Dear Friends,

Members of People First of New Hampshire will be traveling to Texas for the March 1st rally in Austin to advocate for community funding and to close institutions.  We will be giving the following letter to Texas officials written and signed by our board and membership.  Please join us in sending the message.  We would like YOU to have an opportunity to sign our petition, too.  Please read our letter and consider helping individuals to move out of institutions and into the community!

To:    The Governor of Texas

Texas State Legislators

From:  People First of New Hampshire Board of Directors and Members

Date:  January 12, 2011

Re:  Close Institutions in Texas

New Hampshire was the first to close the state institution in 1991 while it built community supports.  We have experienced success in community living and want to see Texas have the same success without any further delays.  We advocate that community support funding be given high priority to move people into Texas communities.  The money which has gone into funding institutions should follow the people with them as they move out and experience better lives in the community. 

Our board and members, some of whom lived in an institution, have this to say to you:

• You can’t treat people the way you do.
• Texas should close all of its institutions and put people with disabilities into the community where they belong.
• Institutions are nothing but a hell-hole. 
• All people, no matter who, should get the same treatment.
• You should close them all, they are not a nice place to live
• I would raise my child the way a parent should – not put them in an in institution.
• Institutions stink.  Stop the commotion.  Get along.
• I certainly don’t want to be in an institution.
• I hated living at our state institution.  I wanted to run away from there.  Now, I am married and happy.  I do things on my own that I couldn’t do before.
• You should and must have community supports in Texas.

This petition was originated by People First of New Hampshire and has been signed by supporters from all across the nation.

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