Storms start to move out of Minnesota, continue for western Wisconsin

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When a panel of state officials convened a hearing last week to gather citizens' views on how Minnesota should improve its treatment of people with disabilities, the room was crowded with people who wanted to talk.

, "More than 100 people packed a room in St. Paul on Tuesday to weigh in ...  people spoke about the changes they believe are needed in education, employment, and housing."


The panel is seeking people's thoughts as it crafts what is called an "Olmstead Plan," named after 

 that requires people with disabilities to be accommodated as much as possible in the community, rather than in separate facilities. The state was obliged to come up with such a plan as

 part of a settlement in a different case

, a lawsuit over the improper restraint of patients as a state-run care facility.


Three more listening sessions are planned, in Rochester, Duluth and Moorhead. The panel expects to complete its work in November.

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Mandated by a court settlement, plan's goal is to return people to the community as much as possible.

State seeks ideas for bettering treatment of people with disabilities

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