Sawyer began the series of meetings at J. S. Tarwater Developmental Center in Wetumpka on May 1 and 2. She then visited with stakeholder groups at the L. B. Wallace Developmental Center in Decatur on May 5 and 6. The Claudette Box Nursing Home in Mt. Vernon and the Brewer-Bayside Developmental Center in Daphne meetings were held on May 8 and 9. The Commissioner met with city officials and legislators along with families and employees at the Thomasville Mental Health Rehabilitation Center in Thomasville on May 15 and 16. The final facility meetings were held in Tuscaloosa for the proposed consolidation of the Alice Kidd and S. D. Allen Nursing Homes on May 19 and 20.

Commissioner Sawyer followed the same format for each of the facility meetings. She met with families and explained the options available to them for the continuation of services for their loved ones. The options for persons with mental retardation include 24-hour, 7-day a week support at home, placement in or development of new area group homes, or transfer to Partlow Development Center in Tuscaloosa. The nursing home clients have the option of assistance and assimilation into private area nursing homes or transfer to the consolidated nursing home facility in Tuscaloosa.

Services provided by the Thomasville Mental Health Rehabilitation Center will be transferred in their entirety to the vacated Claudette Box Nursing Home facility on the campus of Searcy Hospital in Mt. Vernon.

Commissioner Sawyer is reviewing comments, questions, and suggestions that were submitted in the series of meetings. After taking those suggestions into account, she purposes to submit her plan in its final form to the Governor before the third week in June. More information will be coming forth at that time.