Has the Court Order hastened or slowed the “normal” process of deinstitutionalization?
In the two years following the Court Order of March 17, 1978, we could find no evidence that the rate of Community Living Arrangement (CLA) placement had increased (96 placements in the 2 years before, and 81 in the 2 years following, the Court Order). However, more recent activities suggest a delayed but very large impact; 177 people were placed in 1982 alone. Moreover, evidence indicates that the placement of severely impaired clients has been far more rapid than would otherwise have occurred (over 80% of relocated clients are labeled severely or profoundly retarded).
