RE: Abuse, neglect plague state schools

[Guest guest]

This makes me sick to my stomach. I am wondering if there is something that we,

as private citizens, can do about this, rather than rely exclusively on DADS or

our legislators alone to make changes. We must be the watchdogs, because

apparently there just isn't enough money or common sense available in our state

or Federal government. I don't think that complaining is enough. Just a couple

of ideas:

1. Form a citizen's oversight agency to randomly conduct checks of facilities-

if we are vigilant, we make a statement that abuse and neglect won't be

tolerated.

2. As a function of this type of " agency " , enlist private sector physicians (or

doctors in residency that could possibly get CME's) to examine residents at

random.

3. Raise funds to install video (or web) cameras that cover every square inch

of every facility - or do these already exist? Knowing that you're being

watched can be a deterrant to criminal activity.

Could we put together some kind of PAC for this?

Aliza

....the test of a civilization is in the way that it cares for its helpless

members.

-Pearl S. Buck

[Texas-Autism- Advocacy] Abuse, neglect plague state schools

Abuse, neglect plague state schools

Hundreds of retarded residents are victims; officials say action taken

12:00 AM CDT on Tuesday, July 24, 2007

By EMILY RAMSHAW and AMY ROSEN / The Dallas Morning News

eramshaw@dallasnews .com and arosendallasnews (DOT) com

AUSTIN – Hundreds of residents at Texas' state schools for the mentally

retarded have suffered serious abuse and neglect at the hands of those paid

to watch over them, a Dallas Morning News review shows.

Documents released by all but three of the 12 state schools operated by the

state Department of Aging and Disability Services outline everything from

horrific physical violence and neglect to frightening verbal threats,

derogatory slurs and pranks.

Covering the last several years, they appear to confirm critics' worst

suspicion: There are problems throughout facilities for Texas' most fragile

residents, not just at the Lubbock State School, the subject of a critical

U.S. Justice Department report in December.

Also Online

Charts and Graph:

<http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ img/07-07/ 0724stateschools

..pdf>

Statewide cases

<http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ img/07-07/ 0724stateschools

..pdf>

(.pdf)

In one 2006 case at the Brenham State School, a nurse assistant kicked and

punched a mentally retarded resident on the bathroom floor, fracturing three

ribs and puncturing the resident's liver. In a 2000 incident at the Abilene

State School, an aide ignored a resident who was found hours later in a

trash bin, naked.

Other employees have left residents covered in feces and urine for hours,

made them eat off plates where they had vomited, and fallen asleep on the

job, waking only after residents engaged in sexual acts.

State officials say they have been addressing cases of abuse and neglect.

" In any direct-care environment, there are people who take advantage of more

vulnerable people, " said Cecilia Fedorov, a spokeswoman for the disability

services department. " Nobody looks at this and says it's no big deal. We

take it very seriously, and we continue to work to make sure operations

there are the best possible for these residents. "

Though The News received employee disciplinary records for 474 confirmed

cases of abuse or neglect since 2000, state health officials acknowledge

they've counted nearly 300 confirmed cases in each of the last two years –

about 1 for every 17 residents annually. There are close to 5,000 residents

in Texas' state schools.

Of the confirmed abuse cases The News reviewed, about 50 percent were the

result of neglect – like an employee leaving a resident scalding in an

overheated shower or leaving one behind on a public outing. Thirty percent

involved physical abuse, usually pushing, slapping or kicking to get a

resident to follow orders.

In nearly 18 percent of the cases, the state school employee was fired; 33

percent resulted in suspensions. Confirmed cases of abuse are referred to

local police departments, Ms. Fedorov said, but the agency doesn't keep

track of how many result in charges or prosecution.

Among the cases reported in the last several years:

• A resident at the Mexia State School died in January after three staff

members used inappropriate and excessive force to restrain him.

• At the San Angelo State School in 2003, two employees removed the shirt of

a female resident and threw her on the bed, slammed her against the wall and

taunted her about her past sexual abuse.

• In 2004, a resident at the El Paso State Center was found outside, covered

in feces with his pants below his buttocks, wearing only one shoe.

• A resident of the Corpus Christi State School was left crying and sweating

in a hot van in the summer of 2005 for at least half an hour. The resident

did not suffer long-term harm.

• An employee at the Abilene State School last year burned the nose and

cheek of a resident with the end of a blow-dryer.

• An employee at the Richmond State School fed jalapeño peppers to residents

in 2001 and laughed while refusing to allow them water.

• At the Lufkin State School in 2000, an employee left a plastic thermometer

cover in a resident's rectum.

• At the San Angelo State School in 2004, a group of staff members discussed

sexual activity in front of residents, encouraging the residents to look at

and touch other residents' genitalia.

• In 2003, an employee at the Lufkin State School forced a resident to walk

around the facility with socks stuffed in her mouth as punishment.

Lubbock school

The Department of Justice's Civil Rights division, which sent investigators

to the Lubbock State School in 2005, is still negotiating with state

officials to resolve the breaches at that facility. The report the

investigators released in December described a severely understaffed

facility where residents were improperly restrained and sedated, and given

insufficient medical care. Since June 2005, more than 17 residents have

died.

In one cited case, employees found a woman unresponsive but failed to

perform CPR or call for help for a half-hour. Paramedics determined she had

been dead for hours because rigor mortis had already set in. Employees had

falsified reports to indicate someone had checked on the woman.

When the Lubbock abuse was made public this spring, agency officials said

that they had addressed the problems by installing across-the-board changes

at the school, and that they were identifying areas for improvement at other

facilities. And lawmakers committed to spending nearly $49 million to hire

close to 1,700 new state school employees to address staffing ratios and

other health and training concerns.

" We did everything we could during the session to address the thrust of the

[Department of Justice] complaint, " said Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, an El Paso

Democrat who serves on the Senate's Health and Human Services Committee. " It

will take time to make the hires and see what ultimate effect these

improvements will have. "

Gov. Rick 's office cautioned against comparing the state school

system's problems to those inside the Texas Youth Commission, the

juvenile-justice agency still being overhauled after widespread sexual and

physical abuse were revealed this year.

'Zero tolerance'

spokeswoman Krista Moody said the governor stands by disability

services agency Commissioner Addie Horn, who addresses each case " decisively

and quickly. "

" It's important not to sensationalize these incidents, " Ms. Moody said,

noting that the Department of Aging and Disability Services didn't become

responsible for the state schools until 2004. " They should not be portrayed

as though they happened yesterday, and no action has been taken. "

On the contrary, state health officials say, they refer every abuse

allegation to the Department of Family and Protective Services for an

investigation, and prevent all involved employees from working with

residents for the duration. Of the 3,258 allegations of abuse reported in

fiscal year 2006, 9 percent were confirmed.

" We take every suspicion of abuse so seriously; everything is reported, " Ms.

Fedorov said. " There's a zero tolerance policy. We've been openly upfront

with the Legislature about everything. "

Health officials say that staffing state schools remains a challenge, as the

nation endures a long-term nursing shortage and the schools pay entry-level

employees less than $20,000 a year. But they remain committed to conducting

drug tests, criminal background tests and intensive training for all

potential employees.

<http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ news/texassouthw est/stories/

072

407dntexstateschool s.a31d6b26. html>

http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ news/texassouthw est/stories/

0724

07dntexstateschools .a31d6b26. html

Amy A. Sosa

<mailto:amy.sosaverizon (DOT) net> amy.sosaverizon (DOT) net

Coppell, Texas

Home/Office -

Fax -

Cell -

[Guest guest]

not just texans. fellow human beings. i don't believe that texas is the only

state with this issue.

there is evil in every industry. in this industry it is intolerable. what an

excellent place to work if you are a sexual predator. what an excellent place

to work if you are a sadist. those who prey upon those who are weak and unable

to defend themselves should receive mandatory jail time and at a minimum the

family should receive compensation to afford private home care for those who

survive the attacks. Perhaps then, the background checks, the psych testing,

etc. would be performed on the applicants in an effort to hire qualified, caring

people and eliminate the hiring of 'bad' people. sometimes money makes people

pay attention and the compensations, should these horrible instances occur in

the future, might factor into the hiring and training decisions of any facility.

