State Expected to Close Monroe Developmental Center
By: Cierra Putman
Updated: February 27, 2012
The state plans to shut down a local facility for people with disabilities. On Monday, the Public Employees Federation, one of New York's' largest unions, spoke out against closing the Monroe Developmental Center.
This is a step by the state to save money, but "PEF" the union says closing this facility would be a disservice to the people and families who depend on it.
The Monroe Developmental Center on Westfall Road in Rochester is home to about 125 people year round.
Some patients have multiple disabilities and specialized health care needs.
The state wants them to live at other centers including ones in Rush, Middlesex, the Adirondacks.
Families say closing this center will put more stress on their relatives and make visiting difficult.
"There has been a lot of push back from the community because of how unfair these decisions are to the people that we serve," Randi DiAntonio with PEF said. "I mean the bottom line is they're ignoring the rights of people with disabilities,the rights of their families and the rights of their community to have a voice in these decisions."
More than 400 employees work at the Monroe Developmental Center. They would have to take a job at another facility. The closing date right now is December of 2013.
This is a step by the state to save money, but "PEF" the union says closing this facility would be a disservice to the people and families who depend on it.
The Monroe Developmental Center on Westfall Road in Rochester is home to about 125 people year round.
Some patients have multiple disabilities and specialized health care needs.
The state wants them to live at other centers including ones in Rush, Middlesex, the Adirondacks.
Families say closing this center will put more stress on their relatives and make visiting difficult.
"There has been a lot of push back from the community because of how unfair these decisions are to the people that we serve," Randi DiAntonio with PEF said. "I mean the bottom line is they're ignoring the rights of people with disabilities,the rights of their families and the rights of their community to have a voice in these decisions."
More than 400 employees work at the Monroe Developmental Center. They would have to take a job at another facility. The closing date right now is December of 2013.
