Fernald Families Vow To Keep Center Open

Families of residents of a state center for the developmentally-disabled are vowing to continue their fight to keep the center open.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to hear their case.

The decision lets stand a lower court ruling that the state may close the Fernald Developmental Center in Waltham and move them into the community.

But families of residents say moving them will be traumatic since many of them have spent most of their lives at Fernald.

And attorney Barryl Cohen says the state is purposely neglecting Fernald in an attempt to move residents out. He says he's alerted federal authorities and plans to file a discrimination lawsuit against the state.

"The violation of federal law by this administration in attempting to force people out is contrary to the planning process which allows them to receive services on a lifetime basis," says Cohen.

State officials deny there's been any neglect and are praising the Supreme Court's decision.