Perhaps on-going training, mentor employees, and bonus days off would be in

order as well. it is stressful to handle the day to day issues working in

facilities like that. I think we all know that. we wouldn't seek places like

these for our loved ones if we could handle it on our own, right? i'm sure the

salaries aren't the highest. i'm sure the frustration levels are very high. i

don't know the average level of education is for the typical employee at one of

these facilities but I imagine not very high which can have a direct correlation

to problem solving abilities. i am by no means making excuses - just seeking to

understand why these cases exist in an effort to prevent them in the future.

be prepared, though. background checks, education/training, procecuting and

then housing the additional violators, paying compensation, the money has to

come from somewhere - taxes are the somewhere.

" M. Guppy " wrote:

EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE reading this must contact their

legislator about this horrific treatment of fellow Texans...

Many parents in this state have no choice but to leave their loved one in the

care of someone else because there are just non-existant supports in the family

to prevent having to leave a child in any facility --- and we must all ban

together and put a stop to these abuses to other people's loved ones - because

they could very well be ours one day!!

We cannot afford to be speechless in protection of the defenseless....

" Amy A.Sosa " wrote:

To: " Amy A.Sosa "

Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2007 07:01:22 -0500

Subject: Abuse, neglect plague state schools

Abuse, neglect plague state schools

Hundreds of retarded residents are victims; officials say action taken

12:00 AM CDT on Tuesday, July 24, 2007

By EMILY RAMSHAW and AMY ROSEN / The Dallas Morning News

eramshaw@... and arosen@...

AUSTIN – Hundreds of residents at Texas' state schools for the mentally

retarded have suffered serious abuse and neglect at the hands of those paid

to watch over them, a Dallas Morning News review shows.

Documents released by all but three of the 12 state schools operated by the

state Department of Aging and Disability Services outline everything from

horrific physical violence and neglect to frightening verbal threats,

derogatory slurs and pranks.

Covering the last several years, they appear to confirm critics' worst

suspicion: There are problems throughout facilities for Texas' most fragile

residents, not just at the Lubbock State School, the subject of a critical

U.S. Justice Department report in December.

Also Online

Charts and Graph:

<http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/07-07/0724stateschools.pdf>

Statewide cases

<http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/07-07/0724stateschools.pdf>

(.pdf)

In one 2006 case at the Brenham State School, a nurse assistant kicked and

punched a mentally retarded resident on the bathroom floor, fracturing three

ribs and puncturing the resident's liver. In a 2000 incident at the Abilene

State School, an aide ignored a resident who was found hours later in a

trash bin, naked.

Other employees have left residents covered in feces and urine for hours,

made them eat off plates where they had vomited, and fallen asleep on the

job, waking only after residents engaged in sexual acts.

State officials say they have been addressing cases of abuse and neglect.

" In any direct-care environment, there are people who take advantage of more

vulnerable people, " said Cecilia Fedorov, a spokeswoman for the disability

services department. " Nobody looks at this and says it's no big deal. We

take it very seriously, and we continue to work to make sure operations

there are the best possible for these residents. "

Though The News received employee disciplinary records for 474 confirmed

cases of abuse or neglect since 2000, state health officials acknowledge

they've counted nearly 300 confirmed cases in each of the last two years –

about 1 for every 17 residents annually. There are close to 5,000 residents

in Texas' state schools.

Of the confirmed abuse cases The News reviewed, about 50 percent were the

result of neglect – like an employee leaving a resident scalding in an

overheated shower or leaving one behind on a public outing. Thirty percent

involved physical abuse, usually pushing, slapping or kicking to get a

resident to follow orders.

In nearly 18 percent of the cases, the state school employee was fired; 33

percent resulted in suspensions. Confirmed cases of abuse are referred to

local police departments, Ms. Fedorov said, but the agency doesn't keep

track of how many result in charges or prosecution.

Among the cases reported in the last several years:

• A resident at the Mexia State School died in January after three staff

members used inappropriate and excessive force to restrain him.

• At the San Angelo State School in 2003, two employees removed the shirt of

a female resident and threw her on the bed, slammed her against the wall and

taunted her about her past sexual abuse.

• In 2004, a resident at the El Paso State Center was found outside, covered

in feces with his pants below his buttocks, wearing only one shoe.

• A resident of the Corpus Christi State School was left crying and sweating

in a hot van in the summer of 2005 for at least half an hour. The resident

did not suffer long-term harm.

• An employee at the Abilene State School last year burned the nose and

cheek of a resident with the end of a blow-dryer.

• An employee at the Richmond State School fed jalapeño peppers to residents

in 2001 and laughed while refusing to allow them water.

• At the Lufkin State School in 2000, an employee left a plastic thermometer

cover in a resident's rectum.

• At the San Angelo State School in 2004, a group of staff members discussed

sexual activity in front of residents, encouraging the residents to look at

and touch other residents' genitalia.

• In 2003, an employee at the Lufkin State School forced a resident to walk

around the facility with socks stuffed in her mouth as punishment.

Lubbock school

The Department of Justice's Civil Rights division, which sent investigators

to the Lubbock State School in 2005, is still negotiating with state

officials to resolve the breaches at that facility. The report the

investigators released in December described a severely understaffed

facility where residents were improperly restrained and sedated, and given

insufficient medical care. Since June 2005, more than 17 residents have

died.

In one cited case, employees found a woman unresponsive but failed to

perform CPR or call for help for a half-hour. Paramedics determined she had

been dead for hours because rigor mortis had already set in. Employees had

falsified reports to indicate someone had checked on the woman.

When the Lubbock abuse was made public this spring, agency officials said

that they had addressed the problems by installing across-the-board changes

at the school, and that they were identifying areas for improvement at other

facilities. And lawmakers committed to spending nearly $49 million to hire

close to 1,700 new state school employees to address staffing ratios and

other health and training concerns.

" We did everything we could during the session to address the thrust of the

[Department of Justice] complaint, " said Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, an El Paso

Democrat who serves on the Senate's Health and Human Services Committee. " It

will take time to make the hires and see what ultimate effect these

improvements will have. "

Gov. Rick 's office cautioned against comparing the state school

system's problems to those inside the Texas Youth Commission, the

juvenile-justice agency still being overhauled after widespread sexual and

physical abuse were revealed this year.

'Zero tolerance'

spokeswoman Krista Moody said the governor stands by disability

services agency Commissioner Addie Horn, who addresses each case " decisively

and quickly. "

" It's important not to sensationalize these incidents, " Ms. Moody said,

noting that the Department of Aging and Disability Services didn't become

responsible for the state schools until 2004. " They should not be portrayed

as though they happened yesterday, and no action has been taken. "

On the contrary, state health officials say, they refer every abuse

allegation to the Department of Family and Protective Services for an

investigation, and prevent all involved employees from working with

residents for the duration. Of the 3,258 allegations of abuse reported in

fiscal year 2006, 9 percent were confirmed.

" We take every suspicion of abuse so seriously; everything is reported, " Ms.

Fedorov said. " There's a zero tolerance policy. We've been openly upfront

with the Legislature about everything. "

Health officials say that staffing state schools remains a challenge, as the

nation endures a long-term nursing shortage and the schools pay entry-level

employees less than $20,000 a year. But they remain committed to conducting

drug tests, criminal background tests and intensive training for all

potential employees.

<http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/072

407dntexstateschools.a31d6b26.html>

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/0724

07dntexstateschools.a31d6b26.html

Amy A. Sosa

amy.sosa@...

Coppell, Texas

Home/Office -

Fax -

Cell -

[Guest guest]

As long as WE ALLOW legislators to fund institutions, this will happen.....

