Regarding the rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live in their communities rather than in institutions

On January 26, 2012, the U.S. Department of Justice and Virginia's Governor Bob McDonnell announced an agreement to bring the Commonwealth of Virginia into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and improve the treatment of Virginians with an intellectual/developmental disability.

• Settlement Agreement from the U.S. Department of Justice website (January 26, 2012)
• Governor McDonnell's Announcement on the Settlement Agreement (January 26, 2012)
• Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Website
• Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Fact Sheet - Virginia's Settlement Agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and Proposed Plan to Implement the Terms of the Agreement
• January 27, 2013 Article in the The Free Lance-Star "State, feds reach deal on disabled" - RACSB Community Support Services Director James "Jim" Gillespie is quoted throughout
• Order from Judge Gibney in Unites States v. Commonwealth of Virginia (March 6, 2012)
• Coalition Statement to Judge Gibney (April 6, 2012)
• Order from Judge Gibney scheduling Fairness Hearing on June 8th (May 16, 2012)
• Judge Gibney Approves the Settlement Agreement (August 23, 2012)

The Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) is a member of the Virginia Stakeholders Coalition in support of this settlement.

“Unifying Principles” for the Virginia Stakeholders Coalition:

1. We support the Settlement Agreement between the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Department of Justice. The Court should approve the Agreement.
2. Individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (ID/DD), including those individuals with the most complex needs, can live successfully in the community.
3. The Settlement Agreement affords a long overdue opportunity for thousands of individuals with ID/DD to live in integrated community settings and to lead lives similar to those of people without disabilities.
4. The oversight, accountability and quality management mechanisms built into the Settlement Agreement will ensure that people with ID/DD will receive safe, high quality and individualized services.
5. The Settlement Agreement will help keep families together.

Your help is needed!

Letters of support for the ratification of the settlement are needed. The deadline for public comment is April 6, 2012. Mail your letters to:

The Honorable John A. Gibney, Jr.
District Court Judge
United States District Court, Eastern District
Spottswood W. Robinson III and Robert R. Merhige, Jr. Federal Courthouse
701 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219

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