PCIL PA SILC PA Guardianship Press Statement

Aug 10, 2023 | General

If you or someone you know has experienced unnecessary institutionalization and/or guardianship against your will, the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) wants to hear from you!

 

PCIL and SILC announce the USDOJ is investigating whether adults with disabilities in Pennsylvania are being unnecessarily placed under guardianship and moved into nursing facilities. Under the ADA and the Olmstead mandate under Title II, Pennsylvania must provide services to people with disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs, which is usually in their homes and communities.

 

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether adults with disabilities in Pennsylvania are being unnecessarily placed under guardianship and moved into nursing homes. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Pennsylvania must provide services to people with disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs, which is usually in their homes and communities. The Department’s investigation will assess whether Pennsylvania is complying with the ADA. If you have information about possible unnecessary guardianship and nursing home placement, please reach out to the Department of Justice via email at usapam.civil.rights@usdoj.gov.

Not being afforded the opportunity to age in place is unjust & the USDOJ’s investigation will assess whether Pennsylvania is complying with the ADA.
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Our Associations have become increasingly aware of a significant number of Pennsylvanians with disabilities who have been placed under guardianship, removed from their homes and placed into institutions against their will unnecessarily by adult protective services.

If you need a reasonable accommodation or would like to request a disability advocate, please reach out to PCIL via email or phone (mike.grier@thepcil.org or 717-713-3910).

Let’s help enforce our Civil Right Under the ADA. We Want Solutions– Not Excuses!

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ABOUT PA SILC:
The PA SILC is a nonprofit, cross-disability, consumer-controlled organization dedicated to securing public policies that ensure civil rights for people with disabilities. The PA SILC was established in 1992 to comply with the federal Rehabilitation Act Amendments, which requires states to create a consumer-controlled advisory committee to the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation’s Independent Living Program. In 1992, the federal Rehabilitation Act Amendments gave SILC co-signing authority on the federally-mandated State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL).

ABOUT PCIL:
The PCIL is a membership association of CILs located in Pennsylvania. The PCIL’s mission is to support the network of CILs and to advance the Independent Living movement.

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