And for those housing facilities for those who truly have no choice but to live

there --- as long as the pay for the workers who truly do care is sub-standard -

that will happen.....

Basically - as long as WE ALLOW any Texan to not be as valued as they should

be - they will be treated as they shouldn't be.

It's no one's fault but ours -- we have the voice - we have the numbers -

we're just not using either in a concentrated, united, manner....

Many people are doing many good things and making much progress - but we can

do more....

Sincerely,

Guppy

Aliza Ratterree wrote:

This makes me sick to my stomach. I am wondering if there is something that

we, as private citizens, can do about this, rather than rely exclusively on DADS

or our legislators alone to make changes. We must be the watchdogs, because

apparently there just isn't enough money or common sense available in our state

or Federal government. I don't think that complaining is enough. Just a couple

of ideas:

1. Form a citizen's oversight agency to randomly conduct checks of facilities-

if we are vigilant, we make a statement that abuse and neglect won't be

tolerated.

2. As a function of this type of " agency " , enlist private sector physicians (or

doctors in residency that could possibly get CME's) to examine residents at

random.

3. Raise funds to install video (or web) cameras that cover every square inch of

every facility - or do these already exist? Knowing that you're being watched

can be a deterrant to criminal activity.

Could we put together some kind of PAC for this?

Aliza

....the test of a civilization is in the way that it cares for its helpless

members.

-Pearl S. Buck

[Texas-Autism- Advocacy] Abuse, neglect plague state schools

Abuse, neglect plague state schools

Hundreds of retarded residents are victims; officials say action taken

12:00 AM CDT on Tuesday, July 24, 2007

By EMILY RAMSHAW and AMY ROSEN / The Dallas Morning News

eramshaw@dallasnews .com and arosendallasnews (DOT) com

AUSTIN – Hundreds of residents at Texas' state schools for the mentally

retarded have suffered serious abuse and neglect at the hands of those paid

to watch over them, a Dallas Morning News review shows.

Documents released by all but three of the 12 state schools operated by the

state Department of Aging and Disability Services outline everything from

horrific physical violence and neglect to frightening verbal threats,

derogatory slurs and pranks.

Covering the last several years, they appear to confirm critics' worst

suspicion: There are problems throughout facilities for Texas' most fragile

residents, not just at the Lubbock State School, the subject of a critical

U.S. Justice Department report in December.

Also Online

Charts and Graph:

Statewide cases

(.pdf)

In one 2006 case at the Brenham State School, a nurse assistant kicked and

punched a mentally retarded resident on the bathroom floor, fracturing three

ribs and puncturing the resident's liver. In a 2000 incident at the Abilene

State School, an aide ignored a resident who was found hours later in a

trash bin, naked.

Other employees have left residents covered in feces and urine for hours,

made them eat off plates where they had vomited, and fallen asleep on the

job, waking only after residents engaged in sexual acts.

State officials say they have been addressing cases of abuse and neglect.

" In any direct-care environment, there are people who take advantage of more

vulnerable people, " said Cecilia Fedorov, a spokeswoman for the disability

services department. " Nobody looks at this and says it's no big deal. We

take it very seriously, and we continue to work to make sure operations

there are the best possible for these residents. "

Though The News received employee disciplinary records for 474 confirmed

cases of abuse or neglect since 2000, state health officials acknowledge

they've counted nearly 300 confirmed cases in each of the last two years –

about 1 for every 17 residents annually. There are close to 5,000 residents

in Texas' state schools.

Of the confirmed abuse cases The News reviewed, about 50 percent were the

result of neglect – like an employee leaving a resident scalding in an

overheated shower or leaving one behind on a public outing. Thirty percent

involved physical abuse, usually pushing, slapping or kicking to get a

resident to follow orders.

In nearly 18 percent of the cases, the state school employee was fired; 33

percent resulted in suspensions. Confirmed cases of abuse are referred to

local police departments, Ms. Fedorov said, but the agency doesn't keep

track of how many result in charges or prosecution.

Among the cases reported in the last several years:

• A resident at the Mexia State School died in January after three staff

members used inappropriate and excessive force to restrain him.

• At the San Angelo State School in 2003, two employees removed the shirt of

a female resident and threw her on the bed, slammed her against the wall and

taunted her about her past sexual abuse.

• In 2004, a resident at the El Paso State Center was found outside, covered

in feces with his pants below his buttocks, wearing only one shoe.

• A resident of the Corpus Christi State School was left crying and sweating

in a hot van in the summer of 2005 for at least half an hour. The resident

did not suffer long-term harm.

• An employee at the Abilene State School last year burned the nose and

cheek of a resident with the end of a blow-dryer.

• An employee at the Richmond State School fed jalapeño peppers to residents

in 2001 and laughed while refusing to allow them water.

• At the Lufkin State School in 2000, an employee left a plastic thermometer

cover in a resident's rectum.

• At the San Angelo State School in 2004, a group of staff members discussed

sexual activity in front of residents, encouraging the residents to look at

and touch other residents' genitalia.

• In 2003, an employee at the Lufkin State School forced a resident to walk

around the facility with socks stuffed in her mouth as punishment.

Lubbock school

The Department of Justice's Civil Rights division, which sent investigators

to the Lubbock State School in 2005, is still negotiating with state

officials to resolve the breaches at that facility. The report the

investigators released in December described a severely understaffed

facility where residents were improperly restrained and sedated, and given

insufficient medical care. Since June 2005, more than 17 residents have

died.

In one cited case, employees found a woman unresponsive but failed to

perform CPR or call for help for a half-hour. Paramedics determined she had

been dead for hours because rigor mortis had already set in. Employees had

falsified reports to indicate someone had checked on the woman.

When the Lubbock abuse was made public this spring, agency officials said

that they had addressed the problems by installing across-the-board changes

at the school, and that they were identifying areas for improvement at other

facilities. And lawmakers committed to spending nearly $49 million to hire

close to 1,700 new state school employees to address staffing ratios and

other health and training concerns.

" We did everything we could during the session to address the thrust of the

[Department of Justice] complaint, " said Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, an El Paso

Democrat who serves on the Senate's Health and Human Services Committee. " It

will take time to make the hires and see what ultimate effect these

improvements will have. "

Gov. Rick 's office cautioned against comparing the state school

system's problems to those inside the Texas Youth Commission, the

juvenile-justice agency still being overhauled after widespread sexual and

physical abuse were revealed this year.

'Zero tolerance'

spokeswoman Krista Moody said the governor stands by disability

services agency Commissioner Addie Horn, who addresses each case " decisively

and quickly. "

" It's important not to sensationalize these incidents, " Ms. Moody said,

noting that the Department of Aging and Disability Services didn't become

responsible for the state schools until 2004. " They should not be portrayed

as though they happened yesterday, and no action has been taken. "

On the contrary, state health officials say, they refer every abuse

allegation to the Department of Family and Protective Services for an

investigation, and prevent all involved employees from working with

residents for the duration. Of the 3,258 allegations of abuse reported in

fiscal year 2006, 9 percent were confirmed.

" We take every suspicion of abuse so seriously; everything is reported, " Ms.

Fedorov said. " There's a zero tolerance policy. We've been openly upfront

with the Legislature about everything. "

Health officials say that staffing state schools remains a challenge, as the

nation endures a long-term nursing shortage and the schools pay entry-level

employees less than $20,000 a year. But they remain committed to conducting

drug tests, criminal background tests and intensive training for all

potential employees.

407dntexstateschool s.a31d6b26. html>

http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ news/texassouthw est/stories/

0724

07dntexstateschools .a31d6b26. html

Amy A. Sosa

amy.sosaverizon (DOT) net

Coppell, Texas

Home/Office -

Fax -

Cell -

[Guest guest]

I would like to remind you that there were hearings a couple of years ago

about whether to close or keep the state schools open. The public input

meetings were all scheduled at around 3:00 pm in the afternoon. Somehow, I

don't remember any of these kinds of stories coming out.

