The closure of the Murray Developmental Center has been indefinitely postponed.
Department of Human Services spokeswoman Januari Smith told the Associated Press that the closure of the Centralia facility is being rescheduled because of a pending court case.
The decision comes eight months after a lawsuit was filed in federal court by the Murray Parents Association and others to block the closure. The closure is part of a plan to save the state money and provide community-based care for disabled people.
The group says the 250 Murray residents have severe disabilities that only an institution can handle. They dispute the state's claim that community care would save Illinois nearly $120,000 per year, per resident.
Court hearings begin January 6 in Chicago.
