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Friday, May 31, 2002

By The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA -- A coalition of advocacy groups filed a federal class-action lawsuit against the state yesterday on behalf of mentally retarded children and adults who are on waiting lists for community services.

The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court asks the court to order the state Department of Public Welfare to provide services. At issue is a proposed 30-percent reduction in promised state funding that advocates say is needed to deliver services to the mentally retarded.

About 21,000 people in Pennsylvania are waiting for services, according to Maureen Devaney, a coordinator of the Pennsylvania Waiting List Campaign, which filed suit on behalf of three mentally retarded people in Philadelphia and Montgomery County.

"It's really damaging to people and their families ... ," Devaney said. "It's the quality of their life that we're talking about."

Former Gov. Tom Ridge in 1999 proposed a five-year, $853 million plan to address the needs of Pennsylvanians waiting for services through community living programs, job coaches, in-home support and day programs.

Gov. Mark S. Schweiker's proposed budget calls for a 30 percent cut in funding from the original Ridge plan in the third year of the five-year initiative, according to the campaign.

But a spokesman for Public Welfare Secretary Feather O. Houstoun, who was named as a defendant, said Schweiker's proposed budget would still increase funding for community services for the mentally retarded by 6 percent over last year.

"We're disappointed that these advocates feel the need to sue on this issue," said spokesman Jay Pagni. "Gov. Schweiker has in fact demonstrated his continuing commitment to individuals with mental retardation."