My question is, where were all these people when the public hearing notices

were going out? Most of the people who showed up at the hearings were older

(60+) going on about their " retarded " children who needed to live in a place

like they were in. So where was Haseeb's mom then? Didn't she know about

the hearing? Why wasn't his story heard then?

My guess is that someone's brother-in-law is profiting on running the

institutions. So if the institution is paying about $20k - $30K/year for

attendents, where is the other $90K to $100K going? to meds? to insurance?

to building maintenance?????

I think rather than creating an oversight committee it would be more

effective to call for public input hearings about closing the state schools

and separately, introduce legislation to remove sovereign immunity when it

comes to issues regarding state insitutions. Basically the state will get

along with it as long as they can because they can.

S.

Re: Abuse, neglect plague state schools

This makes me sick to my stomach. I am wondering if there is something that

we, as private citizens, can do about this, rather than rely exclusively on

DADS or our legislators alone to make changes. We must be the watchdogs,

because apparently there just isn't enough money or common sense available

in our state or Federal government. I don't think that complaining is

enough. Just a couple of ideas:

1. Form a citizen's oversight agency to randomly conduct checks of

facilities- if we are vigilant, we make a statement that abuse and neglect

won't be tolerated.

2. As a function of this type of " agency " , enlist private sector physicians

(or doctors in residency that could possibly get CME's) to examine residents

at random.

3. Raise funds to install video (or web) cameras that cover every square

inch of every facility - or do these already exist? Knowing that you're

being watched can be a deterrant to criminal activity.

Could we put together some kind of PAC for this?

Aliza

....the test of a civilization is in the way that it cares for its helpless

members.

-Pearl S. Buck

[Texas-Autism- Advocacy] Abuse, neglect plague state schools

Abuse, neglect plague state schools

Hundreds of retarded residents are victims; officials say action taken

12:00 AM CDT on Tuesday, July 24, 2007

By EMILY RAMSHAW and AMY ROSEN / The Dallas Morning News

eramshaw@dallasnews .com and arosendallasnews (DOT) com

AUSTIN – Hundreds of residents at Texas' state schools for the mentally

retarded have suffered serious abuse and neglect at the hands of those paid

to watch over them, a Dallas Morning News review shows.

Documents released by all but three of the 12 state schools operated by the

state Department of Aging and Disability Services outline everything from

horrific physical violence and neglect to frightening verbal threats,

derogatory slurs and pranks.

Covering the last several years, they appear to confirm critics' worst

suspicion: There are problems throughout facilities for Texas' most fragile

residents, not just at the Lubbock State School, the subject of a critical

U.S. Justice Department report in December.

Also Online

Charts and Graph:

<http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ img/07-07/ 0724stateschools

..pdf>

Statewide cases

<http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ img/07-07/ 0724stateschools

..pdf>

(.pdf)

In one 2006 case at the Brenham State School, a nurse assistant kicked and

punched a mentally retarded resident on the bathroom floor, fracturing three

ribs and puncturing the resident's liver. In a 2000 incident at the Abilene

State School, an aide ignored a resident who was found hours later in a

trash bin, naked.

Other employees have left residents covered in feces and urine for hours,

made them eat off plates where they had vomited, and fallen asleep on the

job, waking only after residents engaged in sexual acts.

State officials say they have been addressing cases of abuse and neglect.

" In any direct-care environment, there are people who take advantage of more

vulnerable people, " said Cecilia Fedorov, a spokeswoman for the disability

services department. " Nobody looks at this and says it's no big deal. We

take it very seriously, and we continue to work to make sure operations

there are the best possible for these residents. "

Though The News received employee disciplinary records for 474 confirmed

cases of abuse or neglect since 2000, state health officials acknowledge

they've counted nearly 300 confirmed cases in each of the last two years –

about 1 for every 17 residents annually. There are close to 5,000 residents

in Texas' state schools.

Of the confirmed abuse cases The News reviewed, about 50 percent were the

result of neglect – like an employee leaving a resident scalding in an

overheated shower or leaving one behind on a public outing. Thirty percent

involved physical abuse, usually pushing, slapping or kicking to get a

resident to follow orders.

In nearly 18 percent of the cases, the state school employee was fired; 33

percent resulted in suspensions. Confirmed cases of abuse are referred to

local police departments, Ms. Fedorov said, but the agency doesn't keep

track of how many result in charges or prosecution.

Among the cases reported in the last several years:

• A resident at the Mexia State School died in January after three staff

members used inappropriate and excessive force to restrain him.

• At the San Angelo State School in 2003, two employees removed the shirt of

a female resident and threw her on the bed, slammed her against the wall and

taunted her about her past sexual abuse.

• In 2004, a resident at the El Paso State Center was found outside, covered

in feces with his pants below his buttocks, wearing only one shoe.

• A resident of the Corpus Christi State School was left crying and sweating

in a hot van in the summer of 2005 for at least half an hour. The resident

did not suffer long-term harm.

• An employee at the Abilene State School last year burned the nose and

cheek of a resident with the end of a blow-dryer.

• An employee at the Richmond State School fed jalapeño peppers to residents

in 2001 and laughed while refusing to allow them water.

• At the Lufkin State School in 2000, an employee left a plastic thermometer

cover in a resident's rectum.

• At the San Angelo State School in 2004, a group of staff members discussed

sexual activity in front of residents, encouraging the residents to look at

and touch other residents' genitalia.

• In 2003, an employee at the Lufkin State School forced a resident to walk

around the facility with socks stuffed in her mouth as punishment.

Lubbock school

The Department of Justice's Civil Rights division, which sent investigators

to the Lubbock State School in 2005, is still negotiating with state

officials to resolve the breaches at that facility. The report the

investigators released in December described a severely understaffed

facility where residents were improperly restrained and sedated, and given

insufficient medical care. Since June 2005, more than 17 residents have

died.

In one cited case, employees found a woman unresponsive but failed to

perform CPR or call for help for a half-hour. Paramedics determined she had

been dead for hours because rigor mortis had already set in. Employees had

falsified reports to indicate someone had checked on the woman.

When the Lubbock abuse was made public this spring, agency officials said

that they had addressed the problems by installing across-the-board changes

at the school, and that they were identifying areas for improvement at other

facilities. And lawmakers committed to spending nearly $49 million to hire

close to 1,700 new state school employees to address staffing ratios and

other health and training concerns.

" We did everything we could during the session to address the thrust of the

[Department of Justice] complaint, " said Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, an El Paso

Democrat who serves on the Senate's Health and Human Services Committee. " It

will take time to make the hires and see what ultimate effect these

improvements will have. "

Gov. Rick 's office cautioned against comparing the state school

system's problems to those inside the Texas Youth Commission, the

juvenile-justice agency still being overhauled after widespread sexual and

physical abuse were revealed this year.

'Zero tolerance'

spokeswoman Krista Moody said the governor stands by disability

services agency Commissioner Addie Horn, who addresses each case " decisively

and quickly. "

" It's important not to sensationalize these incidents, " Ms. Moody said,

noting that the Department of Aging and Disability Services didn't become

responsible for the state schools until 2004. " They should not be portrayed

as though they happened yesterday, and no action has been taken. "

On the contrary, state health officials say, they refer every abuse

allegation to the Department of Family and Protective Services for an

investigation, and prevent all involved employees from working with

residents for the duration. Of the 3,258 allegations of abuse reported in

fiscal year 2006, 9 percent were confirmed.

" We take every suspicion of abuse so seriously; everything is reported, " Ms.

Fedorov said. " There's a zero tolerance policy. We've been openly upfront

with the Legislature about everything. "

Health officials say that staffing state schools remains a challenge, as the

nation endures a long-term nursing shortage and the schools pay entry-level

employees less than $20,000 a year. But they remain committed to conducting

drug tests, criminal background tests and intensive training for all

potential employees.

