The Facts about Lincoln Developmental Center

The Governor of Illinois made a campaign promise to reopen the institution in Lincoln, Illinois that was established in 1875. This past spring, a Lincoln-area politician made a deal with Governor Blagojevich, to vote for the Governor’s pension reform plan if Blagojevich agreed to make good on his promise.

After receiving pressure from the disability community, the Governor is now saying he wants to incorporate other commercial and residential developments on the LDC site. But he still intends to construct 4 10-bed group “homes” and hire from the same pool of workers that were employed at the old institution to staff them.

History of the Lincoln institution

Throughout its history, the Lincoln institution was the economic engine of Logan County and provided many local jobs.

But abuse and neglect of residents plagued the Lincoln institution. A few reported examples:

One resident died from choking on his own vomit after being held down by 5 staff members for more than 35 minutes.

Another resident died due to wrong medication.

A resident was abandoned after an outing and was found drowned in a public swimming pool.

A staff member, angered by a resident wetting herself, forced the individual to lick the urine off the floor.

After various investigations and repeated failed attempts to change the quality of care at Lincoln, the Federal government pulled funding and Lincoln was closed in 2002.

Research indicates that the risk of abuse is higher in segregated facilities.

The experience in Lincoln is consistent with research that crime rates against people with disabilities are higher in institutions and other segregated facilities than in communities.

One study concluded that the risk of being sexually abused is two to four times higher in an institutional setting than in community settings. (Developmental Disabilities Bulletin)

Illinois does not need more institutional care for people with significant disabilities!

In 2002, the State spent nearly $696 million on ICF/MR facilities, including nearly $344 million to operate 11 state-owned institutions serving about 3,200 people.

Only three states – California, with a population three times larger, Texas, with a population twice as large, and New Jersey – housed more people in state facilities in 2000. When placements in public and private facilities are combined, Illinois ranked higher than all but five other states in its rate of institutionalization of people with developmental disabilities.

In addition, Illinois placed 4,585 people with developmental disabilities in 130 private institutions. Illinois’ rate of private institutional placement in 2000 was 38 per 100,000 of the general population – three times the national average.