Men living with cerebral palsy file lawsuit against state of Maine

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(NECN: Amy Sinclair) - Three Maine men living with cerebral palsy are suing the state in federal court, claiming they've been illegally confined to nursing homes. The suit was filed jointly on the men's behalf by Maine Equal Justice Partners and the Disability Rights Center of Maine. NECN's Amy Sinclair met up with two of the men in Hancock County to find out what they hope to accomplish. 26-year-old Jake Van Meter and 33-year-old Eric Reeves both live with severe forms of cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder than limits their movement and speech but not their intellect Jake plans to finish college and one day have a family. Eric wants to build a life with his fiancée. But they say their current housing, in institutions that cater to senior citizens -makes it hard to lead the lives they want. Staci: "These are young men with huge potential in very inappropriate settings." The 20 page lawsuit filed in federal court claims the men are entitled to much more independent living under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Staci: "These gentlemen should be getting out in the community getting specialized treatment to make progress towards independence." The suit claims Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services is violating their rights by failing to provide them with appropriate housing and services despite repeated requests over the last six years. Right now there's no appropriate housing for men with cerebral palsy in Downeast Maine, but Jake’s family plans to build it here on land the family owns in Hancock. It would provide housing for up to six people and cost 1.5 million to build." They're raising money and plan to apply for grants to build the house, but they say the state must cover the cost of their daily living expenses--around 300 dollars a day per person--almost double what daily nursing home care costs. Linda: "My hope is that he will be in a facility to learn skills for independent decision making so he won't have to rely on me. I don't want him to rely on me I want to go visit him." Jake and Eric, who've become good friends, would love to live at the same facility. Where they could encourage each other to live their lives to the fullest. Eric: "It feels like we're getting overlooked." They just wish it didn't take a lawsuit for the state to see their needs. They're just sorry it's taken a lawsuit for people to hear their cries for help.

Tags: maine, cerbralpalsy

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