As the finishing touches are being added to the Governor's House Two FY 15 Budget, it's not just the disability advocacy community closely watching the Administration's actions.
This time, decisions made by the Governor will be monitored by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Labor to see if the state positions itself to avoid a DOJ/DOL Olmstead investigation. Under the leadership of DOL Secretary Tom Perez, the federal government's efforts to extend the Olmstead integration mandate into day and employment activities has accelerated. Leaders within the disability community have noted with mixed feelings recent developments in Rhode Island, Oregon, New York and other states that are moving to expand Community Based Day Supports and Supported Employment, while reducing or eliminating sheltered workshops.
Massachusetts announced five years ago, its intention to close sheltered workshops, however the Administration never allocated the funding to provide replacement services and supports. Thus, sheltered workshops remain open and needed by a segment of the disability community who would have no service whatsoever unless the state adopts a funding initiative that matches its policy declarations.
Such a proposal was drafted over the summer and fall by The Arc of Massachusetts, ADDP and the Commonwealth's Department of Developmental Services.
The proposal, known as the Blueprint for Success: Employing Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, is awaiting a decision by Governor Deva Patrick to include the $11.1 million needed to facilitate expansion of CBDS and Supported Employment that can subsequently lead to the closure of the state's sheltered workshops. DDS has announced a tentative goal of closing sheltered workshops in the next 18 months. Unless the new monies are provided in the FY 15 Budget, ADDP will oppose the closure due to an absence of available placements, supports and services for the individuals currently in service.
Failure to fund the Blueprint would likely lead to the Commonwealth being sued by the Department of Justice, an event most likely considered undesirable by the Governor, noting the speed at which a similar case was pursued and won by DOJ in neighboring Rhode Island. | 
On Wednesday, January 22, 2014,the Governor's House Two Budget will be released. 
