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Bus load of MR/DD parents, employees travel to Rhodes Tower to attend commission hearing in search of answers

May 3, 2004 - Staff and family members of residents at Apple Creek and Springview Developmental Centers and other concerned citizens who oppose the proposed closure of these MR/DD centers will travel to Columbus Tuesday to attend the fourth closure commission hearing.

It is expected officials from the Department of MR/DD will explain to the six-member commission their rationale for closing the facilities.

The hearing will be held at the Rhodes State Office Tower (first floor hearing room) in downtown Columbus tomorrow, Tuesday, May 4 from 1-4 p.m.

Parents and staff are really interested to hear why the State thinks these facilities need to be closed, particularly given the testimony to the commission so far that indicates these facilities are desperately needed.

One of the many issues families and staff hope the Department will address is why the number of deaths at Apple Creek has increased since the closures were announced and why the State has not done a proper investigation to see if there is a direct link between these deaths and stress caused by moving.

OCSEA is the largest state employees union with over 36,000 members, 2,800 of which work for the Department of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities.

For more information contact Deirdre O’Neill-Wedig at 614-865-2604, 800-969-4702, ext. 2604, or 614-205-9967 (cell)

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