U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell Jr. today (May 18) ordered the state of Rhode Island to appropriate the money necessary to fund the so-called “sheltered workshop” consent decree. The judge also set short-term deadlines for a series of incremental steps needed to begin changes in the developmental disability system. In the case of any missed deadlines or other violations of the order, either the court monitor in the case or the federal government may request a show-cause hearing to determine whether the state should be held in contempt.  More here...