<http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ news/texassouthw

est/stories/ 072

407dntexstateschool s.a31d6b26. html>

http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ news/texassouthw est/stories/

0724

07dntexstateschools .a31d6b26. html

Amy A. Sosa

<mailto:amy.sosaverizon (DOT) net> amy.sosaverizon (DOT) net

Coppell, Texas

Home/Office -

Fax -

Cell -

[Guest guest]

Where the parents like us were --- was home caring for our loved ones!

When hearings like closing the state schools or funding them at a higher level

or opening more - happen - most people who can attend those - are the parents

whose loved ones are IN them.

We - who need them closed and more funding to allow us to care for our loved

ones in the home, or in safe community living arrangements CLOSE to home -- are

too damm busy trying to survive and care for the individual - and don't have

anyone to watch our loved ones so we can GO to testify.

That's why it's SO important to be HEARD in ANY WAY that you can. Call, Fax,

Write, E-mail. Not just once to complain - but monthly to persist on your

point!

Singleton wrote:

I would like to remind you that there were hearings a couple of years

ago

about whether to close or keep the state schools open. The public input

meetings were all scheduled at around 3:00 pm in the afternoon. Somehow, I

don't remember any of these kinds of stories coming out.

My question is, where were all these people when the public hearing notices

were going out? Most of the people who showed up at the hearings were older

(60+) going on about their " retarded " children who needed to live in a place

like they were in. So where was Haseeb's mom then? Didn't she know about

the hearing? Why wasn't his story heard then?

My guess is that someone's brother-in-law is profiting on running the

institutions. So if the institution is paying about $20k - $30K/year for

attendents, where is the other $90K to $100K going? to meds? to insurance?

to building maintenance?????

I think rather than creating an oversight committee it would be more

effective to call for public input hearings about closing the state schools

and separately, introduce legislation to remove sovereign immunity when it

comes to issues regarding state insitutions. Basically the state will get

along with it as long as they can because they can.

S.

Re: Abuse, neglect plague state schools

This makes me sick to my stomach. I am wondering if there is something that

we, as private citizens, can do about this, rather than rely exclusively on

DADS or our legislators alone to make changes. We must be the watchdogs,

because apparently there just isn't enough money or common sense available

in our state or Federal government. I don't think that complaining is

enough. Just a couple of ideas:

1. Form a citizen's oversight agency to randomly conduct checks of

facilities- if we are vigilant, we make a statement that abuse and neglect

won't be tolerated.

2. As a function of this type of " agency " , enlist private sector physicians

(or doctors in residency that could possibly get CME's) to examine residents

at random.

3. Raise funds to install video (or web) cameras that cover every square

inch of every facility - or do these already exist? Knowing that you're

being watched can be a deterrant to criminal activity.

Could we put together some kind of PAC for this?

Aliza

....the test of a civilization is in the way that it cares for its helpless

members.

-Pearl S. Buck

[Texas-Autism- Advocacy] Abuse, neglect plague state schools

Abuse, neglect plague state schools

Hundreds of retarded residents are victims; officials say action taken

12:00 AM CDT on Tuesday, July 24, 2007

By EMILY RAMSHAW and AMY ROSEN / The Dallas Morning News

eramshaw@dallasnews .com and arosendallasnews (DOT) com

AUSTIN – Hundreds of residents at Texas' state schools for the mentally

retarded have suffered serious abuse and neglect at the hands of those paid

to watch over them, a Dallas Morning News review shows.

Documents released by all but three of the 12 state schools operated by the

state Department of Aging and Disability Services outline everything from

horrific physical violence and neglect to frightening verbal threats,

derogatory slurs and pranks.

Covering the last several years, they appear to confirm critics' worst

suspicion: There are problems throughout facilities for Texas' most fragile

residents, not just at the Lubbock State School, the subject of a critical

U.S. Justice Department report in December.

Also Online

Charts and Graph:

<http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ img/07-07/ 0724stateschools

..pdf>

Statewide cases

<http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ img/07-07/ 0724stateschools

..pdf>

(.pdf)

In one 2006 case at the Brenham State School, a nurse assistant kicked and

punched a mentally retarded resident on the bathroom floor, fracturing three

ribs and puncturing the resident's liver. In a 2000 incident at the Abilene

State School, an aide ignored a resident who was found hours later in a

trash bin, naked.

Other employees have left residents covered in feces and urine for hours,

made them eat off plates where they had vomited, and fallen asleep on the

job, waking only after residents engaged in sexual acts.

State officials say they have been addressing cases of abuse and neglect.

" In any direct-care environment, there are people who take advantage of more

vulnerable people, " said Cecilia Fedorov, a spokeswoman for the disability

services department. " Nobody looks at this and says it's no big deal. We

take it very seriously, and we continue to work to make sure operations

there are the best possible for these residents. "

Though The News received employee disciplinary records for 474 confirmed

cases of abuse or neglect since 2000, state health officials acknowledge

they've counted nearly 300 confirmed cases in each of the last two years –

about 1 for every 17 residents annually. There are close to 5,000 residents

in Texas' state schools.

Of the confirmed abuse cases The News reviewed, about 50 percent were the

result of neglect – like an employee leaving a resident scalding in an

overheated shower or leaving one behind on a public outing. Thirty percent

involved physical abuse, usually pushing, slapping or kicking to get a

resident to follow orders.

In nearly 18 percent of the cases, the state school employee was fired; 33

percent resulted in suspensions. Confirmed cases of abuse are referred to

local police departments, Ms. Fedorov said, but the agency doesn't keep

track of how many result in charges or prosecution.

Among the cases reported in the last several years:

• A resident at the Mexia State School died in January after three staff

members used inappropriate and excessive force to restrain him.

• At the San Angelo State School in 2003, two employees removed the shirt of

a female resident and threw her on the bed, slammed her against the wall and

taunted her about her past sexual abuse.

• In 2004, a resident at the El Paso State Center was found outside, covered

in feces with his pants below his buttocks, wearing only one shoe.

• A resident of the Corpus Christi State School was left crying and sweating

in a hot van in the summer of 2005 for at least half an hour. The resident

did not suffer long-term harm.

• An employee at the Abilene State School last year burned the nose and

cheek of a resident with the end of a blow-dryer.

• An employee at the Richmond State School fed jalapeño peppers to residents

in 2001 and laughed while refusing to allow them water.

• At the Lufkin State School in 2000, an employee left a plastic thermometer

cover in a resident's rectum.

• At the San Angelo State School in 2004, a group of staff members discussed

sexual activity in front of residents, encouraging the residents to look at

and touch other residents' genitalia.

• In 2003, an employee at the Lufkin State School forced a resident to walk

around the facility with socks stuffed in her mouth as punishment.

Lubbock school

The Department of Justice's Civil Rights division, which sent investigators

to the Lubbock State School in 2005, is still negotiating with state

officials to resolve the breaches at that facility. The report the

investigators released in December described a severely understaffed

facility where residents were improperly restrained and sedated, and given

insufficient medical care. Since June 2005, more than 17 residents have

died.

In one cited case, employees found a woman unresponsive but failed to

perform CPR or call for help for a half-hour. Paramedics determined she had

been dead for hours because rigor mortis had already set in. Employees had

falsified reports to indicate someone had checked on the woman.

When the Lubbock abuse was made public this spring, agency officials said

that they had addressed the problems by installing across-the-board changes

at the school, and that they were identifying areas for improvement at other

facilities. And lawmakers committed to spending nearly $49 million to hire

close to 1,700 new state school employees to address staffing ratios and

other health and training concerns.

" We did everything we could during the session to address the thrust of the

[Department of Justice] complaint, " said Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, an El Paso

Democrat who serves on the Senate's Health and Human Services Committee. " It

will take time to make the hires and see what ultimate effect these

improvements will have. "

Gov. Rick 's office cautioned against comparing the state school

system's problems to those inside the Texas Youth Commission, the

juvenile-justice agency still being overhauled after widespread sexual and

physical abuse were revealed this year.

