Larson Quoted in Des Moines Register

The Des Moines Register quotes ICI researcher Sheryl Larson in its recent article, “‘Stubborn’ Iowa Hangs on to State Institutions for Disabled People.” Around the country, community living is gradually replacing the historic practice of housing people with intellectual disabilities in large institutions, yet the article explains how Iowa lags behind other states by still using these institutions. Providing data on institution closure nationwide, however, Larson said that Iowa was “definitely behind the curve.” She also noted that most Iowans with intellectual disabilities live in larger facilities than their counterparts in other states, who increasingly live in small, community-based facilities.