ABUSE AND NEGLECT

Many developmentally disabled kids can't talk and tell you what is happening to them.  Abuse can be very hard to detect.  Responsible parties such as staff and assistants downplay bruises as self-inflicted and investigations often go nowhere with results as “unsubstantiated”. 

It is very easy to cover up these cases because the victim can not speak nor communicate what happened to them.  If they can communicate, often they are not believed due to some extent of mental impairment or distortion of reality.

Cameras should be placed in schools and work programs to monitor any aggression toward disabled victims.

Group Homes do not allow cameras as an invasion of privacy, but if there is cause for concern or suspicion, it should be allowed.

Training should be enforced to encourage any staff working with the disabled population to relieve themselves from the situation if they feel they are too stressed to handle what is happening at the moment. 

The excuse for this not happening is that there is often a shortage of staff for this population of disabled clients.  The workers are often told to make the best of the situation and often it will take time to get relief. 

The schools and facilities should have an alternate plan in place if the worker, Teacher, or Assistant can not handle the stressful situation.

From DHS NJ:  New! The Stephen Komninos’ Law

The Stephen Komninos’ Law was enacted in 2017 and strengthens protections for participants of any New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) funded, licensed or regulated program for adults with developmental disabilities, including State developmental centers and community programs. The law recognizes the important role of guardians and family members in the lives of adults with developmental disabilities and establishes greater communication links between providers and guardians. Effective May 1, 2018, every person who is employed by or volunteering in any DHS-funded, licensed or regulated program serving adults with developmental disabilities is subject to the requirements of this law.

Bill A3922 Requires Training of Certain Staff and Health Care Professionals for the Developmentally Disabled

Bill A3922 is before the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee. 

It is important that it goes through immediately.

It may not be enough to stop injustices to the Developmentally Disabled, but it is a beginning.

Hopefully this is not too little too late for this fragile population.

SYNOPSIS

     Requires training of certain staff and health care professionals in interacting with individuals with developmental disabilities.

----------------------------------------------------------

I have been writing Senators and Assemblymen to push this through.

This is October 2017.  We have taken a step back in time by at least 75 years or so.

True scenario:  A doctor in a North NJ Hospital walks into the room of a developmentally disabled patient getting ready for Surgery and says, “Oh, he’s retarded!” 

Another Doctor states, “He’s retarded and doesn’t need anesthesia for the surgery”.

The disabled person takes laxatives to prepare for surgery and has diarrhea and vomiting.  The staff says in front of them, “I’m not paid enough to clean this up”.

Many of these kids they refer to as "retarded" are Autistic and have dual diagnoses.  Many don't talk.  But, most of them understand the spoken word, regardless of their lack of speech and communication.  All of them feel pain, often more so then the normal population.  They all have social inadequacies resulting in a lack of being able to care for themselves.

The disabled person, like many now, are their own guardian.  They are too incapacitated to agree to surgery.  While the doctor waits and the disabled person agonizes in pain, a parent has to be called as a last resort.  A parent who placed the child, left the State, and has had no contact for years.  The Hospital would not allow the staff to have any say in the matter, even though they are high level professionals, clinicians, and social workers from the placement, and who know the disabled person best on a daily basis.

This has got to STOP !

I requested that the staff of Hospitals and the Doctor’s have the same level of training as the State and County Police.

Pass Bill A392

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2016/Bills/A4000/3922_I1.HTM