Parents worry lawsuit could hurt Springfield workshop

May 06--A group of Clark County residents spoke out against a class action lawsuit filed by an Ohio disability rights organization seeking to provide more choices for people with developmental disabilities.

Disability Rights Ohio met with the Clark County Parent Advocates for people with developmental disabilities at the Springfield City Hall Forum on Friday morning. About 50 people from the community attended the meeting, many of whom wore shirts that read: "Did you ask us?"

More than 5,800 people in Ohio live in large institutional integrated care facilities, many of whom would like to move out and live in community-based settings, according to a fact sheet about the lawsuit.

The state advocacy group recently filed a lawsuit against Ohio seeking to increase opportunities for people with disabilities who live in ICFs. More than 40,000 people in Ohio are on a waiting list seeking home- and community-based services. The average wait time for a person seeking to move out of a care facility is about 13 years.

"It's a very isolating experience for these individuals," attorney Kevin Truitt said. "We've heard from people over the years that's it not right and we need to do something about it."

Parents said they believe the lawsuit could have an effect on TAC Industries, a sheltered workshop that employs more than 300 people in Springfield, many of them people with disabilities. Many parents spoke in support TAC and don't want to see it possibly go away.

"We're so frustrated we could just scream," New Carlisle resident Nancy Lubanobich said.

The lawsuit is independent from other changes that could affect TAC, Truitt said. The goal is to change the state's system to increase opportunities for people who wish to receive services outside of an institutional setting -- not force people to leave ICFs or close sheltered workshops.

"The system needs to be individualized -- that's the point," Truitt said.

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By the numbers

5,800: People with developmental disabilities living in intermediate care facilities in Ohio.

40,000: People on waiting list for home- or community-based services.

22,000: People who live in community-based settings at risk to move into ICFs due to aging caregivers or lack of resources.

13 years: The average amount of time people wait to move out of an ICF.

Source: Disability Rights Ohio

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