Advocacy groups for people living with disabilities say the recent death of a resident at a special-care home in Lower Sackville, N.S. is a signal that institutions need to be shut down.

Charlie Lemon spent many years in an institution but he eventually ran away and proved that he could live on his own.

“It feels good when you do things on your own, when you don’t have anybody doing stuff for you,” says Lemon. “You don’t have anybody telling you what to do or you can go outside.”

Lemon has a job and an apartment and now he is campaigning for the closure of institutions in Nova Scotia.

A ten-year transition plan has been worked out between various groups and the Department of Community Services.

“It involves all the changes that are necessary to include citizens with special needs in our communities,” says Cindy Carruthers of People First Nova Scotia.

Advocates say the need is more urgent after the death of Gordon Longphee, whodied from injuries sustained inan alleged assault at the Quest Regional Rehabilitation Centre on May 11.

Police believe a 28-year-old resident pushed 56-year-old Longphee, who fell as a result.

He was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and passed away in hospital on May 17.

Leslie Lowther’s son lives at the facility. She says he, and many others, could benefit from living in the community.

“With my son, he’s got the potential to live out in the community. He will always need assistance,” says Lowther.

Joan Jessome, the president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union, also supports speeding up the process of shutting institutions down.

“We’re not advocating job loss, because these residents will still need a place to live,” says Jessome.

While advocates feel Nova Scotia should deinstitutionalize as soon as possible, they say there must be adequate supports in place when institutions shut their doors.

“Learning from what’s happened, taking the time to do it right and, I think, the crucial part for us, doing it with and in concert with the community,” says Lynn Hartwell, deputy minister of Community Services.

Hartwell says deinstitutionalization is on the government’s agenda, but it will take time to ensure a proper solution is in place first.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Ron Shaw