Dear Friend,

Mark Chambers and hundreds of other people with disabilities in San Francisco have long dreamt of independence-- of "the world outside," as Mark puts it. For years they have been living with no privacy and little freedom in a 1,000-bed nursing home called Laguna Honda Hospital.

Their dreams are about to come true.

The city has just agreed to develop, for the first time, 500 supported apartments for the plaintiffs in a Bazelon Center class action lawsuit. Mark Chambers is one of them. A former computer systems analyst, Mark was sent to Laguna Honda eight years ago after suffering a brain injury at the age of 39.

Can you imagine living in a nursing home at such a young age, with so little independence? And in an environment that isn't even designed to help you live a productive life?

Will you help us celebrate this victory for Mark and others like him by making an online donation to the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law?

After the court and the city's board of supervisors approve settlement of the lawsuit, Mark and hundreds of others will have their own apartments and the support they need to live in the community. For Mark, that's help with meals, nursing care, transportation, rehabilitation services, medication management and part-time personal care services. For more about the Laguna Honda case click here.

We could not achieve legal victories like this without the support of donors like you.

Help us be sure of the necessary resources in 2008 by making a tax-deductible year-end gift. Please donate online now.

As the New Year begins, we'll be litigating several other such cases in federal courts across the country. In New York, for example, we're claiming the right to live independently for 4,000 people with mental illnesses who now languish in large, "adult homes" with little connection to the community.

In Congress, too, we'll seek access to essential services for children with mental disabilities —both in schools and in foster care systems— and for people with mental illnesses being released from jails or prisons. You know from our alerts and policy reporters what a challenge that is. I hope we can count on your support to overcome it.

Please make your gift to the Bazelon Center a personal year-end giving priority.

Your generosity will help adults and children with mental disabilities make even more progress toward independence and dignity in 2008.

Thank you in advance for your support and warmest wishes for a safe and happy new year!

Sincerely,

Robert Bernstein
Executive Director

P.S. If you prefer to mail your contribution, you may send it to:

Development Office
Bazelon Center
1101 15th Street NW, Suite 1212
Washington D.C. 20005

If you wish, you may print a donation form to accompany it.