New York state’s shame
No, this is not about Anthony Weiner.
It’s about how state and federal tax dollars are poured down a rat hole and used to subsidize violent thugs and menaces in New York state’s health care system for children with developmental disabilities.
Read the whole thing here. Pure horror.
O. D. Heck is one of nine large institutions in New York that house the developmentally disabled, those with cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome and other conditions.
These institutions spend two and a half times as much money, per resident, as the thousands of smaller group homes that care for far more of the 135,000 developmentally disabled New Yorkers receiving services.
But the institutions are hardly a model: Those who run them have tolerated physical and psychological abuse, knowingly hired unqualified workers, ignored complaints by whistle-blowers and failed to credibly investigate cases of abuse and neglect, according to a review by The New York Times of thousands of state records and court documents, along with interviews of current and former employees.
Since 2005, seven of the institutions have failed inspections by the State Health Department, which oversees the safety and living conditions of the residents. One was shut down altogether this year.
While Jonathan Carey was at O. D. Heck, Health Department inspectors accused its management of routinely failing to investigate fractures and lacerations suffered by residents.
Similar problems can be found across the state. The Broome Developmental Center in Binghamton has been cited for repeatedly failing to protect residents from staff members. One employee there was merely reassigned after encouraging adolescent residents to fight one another.
Patterns of abuse appear embedded in the culture of the Sunmount Developmental Center in the Adirondacks. Last year, one supervisor was accused of four different episodes of physical and psychological abuse of residents within a span of two and a half months; another employee bragged on Facebook about “beating retards.”
The most damning accounts about the operations come from employees — thwarted whistle-blowers from around the state — and the beleaguered family members of residents.
While New York pols are looking after themselves, who is looking out for these most vulnerable members of society?
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Brilliant as always Michelle, I love how you find the connections that everybody else always seems to miss.
From Gerry Studd’s to Anthony Wiener
Hey, if they serve no political nor financially profitable purpose to the left, they are on their own.
My prayers go out for those abused.
NY is a liberal cesspool. Time to process the sewage.
Isn’t this what Newt wanted to replace the foster program with back in the day? I was sort of young, but I seem to recall some sort of “orphanges” fuss.
Oh I’m sure there are a few days in late October and early November of election years when the Dem’s flock to these homes to pick up absentee votes from the disabled (filled out by the staff).
Does Claire McCaskill and her husband live there too?
Are these places subsidies of Planned Parenthood? Just sayin is all.
Yup, as Al Shankar said, “When schoolchildren start paying union dues, that’s when I’ll start representing the interests of schoolchildren.”
“I’m certain costs will come down, and the level of care will rise dramatically, once the provisions of Obamacare are in fully place.”
— Nancy Pelosi
OK, I made that up.
This level of callousness leads to suggestions of euthenasia as a cost cutting tool.
fully in place.
Hey Michelle, I don’t think the preview button is working, at least for me, anyway.
As the father of an autistic son, I can assure you that it’s hard enough to raise such a child without being hampered by those who are being paid to help you.
I used to live near the Sunmount facility way back when. I am sure it is still a real dump. I feel sorry for the people of Tupper Lake, but it is a poor area, so I guess they do not mind the few jobs available
They brag about doing that to politicians, and get away with it?
After six years only one has been shut down? That’s my WTF moment of the day.
I have an autistic son, a daughter with Down Syndrome, and a handicapped daughter with behavioral issues. While I know the frustration that comes with raising challenging children, there is a gut-wrenching rule:
Never, ever beat them or allow any harm to come to them.
Ever.
It’s what we parents do. Bureaucrats don’t see it that way. “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.”
With help like that…
Ka-CHINNNNNG!
Simple answer. Too bad it’s likely the right one.
But, but Geraldo Rivera exposed all that in 1971!
Oh, the humanity!
I don’t know if I want to cry or beat these staff members up myself.
Wait, I know! First one, than the other.
Dear God, what a horrible story.
From the article: “..they hoped that an institution run by the state would be more promising than the Anderson school.”
