In the three years following the Supreme Court's decision in Olmstead v. L.C. and E.W., Georgia has been developing a plan to implement the decision, but the plan has not yet been completed and formally submitted. Currently, 3,177 children and adults with mental retardation live in institutions in our state. The Georgia Advocacy Office and People First of Georgia filed a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) on behalf of 22 men and women currently waiting for new lives in their communities. These individuals are current or former residents of Central State Hospital in Milledgeville, Georgia Gracewood State School and Hospital in Augusta, Georgia, and Northwest Regional Hospital in Rome, Georgia. The civil rights of these individuals must be monitored and assured. This research, proceeding in collaboration with the Georgia Advocacy Office and People First of Georgia, is providing qualitative and quantitative data on the lives of these 22 men and women who have now moved or are waiting to move into the community. Members of People First of Georgia will work with researchers to do face to face interviews with the subject individuals, family, and staff/providers. For individuals who are still in institutions, data will be collected before and after their transitions into the community. Data (documentation of the change in the lives of these 22 people) from this project will contribute to the knowledge, practice and policy surrounding deinstitutionalization and community support for people with disabilities. The Georgia Advocacy office will use this information to make key decisions related to future civil rights and advocacy activities.

For more information contact Jenny Manders at (706) 542-2418 or jmanders@uga.edu.