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ND making progress in community placements for the disabled

Members of North Dakota’s Olmstad Commission say progress is being made in getting more people with disabilities out of the institution and into the community.

States like North Dakota created those commissions as a result of a federal court decision – which said the disabled should be in the “least restrictive environment.” Heather Steffl of the state Department of Human Services is a Commission member. She says North Dakota is doing well and meeting its goals – thanks, in part, to a federal “Money Follows the Person” grant.

"The Legislature also directed the state to work toward getting people out of institutions, especially the Developmental Center (in Grafton), said Steffl. "The Olmstad Commission and the Department of Human Services, and a transition task force at the Developmental Center are making progress in helping people find community places, as well as services in the community."

Steffl says one of the challenges is access to affordable housing.

"There is a housing initiative funded through Money Follows the Person, helping to address that," said Steffl. "It looks at what's out there for housing resources, as well as connecting people to housing options."

Steffl says there will always be a need for some kind of institution – for the people who need in-patient care. But she says the need for that will hopefully be diminished.