That shows me how clueless people still are. This is a government-run enterprise. Since when have they ever done anything well? Or even correctly? Still, the parents SHOULD HAVE been able to trust the facility and its workers to care for their son and keep him safe.
This story disturbs me deeply, although I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. My heart breaks for Jonathan’s parents.
I count my blessings for having received a healthy son every day.
Bingo! And I would bet everything I own that those institutions are not run by moral, upstanding Conservatives or Tea Party members! What say we find out? What is the affiliation of those in charge? Inquiring minds want to know. Breitbart…get on this. O.K?
I like it! We can cut costs by euthanizing the “retard”-beating employees. Then transfer the patients to the private facilities where there’s a better chance that the employees actually care.
GOD BLESS YOU, HEFTY!
Anyone who abuses the disabled should be executed.
Breitbart prefer’s more sex in his investigations
I have the same concern about nursing homes, as I get closer to needing one! My daughters have said they would take care of us as long as they can. And I have no doubts that they will. But the nursing homes are so short-staffed and use many non-english speaking helpers. My mom spent her last 6 weeks in a “nice” nursing home and still, they neglected to keep her oxygen tank filled, etc. It is a frightening situation for the seniors! I do have an advantage, however, as I will be bringing my skillet to the nursing home with me!
And those that are found not to care can be more easily fired and prosecuted.
Horrific. Many of us may have mistakenly thought this only takes place today in made for TV SciFi channel movies.
Fight Club ( Prog-style! ) Truly sickening. Weiner isn’t the only resignation we should be pressing for. Here you go NY, your Prog-agenda, warts and all.
Speaking of issues like this. Check this out from WA ST.
The one thing that story does not mention is that Fabregas was deported to Spain.
Supreme cruelty is reserved for the defenseless.
Scrapper,
God has truly blessed us. We have a total of 12 children, three adopted. The little one with Down Syndrome, the handicapped, and one that was very premature. We swore we’d never adopt an autistic child, so God in His wonderful sense of humor gave us one by birth.
We have our daily struggles and challenges. And at times, tears and shouts of agony. But we wouldn’t trade it.
The highlight of Rebekah’s life so far (she’s 12 now) was meeting — and hugging — a certain governor from Alaska.
I guess they’re just doing for institutional care what they did for abortion.
Give me 1.8 million a year and I’ll be more than happy to be a caregiver.
I guarantee that I can make sure that individual would be well fed, kept active and cared for every minute of every day.
Michelle, how could you be so callous ! Don’t you know that it’s their intentions that matter, not the results.
You have one ‘Hefty’ heart, AC. All the best to your family.
Oh, no! That would be way too lenient.
They should be institutionalized
This is what happens when governments run things. No one has a sense of accountability to the people who actually pay the bills, because the money will keep coming regardless.
I can assure you this is going on in state-run institutions all across the country. My deaf brother went to a couple of different states’ Schools for the Deaf when he was growing up, and was sexually and otherwise abused by his “teachers” and “caretakers”. And no one would take any action, because no one cared. The students are just cattle to them.
If the governments would quit taking our tax dollars to fund these institutions, the private sector would be more able to afford institutions where the administrators and faculty are actually accountable to the families who pay the bills. But we’ve gone with a model where government has to do everything for us. So we sacrifice our vulnerable members for the sake of our own ease in not having to care for them ourselves.
God Bless you Hefty, I have two boys 22 and 18 going on 12, who drive me nuts regularly, and I’ve been told they’re normal. There will be a special place in Heaven for you.
Compare and contrast the treatment provided by The House Inc. at their 6th Annual Cinderella Ball where children w/ disabilities have a red carpet laid out and a Marine escort! ( The House Inc. is a NON-profit btw )
Katie Pavlich from Townhall:
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2011/06/07/the_cinderella_ball_inspiration_and_motivation_for_children_with_disabilities_or_life_threatening_illnesses
While I do wish my son were normal, he’s such a sweet and loving boy it’s hard for me to imagine him anyother way.
What, and lose that power of redistribution to favored cronies and keeping abusive PEU employee union dues rolling in?
Unacceptable!
/SARC
More proof that leftist dominated states hurt people by using the government.
God Bless You, Mr. and Mrs. ACHefty!!!!
