The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Service is appealing a court order that would offer people with intellectual and developmental disabilities choice in their care.
Disability Rights North Carolina filed a lawsuit against DHHS and won.
A court order issued earlier this month says the state human services department is in "ongoing violation" of the North Carolina Persons with Disabilities Protection Act and it has been "over-reliant" on institutionalizing people with disabilities.
A superior court judge says there should be adequate community-service alternatives for those who don't want to be at state institution.
Right now, there are more than 16,000 people sitting on a waiting list hoping to being waived to an alternative setting.
DHHS Secretary Kody Kinsely argues that more time is needed and that it's working hard on a number of initiatives that will support people with disabilities.
DHHS is calling on the General Assembly to invest more money to help the thousands of people on that waiting list.