'Zero tolerance'

spokeswoman Krista Moody said the governor stands by disability

services agency Commissioner Addie Horn, who addresses each case " decisively

and quickly. "

" It's important not to sensationalize these incidents, " Ms. Moody said,

noting that the Department of Aging and Disability Services didn't become

responsible for the state schools until 2004. " They should not be portrayed

as though they happened yesterday, and no action has been taken. "

On the contrary, state health officials say, they refer every abuse

allegation to the Department of Family and Protective Services for an

investigation, and prevent all involved employees from working with

residents for the duration. Of the 3,258 allegations of abuse reported in

fiscal year 2006, 9 percent were confirmed.

" We take every suspicion of abuse so seriously; everything is reported, " Ms.

Fedorov said. " There's a zero tolerance policy. We've been openly upfront

with the Legislature about everything. "

Health officials say that staffing state schools remains a challenge, as the

nation endures a long-term nursing shortage and the schools pay entry-level

employees less than $20,000 a year. But they remain committed to conducting

drug tests, criminal background tests and intensive training for all

potential employees.

<http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ news/texassouthw

est/stories/ 072

407dntexstateschool s.a31d6b26. html>

http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ news/texassouthw est/stories/

0724

07dntexstateschools .a31d6b26. html

Amy A. Sosa

<mailto:amy.sosaverizon (DOT) net> amy.sosaverizon (DOT) net

Coppell, Texas

Home/Office -

Fax -

Cell -

[Guest guest]

It's heartbreaking, frightening, and inexcusable.

Aliza, those are some great ideas. I wonder if we should be looking at

organizations like CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) or " Child

Advocates " , as it's known in Houston. These groups advocate for children in

the foster care system.

I think what makes Child Advocates so effective is that volunteers are

assigned to individual children and really get to know them and their

situations. They are not social workers with huge caseloads and they are

not professional bureaucrats.

I don't know if there is something equivalent for disabled adults, but if

there is, would somebody please tell me what organization that is???

Geraldine

Re: Abuse, neglect plague state schools

This makes me sick to my stomach. I am wondering if there is something that

we, as private citizens, can do about this, rather than rely exclusively on

DADS or our legislators alone to make changes. We must be the watchdogs,

because apparently there just isn't enough money or common sense available

in our state or Federal government. I don't think that complaining is

enough. Just a couple of ideas:

1. Form a citizen's oversight agency to randomly conduct checks of

facilities- if we are vigilant, we make a statement that abuse and neglect

won't be tolerated.

2. As a function of this type of " agency " , enlist private sector physicians

(or doctors in residency that could possibly get CME's) to examine residents

at random.

3. Raise funds to install video (or web) cameras that cover every square

inch of every facility - or do these already exist? Knowing that you're

being watched can be a deterrant to criminal activity.

Could we put together some kind of PAC for this?

Aliza

....the test of a civilization is in the way that it cares for its helpless

members.

-Pearl S. Buck

[Texas-Autism- Advocacy] Abuse, neglect plague state schools

Abuse, neglect plague state schools

Hundreds of retarded residents are victims; officials say action taken

12:00 AM CDT on Tuesday, July 24, 2007

By EMILY RAMSHAW and AMY ROSEN / The Dallas Morning News

eramshaw@dallasnews .com and arosendallasnews (DOT) com

AUSTIN – Hundreds of residents at Texas' state schools for the mentally

retarded have suffered serious abuse and neglect at the hands of those paid

to watch over them, a Dallas Morning News review shows.

Documents released by all but three of the 12 state schools operated by the

state Department of Aging and Disability Services outline everything from

horrific physical violence and neglect to frightening verbal threats,

derogatory slurs and pranks.

Covering the last several years, they appear to confirm critics' worst

suspicion: There are problems throughout facilities for Texas' most fragile

residents, not just at the Lubbock State School, the subject of a critical

U.S. Justice Department report in December.

Also Online

Charts and Graph:

<http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ img/07-07/ 0724stateschools

..pdf>

Statewide cases

<http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ img/07-07/ 0724stateschools

..pdf>

(.pdf)

In one 2006 case at the Brenham State School, a nurse assistant kicked and

punched a mentally retarded resident on the bathroom floor, fracturing three

ribs and puncturing the resident's liver. In a 2000 incident at the Abilene

State School, an aide ignored a resident who was found hours later in a

trash bin, naked.

Other employees have left residents covered in feces and urine for hours,

made them eat off plates where they had vomited, and fallen asleep on the

job, waking only after residents engaged in sexual acts.

State officials say they have been addressing cases of abuse and neglect.

" In any direct-care environment, there are people who take advantage of more

vulnerable people, " said Cecilia Fedorov, a spokeswoman for the disability

services department. " Nobody looks at this and says it's no big deal. We

take it very seriously, and we continue to work to make sure operations

there are the best possible for these residents. "

Though The News received employee disciplinary records for 474 confirmed

cases of abuse or neglect since 2000, state health officials acknowledge

they've counted nearly 300 confirmed cases in each of the last two years –

about 1 for every 17 residents annually. There are close to 5,000 residents

in Texas' state schools.

Of the confirmed abuse cases The News reviewed, about 50 percent were the

result of neglect – like an employee leaving a resident scalding in an

overheated shower or leaving one behind on a public outing. Thirty percent

involved physical abuse, usually pushing, slapping or kicking to get a

resident to follow orders.

In nearly 18 percent of the cases, the state school employee was fired; 33

percent resulted in suspensions. Confirmed cases of abuse are referred to

local police departments, Ms. Fedorov said, but the agency doesn't keep

track of how many result in charges or prosecution.

Among the cases reported in the last several years:

• A resident at the Mexia State School died in January after three staff

members used inappropriate and excessive force to restrain him.

• At the San Angelo State School in 2003, two employees removed the shirt of

a female resident and threw her on the bed, slammed her against the wall and

taunted her about her past sexual abuse.

• In 2004, a resident at the El Paso State Center was found outside, covered

in feces with his pants below his buttocks, wearing only one shoe.

• A resident of the Corpus Christi State School was left crying and sweating

in a hot van in the summer of 2005 for at least half an hour. The resident

did not suffer long-term harm.

• An employee at the Abilene State School last year burned the nose and

cheek of a resident with the end of a blow-dryer.

• An employee at the Richmond State School fed jalapeño peppers to residents

in 2001 and laughed while refusing to allow them water.

• At the Lufkin State School in 2000, an employee left a plastic thermometer

cover in a resident's rectum.

• At the San Angelo State School in 2004, a group of staff members discussed

sexual activity in front of residents, encouraging the residents to look at

and touch other residents' genitalia.

• In 2003, an employee at the Lufkin State School forced a resident to walk

around the facility with socks stuffed in her mouth as punishment.

Lubbock school

The Department of Justice's Civil Rights division, which sent investigators

to the Lubbock State School in 2005, is still negotiating with state

officials to resolve the breaches at that facility. The report the

investigators released in December described a severely understaffed

facility where residents were improperly restrained and sedated, and given

insufficient medical care. Since June 2005, more than 17 residents have

died.

In one cited case, employees found a woman unresponsive but failed to

perform CPR or call for help for a half-hour. Paramedics determined she had

been dead for hours because rigor mortis had already set in. Employees had

falsified reports to indicate someone had checked on the woman.

When the Lubbock abuse was made public this spring, agency officials said

that they had addressed the problems by installing across-the-board changes

at the school, and that they were identifying areas for improvement at other

facilities. And lawmakers committed to spending nearly $49 million to hire

close to 1,700 new state school employees to address staffing ratios and

other health and training concerns.

" We did everything we could during the session to address the thrust of the

[Department of Justice] complaint, " said Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, an El Paso

Democrat who serves on the Senate's Health and Human Services Committee. " It

will take time to make the hires and see what ultimate effect these

improvements will have. "

Gov. Rick 's office cautioned against comparing the state school

system's problems to those inside the Texas Youth Commission, the

juvenile-justice agency still being overhauled after widespread sexual and

physical abuse were revealed this year.