Another fine example of anothe fine gubmint program. Like SS covering disability for millions who have some anxiety disorder that keeps them from working with others. The name of the disease is LAZINESS. And since our gubmint is SOOOOO concerned about spending our money wisely and well, they never challenge these claims.
Beautiful! Sense of humor? Unquestionably! But I am sure you know that God sends these blessings to those He knows can handle them! Well done, good and faithful servant!
D’oh! What was I thinking?
Bitter skillet clinger!!!
I’m sorry your mom had problems. Mine spent her last days in several that were staffed with foreign born, and to a woman they were incredibly loving and caring.
This is criminal. People should go to jail.
Group homes save money and are more effective, but they are not for everyone. Mr. Happy and I volunteer with an organization for substance abusers where the group home model works very well. And its always a reminder that there, but for the grace of God, go I.
My mother is the Assistant Director of Nursing at a nursing home in rural, north-central Florida. You could live there happily. She SPOILS her residents
Knows them all and knows their stories. She’s in a position to help weed out the caregivers that really care and those that just want a job – and she’s done that well. I can tell by the body language and attitudes and attentiveness of the staff when I see them in action.
My son and I went and helped hand out Christmas gifts with her to the residents this year. Everyone gets at least one present and Santa was there… I was really impressed. I wanted to move in!
As a former employee of NYS Developmental Disablities,I can tell you abuse happens. I have never witnessed it personally,but was told of it. Unfortunatly the employees are very well protected by the union. In my day,if someone was a whistleblower,you were threatened so most reports were reviewed and dropped.I vowed if I ever had a disabled child,never to put them in an institution based on my experience. And I would be careful what private places I put them in.
As I see it,the direct care people,are usually getting paid at a lower salary and so their is difficulty attracting good people(although when I was working there,some of the oldtimers were making huge $$).In the meantime the supervisors and the administration were getting the big bucks,basically to go to meetings and make up ridiculous mandates.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention, Michelle. Anyone with a disabled child needs to do your homework on placement. Make unannounced visits!!!If your loved one can communicate listen to what they are telling you!!
Yes indeed New York’s shame but then these programs are more about political favors than really helping anyone.
For the people worried about nursing homes with foreigners as aides,most foreign countries are far more respectful of the elderly than we in America. Be happy if you get foreign born caregivers even if their English is not good. They seem to be alot more caring than our selfish,youth oriented Americans.
On June 7th, 2011 at 11:53 am, hawkeye54 said:
The people placed in these institutions serve a political purpose every election cycle and even in between when Democrats feel the impulse to bash Republicans.
On June 7th, 2011 at 12:09 pm, spaceycakes said:
I suspect they have a franchise there.
My question is, Where’s Kuntsler? Where are all the other liberal groups demanding prisoners be released early due to overcrowding?
Seems leftists are as usual, selective in their outrage.
Tre: I think we’ve ‘spoken’ before. I’m annoyinglittletwerp over @ HA.
I have Asperger’s Syndrome. While I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 33-I turn 41 this fall-it was obvious from an early age that I was ‘different’. When I was 4 the State of Illinois strongly suggested to my parents that I should be committed to a state institution. Luckily for me, my parents told them to go jump. I’m now a twice-married mother of a teenager who’s hoping to finish getting her BA in history. Had I been made a ward of the state I would be like a caged animal who was subject to the whims/abuses of my ‘trainers’. Abuse goes on in Illinois homes for the disabled too. Being different doesn’t make someone less human or less deserving of being treated with kindness and dignity. Stories like these make my blood boil.
God bless you, ACHefty. NCMom and I have 8 kids between us (bio, step and adopted). Our “natural” kids are normal(?) and our adopted kids are all special needs. That’s what you get when you foster medically fragile infants for 20+ years, there’s a few you just can’t let go. And yes, it’s frustrating and nerve wracking at times, but like you, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Yeah, the Left is “progressive” alright. Progressively more violent, immoral, and depraved.
OH NO!! Weiner’s wife about to have little Weiner??
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/weiner%e2%80%99s-wife-is-reportedly-pregnant/