On January 19, 1993, before a packed San Francisco Superior court, Judge Stuart Pollak approved the settlement agreement in Coffelt v. Department of Developmental Services (DDS). The Settlement in this class action lawsuit – to move more people from institutions into the community – was the largest of its kind in the country. Protection and Advocacy Incorporated (PAI), (now Disability Rights California) filed the suit in February 1990 on behalf of 950 class members, 14 individual plaintiffs and six organizations.

Ellen Goldblatt was a senior PAI attorney and a lead on the case.

The services sought in Coffelt were already mandated by the Lanterman Act and other California laws. The lawsuit brought to light the fact that at least 2,000 out of 6,000 developmental center residents were institutionalized only because there weren’t enough community resources to meet their needs. The settlement called for – and funded -- a five-year plan in which DDS and the regional centers were required to provide a number of things, including:

• Develop quality community living arrangements and necessary supports for the individual plaintiffs, consumers moving from developmental centers and community target group members
• Enhance the consumer-centered assessment and planning process for individual program plan (IPP) team and provide training for assessment personnel
• Increase the variety of living options for consumers in the community
• Develop emergency & crisis intervention services, including mental health and behavior modification services, to assist consumers to maintain their chosen community living arrangement
• Monitor the quality of services and supports provided under the settlement
• Decrease  number of people living in institutions by 2,000.

Ellen Goldblatt said following the settlement, she saw such positive changes in the clients represented.

Ellen said the settlement also gave people a new option – living in their own apartment instead of a group home.