves a place to call home.”
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