Money Follows the Person
If you would like more information on Kentucky Transitions, or make a referral, please contact: Kentucky Transitions, 275 East Main Street, 6W-B, Frankfort, KY 40621, 877-564-0330.

Michelle P. Litigation

Filed in 2002 in federal court in Frankfort by four individuals with developmental disabilities alleging that the state of Kentucky failed to comply with provisions
of the Medicaid Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The suit alleged that these laws require the state to provide services to persons with developmental
disabilities and related conditions in a reasonably prompt manner and in a more integrated community setting when that is their choice. It was later certified

Michelle P. Litigation

Filed in 2002 in federal court in Frankfort by four individuals with developmental
disabilities alleging that the state of Kentucky failed to comply with provisions
of the Medicaid Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The suit alleged
that these laws require the state to provide services to persons with developmental
disabilities and related conditions in a reasonably prompt manner and in a
more integrated community setting when that is their choice. It was later certified

This resource book came about because several young people who had lived in parental and foster homes their entire lives realized they were facing life after high school in a nursing facility because of lack of available adult supports in the community and confusion about how to get them.

As a result, P&A brought together staff of several agencies to figure out how to help people find the transition services they needed. The group pooled their knowledge about available programs to put together a resource book that could be used by young people with disabilities in foster care to transition successfully to adulthood.

Welcome to Partners in Living, a self-study course created to help people with developmental disabilities, their family and friends explore four important elements that, together, can help them create a meaningful life: Self-Determination, Family Support, Community Living and Assistive Technology.

In this course, you will decide what is meaningful to you and learn about:

Kentucky's Community Integration Case

On February 7, 2002 four people with developmental disabilities filed suit against state officials over unreasonable delays in providing community based services for persons with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. The plaintiffs asked the Court to make their suit a class action that would help all present and future Kentuckians eligible for such services and currently living at home with aging caregivers.

The lawsuit, Michelle P. vs. M. Birdwhistell, was filed in federal court by the four individuals who were living at home with their older parents or grandparents. Kentucky Protection and Advocacy represented them. The plaintiffs wanted the state to provide Medicaid services in a timely manner so that they could stay in community, home-like settings rather than live in institutions such as nursing homes or large state-run intermediate care facilities.

Background and Additional Information on the Olmstead Decision From the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law

Find out what happens when an institution closes. The Fort Wayne State Developmental Center in Indiana is planning to close on June 30, 2007. Their site explains how they are managing that process.

State settles suit over Medicaid—Program for mentally retarded will cut long waits, help more people

By Deborah Yetter, The Courier-Journal