'Zero tolerance'

spokeswoman Krista Moody said the governor stands by disability

services agency Commissioner Addie Horn, who addresses each case " decisively

and quickly. "

" It's important not to sensationalize these incidents, " Ms. Moody said,

noting that the Department of Aging and Disability Services didn't become

responsible for the state schools until 2004. " They should not be portrayed

as though they happened yesterday, and no action has been taken. "

On the contrary, state health officials say, they refer every abuse

allegation to the Department of Family and Protective Services for an

investigation, and prevent all involved employees from working with

residents for the duration. Of the 3,258 allegations of abuse reported in

fiscal year 2006, 9 percent were confirmed.

" We take every suspicion of abuse so seriously; everything is reported, " Ms.

Fedorov said. " There's a zero tolerance policy. We've been openly upfront

with the Legislature about everything. "

Health officials say that staffing state schools remains a challenge, as the

nation endures a long-term nursing shortage and the schools pay entry-level

employees less than $20,000 a year. But they remain committed to conducting

drug tests, criminal background tests and intensive training for all

potential employees.

<http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ news/texassouthw

est/stories/ 072

407dntexstateschool s.a31d6b26. html>

http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ news/texassouthw est/stories/

0724

07dntexstateschools .a31d6b26. html

Amy A. Sosa

<mailto:amy.sosaverizon (DOT) net> amy.sosaverizon (DOT) net

Coppell, Texas

Home/Office -

Fax -

Cell -

[Guest guest]

Geraldine, that's a great suggestion. Maybe we can contact CASA and see if

there is a similar program for children AND adults in residential placement, and

if not, one can be developed. I would be willing to donate my time for this

kind of an effort.

I understand that there are people that don't believe that places like state

schools should even be open, but for some families there may be no other option.

As long as they do operate, they should have close oversight.

....the test of a civilization is in the way that it cares for its helpless

members.

-Pearl S. Buck

[Texas-Autism- Advocacy] Abuse, neglect plague state schools

Abuse, neglect plague state schools

Hundreds of retarded residents are victims; officials say action taken

12:00 AM CDT on Tuesday, July 24, 2007

By EMILY RAMSHAW and AMY ROSEN / The Dallas Morning News

eramshaw@dallasnews .com and arosendallasnews (DOT) com

AUSTIN – Hundreds of residents at Texas' state schools for the mentally

retarded have suffered serious abuse and neglect at the hands of those paid

to watch over them, a Dallas Morning News review shows.

Documents released by all but three of the 12 state schools operated by the

state Department of Aging and Disability Services outline everything from

horrific physical violence and neglect to frightening verbal threats,

derogatory slurs and pranks.

Covering the last several years, they appear to confirm critics' worst

suspicion: There are problems throughout facilities for Texas' most fragile

residents, not just at the Lubbock State School, the subject of a critical

U.S. Justice Department report in December.

Also Online

Charts and Graph:

<http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ img/07-07/ 0724stateschools

..pdf>

Statewide cases

<http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ img/07-07/ 0724stateschools

..pdf>

(.pdf)

In one 2006 case at the Brenham State School, a nurse assistant kicked and

punched a mentally retarded resident on the bathroom floor, fracturing three

ribs and puncturing the resident's liver. In a 2000 incident at the Abilene

State School, an aide ignored a resident who was found hours later in a

trash bin, naked.

Other employees have left residents covered in feces and urine for hours,

made them eat off plates where they had vomited, and fallen asleep on the

job, waking only after residents engaged in sexual acts.

State officials say they have been addressing cases of abuse and neglect.

" In any direct-care environment, there are people who take advantage of more

vulnerable people, " said Cecilia Fedorov, a spokeswoman for the disability

services department. " Nobody looks at this and says it's no big deal. We

take it very seriously, and we continue to work to make sure operations

there are the best possible for these residents. "

Though The News received employee disciplinary records for 474 confirmed

cases of abuse or neglect since 2000, state health officials acknowledge

they've counted nearly 300 confirmed cases in each of the last two years –

about 1 for every 17 residents annually. There are close to 5,000 residents

in Texas' state schools.

Of the confirmed abuse cases The News reviewed, about 50 percent were the

result of neglect – like an employee leaving a resident scalding in an

overheated shower or leaving one behind on a public outing. Thirty percent

involved physical abuse, usually pushing, slapping or kicking to get a

resident to follow orders.

In nearly 18 percent of the cases, the state school employee was fired; 33

percent resulted in suspensions. Confirmed cases of abuse are referred to

local police departments, Ms. Fedorov said, but the agency doesn't keep

track of how many result in charges or prosecution.

Among the cases reported in the last several years:

• A resident at the Mexia State School died in January after three staff

members used inappropriate and excessive force to restrain him.

• At the San Angelo State School in 2003, two employees removed the shirt of

a female resident and threw her on the bed, slammed her against the wall and

taunted her about her past sexual abuse.

• In 2004, a resident at the El Paso State Center was found outside, covered

in feces with his pants below his buttocks, wearing only one shoe.

• A resident of the Corpus Christi State School was left crying and sweating

in a hot van in the summer of 2005 for at least half an hour. The resident

did not suffer long-term harm.

• An employee at the Abilene State School last year burned the nose and

cheek of a resident with the end of a blow-dryer.

• An employee at the Richmond State School fed jalapeño peppers to residents

in 2001 and laughed while refusing to allow them water.

• At the Lufkin State School in 2000, an employee left a plastic thermometer

cover in a resident's rectum.

• At the San Angelo State School in 2004, a group of staff members discussed

sexual activity in front of residents, encouraging the residents to look at

and touch other residents' genitalia.

• In 2003, an employee at the Lufkin State School forced a resident to walk

around the facility with socks stuffed in her mouth as punishment.

Lubbock school

The Department of Justice's Civil Rights division, which sent investigators

to the Lubbock State School in 2005, is still negotiating with state

officials to resolve the breaches at that facility. The report the

investigators released in December described a severely understaffed

facility where residents were improperly restrained and sedated, and given

insufficient medical care. Since June 2005, more than 17 residents have

died.

In one cited case, employees found a woman unresponsive but failed to

perform CPR or call for help for a half-hour. Paramedics determined she had

been dead for hours because rigor mortis had already set in. Employees had

falsified reports to indicate someone had checked on the woman.

When the Lubbock abuse was made public this spring, agency officials said

that they had addressed the problems by installing across-the-board changes

at the school, and that they were identifying areas for improvement at other

facilities. And lawmakers committed to spending nearly $49 million to hire

close to 1,700 new state school employees to address staffing ratios and

other health and training concerns.

" We did everything we could during the session to address the thrust of the

[Department of Justice] complaint, " said Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, an El Paso

Democrat who serves on the Senate's Health and Human Services Committee. " It

will take time to make the hires and see what ultimate effect these

improvements will have. "

Gov. Rick 's office cautioned against comparing the state school

system's problems to those inside the Texas Youth Commission, the

juvenile-justice agency still being overhauled after widespread sexual and

physical abuse were revealed this year.

'Zero tolerance'

spokeswoman Krista Moody said the governor stands by disability

services agency Commissioner Addie Horn, who addresses each case " decisively

and quickly. "

" It's important not to sensationalize these incidents, " Ms. Moody said,

noting that the Department of Aging and Disability Services didn't become

responsible for the state schools until 2004. " They should not be portrayed

as though they happened yesterday, and no action has been taken. "

On the contrary, state health officials say, they refer every abuse

allegation to the Department of Family and Protective Services for an

investigation, and prevent all involved employees from working with

residents for the duration. Of the 3,258 allegations of abuse reported in

fiscal year 2006, 9 percent were confirmed.

" We take every suspicion of abuse so seriously; everything is reported, " Ms.

Fedorov said. " There's a zero tolerance policy. We've been openly upfront

with the Legislature about everything. "

Health officials say that staffing state schools remains a challenge, as the

nation endures a long-term nursing shortage and the schools pay entry-level

employees less than $20,000 a year. But they remain committed to conducting

drug tests, criminal background tests and intensive training for all

potential employees.

