(The Center Square) – A southern Illinois family is fighting in the courts to keep control of their son’s care.
Gregory Dorsey is 26 years old. His father William says he’s been diagnosed with autism, anxiety and ADHD. Because of his condition, Gregory recently became violent to himself and others at home. William said after 17 days in a Taylorville hospital, the family won a court order to require the state to place Gregory in a state-run facility nearby.
William said the state pressured them to give up guardianship.
“We don’t feel like we should have to give up our guardianship to get help for our son,” he told The Center Square.
The Illinois Department of Human Services did not immediately respond to questions seeking comment on what their policy is regarding exchanging guardianship for providing services.
William said he and his wife Danita are preparing for a sixth court hearing Thursday where the state is trying to send Gregory nearly four hours away.
“He needs consistency and the state is just wanting to move him all around, which is not going to help him at all,” he said.
William said they couldn’t have gotten this far without the help of state Rep. Charlie Meier, R-Okawville. Meier said it shouldn’t take an elected official to intervene to get things done.
“Repeatedly, for many years, I have gone to ask DHS for help and this is what we get, we get six court cases for this family and poor Greg to have to go through,” Meier told The Center Square.
The Illinois Department of Human Services also didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about their policies around proximity of placement near families.
