For moral and fiscal reasons it's time to close Connecticut's last institution for the intellectually disabled, the Southbury Training School.The institution is outrageously expensive, strikingly out of date and defies modern thinking that the intellectually disabled are better off when integrated into the community.

The institution is outrageously expensive, strikingly out of date and defies modern thinking that the intellectually disabled are better off when integrated into the community.For 15 years state political leaders have refused to confront the legal and moral contradictions that Southbury presents. They should begin the process of expeditiously closing this institution.

For 15 years state political leaders have refused to confront the legal and moral contradictions that Southbury presents. They should begin the process of expeditiously closing this institution.Southbury is needlessly bleeding money. The intellectually disabled clients - persons once described as having mental retardation - would be better off in residential community settings that in the private sector operate at one-third the cost of Southbury.

Southbury is needlessly bleeding money. The intellectually disabled clients - persons once described as having mental retardation - would be better off in residential community settings that in the private sector operate at one-third the cost of Southbury.It is not only morally the right thing to do, but legally as well.

It is not only morally the right thing to do, but legally as well.In 1999 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the Olmstead case that under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act states, under certain conditions, are required to place people with mental disabilities in community settings. Segregating individuals in institutions when community placement is appropriate was determined to be discrimination.

In 1999 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the Olmstead case that under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act states, under certain conditions, are required to place people with mental disabilities in community settings. Segregating individuals in institutions when community placement is appropriate was determined to be discrimination.Connecticut was once a leader in this respect. Seaside Regional Center closed in 1996 and the state shuttered Mansfield Training School, which housed more than 1,600 intellectually disabled clients in its heyday, in 1993. The state moved these residents to group homes, apartments, or other housing, with support services to integrate them in the community.

Connecticut was once a leader in this respect. Seaside Regional Center closed in 1996 and the state shuttered Mansfield Training School, which housed more than 1,600 intellectually disabled clients in its heyday, in 1993. The state moved these residents to group homes, apartments, or other housing, with support services to integrate them in the community.Except for Southbury, where there was resistance that led to a lawsuit still being litigated today.

Except for Southbury, where there was resistance that led to a lawsuit still being litigated today.Last week in U.S. District Court in New Haven, hearings got under way to address the court's 2008 finding that in its operation of Southbury the state had violated the statutory and constitutional rights of its residents. It did so by failing to make independent, professional judgments on whether residents could benefit by leaving the institution. Further, it failed to make such placements available to residents who wanted them. The hearings will continue next month.

Last week in U.S. District Court in New Haven, hearings got under way to address the court's 2008 finding that in its operation of Southbury the state had violated the statutory and constitutional rights of its residents. It did so by failing to make independent, professional judgments on whether residents could benefit by leaving the institution. Further, it failed to make such placements available to residents who wanted them. The hearings will continue next month.Former Republican Gov. John G. Rowland started the legal battle in the late 1990s by refusing to deinstitutionalize Southbury. Instead, he advocated spending millions to upgrade the institution and bring it into compliance. There were 793 residents at Southbury then and the majority of them were 45 or older.

Former Republican Gov. John G. Rowland started the legal battle in the late 1990s by refusing to deinstitutionalize Southbury. Instead, he advocated spending millions to upgrade the institution and bring it into compliance. There were 793 residents at Southbury then and the majority of them were 45 or older.Today the average age of the 458 remaining Southbury clients (the state halted admissions in the mid-1980s) is 62, and for many of them the 1,600-acre campus has been their home for decades. But experts say most would still adapt and benefit from community, rather than institutional living.

Today the average age of the 458 remaining Southbury clients (the state halted admissions in the mid-1980s) is 62, and for many of them the 1,600-acre campus has been their home for decades. But experts say most would still adapt and benefit from community, rather than institutional living. And so would taxpayers. In a state facing a fiscal crisis, it costs about $350,000 annually to care for every Southbury client, opposed to about $122,000 if they were in a private-sector, community-living situation.

And so would taxpayers. In a state facing a fiscal crisis, it costs about $350,000 annually to care for every Southbury client, opposed to about $122,000 if they were in a private-sector, community-living situation. Southbury employs 1,325 people to care for 458, and according to the state, current collective bargaining agreements require public operation of community residences for Southbury residents if the institution closes. That would require $100 million in new state bonding, a state spokeswoman said.

Southbury employs 1,325 people to care for 458, and according to the state, current collective bargaining agreements require public operation of community residences for Southbury residents if the institution closes. That would require $100 million in new state bonding, a state spokeswoman said.Southbury's 2009 budget was $96.5 million, 10 percent of the almost $1 billion allocated to the state Department of Developmental Services last year. In other words, because of Southbury the department that serves almost 20,000 people with developmental disabilities ends up spending about 10 percent of its budget on 2 percent of its population.

Southbury's 2009 budget was $96.5 million, 10 percent of the almost $1 billion allocated to the state Department of Developmental Services last year. In other words, because of Southbury the department that serves almost 20,000 people with developmental disabilities ends up spending about 10 percent of its budget on 2 percent of its population.The state has yet to show its hand in the latest court proceedings, but Friday a spokesman for Gov. M. Jodi Rell said, "the governor continues to support community placement for residents who choose to move and the current and future operation of STS for residents who choose to remain."

The state has yet to show its hand in the latest court proceedings, but Friday a spokesman for Gov. M. Jodi Rell said, "the governor continues to support community placement for residents who choose to move and the current and future operation of STS for residents who choose to remain."That is disappointing. Southbury is the last institution of its type in New England. It is a throwback to another time, when rather than integrating the mentally retarded, society warehoused them.

That is disappointing. Southbury is the last institution of its type in New England. It is a throwback to another time, when rather than integrating the mentally retarded, society warehoused them. For inexplicable reasons Connecticut's politicians have never adequately addressed the legal and moral questions on Southbury. Now, it looks like Gov. Rell will squander an opportunity to do the right thing in fiscal hard times.

For inexplicable reasons Connecticut's politicians have never adequately addressed the legal and moral questions on Southbury. Now, it looks like Gov. Rell will squander an opportunity to do the right thing in fiscal hard times.