<http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ news/texassouthw

est/stories/ 072

407dntexstateschool s.a31d6b26. html>

http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ news/texassouthw est/stories/

0724

07dntexstateschools .a31d6b26. html

Amy A. Sosa

<mailto:amy. sosaverizon (DOT) net> amy.sosaverizon (DOT) net

Coppell, Texas

Home/Office -

Fax -

Cell -

[Guest guest]

Actually Geraldine, there is a concept called " microboards " were a group of

people support a person with a disability as an adult much in the way and

IEP

team is supposed to support a child with a disability in school.

Family to Family is having a presentation on microboards in August. I've

misplaced

my notice for it, but Carol may be passing it along to the FEATHouston list.

Re: Abuse, neglect plague state schools

Geraldine, that's a great suggestion. Maybe we can contact CASA and see if

there is a similar program for children AND adults in residential placement,

and if not, one can be developed. I would be willing to donate my time for

this kind of an effort.

I understand that there are people that don't believe that places like state

schools should even be open, but for some families there may be no other

option. As long as they do operate, they should have close oversight.

....the test of a civilization is in the way that it cares for its helpless

members.

-Pearl S. Buck

[Texas-Autism- Advocacy] Abuse, neglect plague state schools

Abuse, neglect plague state schools

Hundreds of retarded residents are victims; officials say action taken

12:00 AM CDT on Tuesday, July 24, 2007

By EMILY RAMSHAW and AMY ROSEN / The Dallas Morning News

eramshaw@dallasnews .com and arosendallasnews (DOT) com

AUSTIN – Hundreds of residents at Texas' state schools for the mentally

retarded have suffered serious abuse and neglect at the hands of those paid

to watch over them, a Dallas Morning News review shows.

Documents released by all but three of the 12 state schools operated by the

state Department of Aging and Disability Services outline everything from

horrific physical violence and neglect to frightening verbal threats,

derogatory slurs and pranks.

Covering the last several years, they appear to confirm critics' worst

suspicion: There are problems throughout facilities for Texas' most fragile

residents, not just at the Lubbock State School, the subject of a critical

U.S. Justice Department report in December.

Also Online

Charts and Graph:

<http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ img/07-07/ 0724stateschools

..pdf>

Statewide cases

<http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ img/07-07/ 0724stateschools

..pdf>

(.pdf)

In one 2006 case at the Brenham State School, a nurse assistant kicked and

punched a mentally retarded resident on the bathroom floor, fracturing three

ribs and puncturing the resident's liver. In a 2000 incident at the Abilene

State School, an aide ignored a resident who was found hours later in a

trash bin, naked.

Other employees have left residents covered in feces and urine for hours,

made them eat off plates where they had vomited, and fallen asleep on the

job, waking only after residents engaged in sexual acts.

State officials say they have been addressing cases of abuse and neglect.

" In any direct-care environment, there are people who take advantage of more

vulnerable people, " said Cecilia Fedorov, a spokeswoman for the disability

services department. " Nobody looks at this and says it's no big deal. We

take it very seriously, and we continue to work to make sure operations

there are the best possible for these residents. "

Though The News received employee disciplinary records for 474 confirmed

cases of abuse or neglect since 2000, state health officials acknowledge

they've counted nearly 300 confirmed cases in each of the last two years –

about 1 for every 17 residents annually. There are close to 5,000 residents

in Texas' state schools.

Of the confirmed abuse cases The News reviewed, about 50 percent were the

result of neglect – like an employee leaving a resident scalding in an

overheated shower or leaving one behind on a public outing. Thirty percent

involved physical abuse, usually pushing, slapping or kicking to get a

resident to follow orders.

In nearly 18 percent of the cases, the state school employee was fired; 33

percent resulted in suspensions. Confirmed cases of abuse are referred to

local police departments, Ms. Fedorov said, but the agency doesn't keep

track of how many result in charges or prosecution.

Among the cases reported in the last several years:

• A resident at the Mexia State School died in January after three staff

members used inappropriate and excessive force to restrain him.

• At the San Angelo State School in 2003, two employees removed the shirt of

a female resident and threw her on the bed, slammed her against the wall and

taunted her about her past sexual abuse.

• In 2004, a resident at the El Paso State Center was found outside, covered

in feces with his pants below his buttocks, wearing only one shoe.

• A resident of the Corpus Christi State School was left crying and sweating

in a hot van in the summer of 2005 for at least half an hour. The resident

did not suffer long-term harm.

• An employee at the Abilene State School last year burned the nose and

cheek of a resident with the end of a blow-dryer.

• An employee at the Richmond State School fed jalapeño peppers to residents

in 2001 and laughed while refusing to allow them water.

• At the Lufkin State School in 2000, an employee left a plastic thermometer

cover in a resident's rectum.

• At the San Angelo State School in 2004, a group of staff members discussed

sexual activity in front of residents, encouraging the residents to look at

and touch other residents' genitalia.

• In 2003, an employee at the Lufkin State School forced a resident to walk

around the facility with socks stuffed in her mouth as punishment.

Lubbock school

The Department of Justice's Civil Rights division, which sent investigators

to the Lubbock State School in 2005, is still negotiating with state

officials to resolve the breaches at that facility. The report the

investigators released in December described a severely understaffed

facility where residents were improperly restrained and sedated, and given

insufficient medical care. Since June 2005, more than 17 residents have

died.

In one cited case, employees found a woman unresponsive but failed to

perform CPR or call for help for a half-hour. Paramedics determined she had

been dead for hours because rigor mortis had already set in. Employees had

falsified reports to indicate someone had checked on the woman.

When the Lubbock abuse was made public this spring, agency officials said

that they had addressed the problems by installing across-the-board changes

at the school, and that they were identifying areas for improvement at other

facilities. And lawmakers committed to spending nearly $49 million to hire

close to 1,700 new state school employees to address staffing ratios and

other health and training concerns.

" We did everything we could during the session to address the thrust of the

[Department of Justice] complaint, " said Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, an El Paso

Democrat who serves on the Senate's Health and Human Services Committee. " It

will take time to make the hires and see what ultimate effect these

improvements will have. "

Gov. Rick 's office cautioned against comparing the state school

system's problems to those inside the Texas Youth Commission, the

juvenile-justice agency still being overhauled after widespread sexual and

physical abuse were revealed this year.

'Zero tolerance'

spokeswoman Krista Moody said the governor stands by disability

services agency Commissioner Addie Horn, who addresses each case " decisively

and quickly. "

" It's important not to sensationalize these incidents, " Ms. Moody said,

noting that the Department of Aging and Disability Services didn't become

responsible for the state schools until 2004. " They should not be portrayed

as though they happened yesterday, and no action has been taken. "

On the contrary, state health officials say, they refer every abuse

allegation to the Department of Family and Protective Services for an

investigation, and prevent all involved employees from working with

residents for the duration. Of the 3,258 allegations of abuse reported in

fiscal year 2006, 9 percent were confirmed.

" We take every suspicion of abuse so seriously; everything is reported, " Ms.

Fedorov said. " There's a zero tolerance policy. We've been openly upfront

with the Legislature about everything. "

Health officials say that staffing state schools remains a challenge, as the

nation endures a long-term nursing shortage and the schools pay entry-level

employees less than $20,000 a year. But they remain committed to conducting

drug tests, criminal background tests and intensive training for all

potential employees.

<http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ news/texassouthw

est/stories/ 072

407dntexstateschool s.a31d6b26. html>

http://www.dallasne ws.com/sharedcon tent/dws/ news/texassouthw est/stories/

0724

07dntexstateschools .a31d6b26. html

Amy A. Sosa

<mailto:amy. sosaverizon (DOT) net> amy.sosaverizon (DOT) net

Coppell, Texas

Home/Office -

Fax -

Cell -