COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

HOUSE OF DELEGATES
RICHMOND

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS i
AGRICULTURE, CHESAPEAKE AND
NATURAL RESOURCES
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
RULES

KENNETH R. PLUM

2073

COBBLESTONE TANE
RESTON. VIRGINIA 2019I
THIRTY-SIXTH DISTRICT

January 73,2015
The Honorable TerrY McAuliffe
Govemor, Commonwealth of Virginia
State Capitol
Richmond, YA232l9
Dear Governor McAuliffe:

to the Commonwealth
Thank you for the outstanding leadership you are providing
I look forward to working
in human rights, economic development, and -uny other areas'
with you and supporting your ug"rrdu in this General Assembly session.

in a situation
am writing today to ask for your personal and direct involvement
to
underway
movement
that threatens human rights and personal safety. I refer to the
Contrary to the
close training centers fJ, p"rrot s with major intellectual disabilities.
of Justice (DoJ) as
views of sorie, I do not read the agreement with the Department
requiring closing the training centers.

I support the view that persons with disabilities should be able to live their lives
permit. With early intervention services
as freely and as normally as their disabilities will
*a pouti. education progr*, to age 22 we are coming closer to realizing that goal than
ever before.
residents
Residents of training centers are a special population, however' Some
these
uproot
To
centers.
have lived their entire lives-of more than 40 years in training
medically fragile is
individuals who have significant intellectual disabilities and who are
and services are
dangerous and irresporrJUl". The argument that comparable facilities
available in the community has not been found to be the case.
been the
For over 40 years, the Northem Virginia Training Center G\IVTC) has
intellectual
significant
with
safety net for o* r"!io, ior the small group of people
The excellent
disabilities (ID) who'are also medically fragile or behaviorally challenged'
and safety, but they assure
frog.u,,, and staffnot only protect the residents' health for the residents to spend time
community integration by offering numerous opportunities
volunteer their time at
in the community and foi hundreds of community residents to

NVTC.
DlS]-RICT: (7O3, 75A-9733

. RICHMOND: (AO4) 694-I036

' FAX: (7o3) 391-O465
WEBSI']-E: \MWW,KENPLUM.COM

' E_MAIL: KENPLUM@AOL.COM

because several of
Unfortunately the 58627 work group did not reach consensus
Fortunately' work $oup
the appoint.", oppor" the very existence of training centers'
fashion, including Peter Kinzler
members who support their continuation in a streamlined
I urge you to read
on behalf of the NVTC families, made many thoughtful suggestions.
for an integrated
Mr. Kinzler's comments in particular as they outline opportunities
ID'
continuum of care options for all of Virginia's citizens with
to meet
I know we can balance the need to be fiscally responsible with the need
affords the families of center
our obligations under the DOJ settlement agreement which
survey of how many
residenti the right to remain in a training center. I t.hink a. simple
a key to keeping
families prefer for their loved ones to remain in their local center,
reconfiguration of
families intact, will provide the basis for planning the most efficient
NVTC and the othei centers to accomplish both of these goals.
your personal intervention
Governor McAuliffe, I must emphasize my belief that
for all involved' Thank
is critical to resolving tttis issue in a faii and equitable manner
you in advance for your attention to this matter'

Sincerely yours,

Z-*'4[4-----'7r/

'

Kenneth R. PIum