Articles
(Abuse of people with I/DD occurs throughout the country, including in our own communities...)
NY Mum on Thousands of Reports of Disabled Abuse
The agency established last year to protect the disabled in state-funded institutions has received nearly 25,000 reports of significant incidents, abuse, neglect and deaths in its first six months, though the public knows little about how many of those reports led to prosecutions, arrests and firings. Data recently obtained by The Associated Press under New York's Freedom of Information Law show more than 42,000 hotline reports from June 30 through early December, including 14,747 significant incidents that can include injuries, 7,506 claims of abuse and neglect and 1,904 deaths. NEW YORK (Albany), SF Gate, February 11, 2014
Man Arrested for Abuse, Adult Autistic Son Malnourished
A Nevada man was arrested by Hurricane Police Thursday for alleged abuse of his 22-year-old autistic son, and on Friday the Washington County Attorney's office initiated prosecution bringing the charge before the Fifth District Court in St. George. Covington's 22-year-old son is autistic and unable to care for himself, relying upon his father and other trusted adults to do so, the probable cause statement filed in connection with the arrest stated. UTAH (St. George), St. George Utah, February 7, 2014
Woman Convinces Disabled Man to Give her $27K, and it's Legal
The FOX6 Investigators were recently contacted by a Milwaukee mom at her wits end, trying to protect her disabled son from financial ruin. The woman estimates her 45-year-old son who has cerebral palsy has given away nearly $27,000 in personal checks and cash since 2011. She says most of that money has gone to a Milwaukee woman named Carmen Lacey, who is a home healthcare worker. WISCONSIN (Milwaukee), FOX 6 NOW, February 6, 2014
Man Sentenced for Sexually Assaulting Intellectually Disabled Quadriplegic
A Clay County judge on Monday sentenced a Barnesville man to four years and six months in prison for sexually assaulting a ... --- Brainerd Daily Dispatch --- January 28, 2014 (MINNESOTA)
Teens Arrested after Allegedly Posting Photo of Special-need Student Using Bathroom
One South Aiken High School student and one former student were detained after allegedly taking a picture of a special needs student while he used ... --- Aiken Standard --- February 5, 2014 (SOUTH CAROLINA)
Therapist Accused of Sexually Abusing 2 Girls
A licensed family therapist who works with children on the autism spectrum was charged Monday with six counts of sexual abuse of a child. --- ksl.com --- January 27, 2014 (UTAH)
Man Accused of Impregnating 13-year-old Girl with Autism
A man accused of impregnating a 13-year-old girl with autism has been arrested. Justin Matthew Vance, 28, was arrested Monday night and ... --- WSAZ-TV --- February 4, 2014 (WEST VIRGINIA)
Hamptons Group Home Workers Allegedly Ran 'Developmentally Disabled Fight Club'
Four workers at a group home allegedly encouraged a person with developmental disabilities to attack another disabled person on Long Island, prosecutors said. The four defendants have been charged with endangering the welfare of a disabled person, and have been fired from their jobs. NEW YORK (Long Island), CBS New York, February 6, 2014
Police Called to Arlington Heights Residence 7 Times
Seven times since April 2012 police went to the Arlington Heights home of a man and his girlfriend accused of using baseball bats to discipline his mentally challenged 25-year-old grandson. Jimmie Peterson, 68, and Michelle Thompson, 61, admitted to investigators that they beat Cherron Peterson with belts and bats, withheld food, and taped him to a wooden chair and locked him in a third-floor storage room, according to a criminal complaint. PENNSYLVANIA (Arlington Heights), Trib LIVE, February 4, 2014
Judge Drops Charges Against Teacher Accused of Abuse
A Fulton County judge has granted immunity to a former special education teacher accused of abusing students, but late Tuesday, the Fulton County District Attorney said he's already filed an appeal. GEORGIA, Feb 5
Deputy Arrested on Charge of Exploitation of Adult Dependent
A deputy with the Marion County Sheriff's Office was arrested on an exploitation charge Thursday afternoon. "The warrant was issued for acts or omissions allegedly occurring between 2005 and 2007, and involved an alleged endangered adult," a spokeswoman with the Marion County Sheriff's. INDIANA (Indianapolis), RTV 6, January 23, 2014
Perfect Prey: Elderly, Sick Easy Targets for Abusive Caregivers
In Philadelphia alone, there are more than 73,000 residents with disabilities so severe that they require someone else to manage their annual Social Security benefits. The benefits are supposed to pay for food, shelter and personal necessities. But for those who prey on the helpless, it is a lucrative enterprise that holds little chance of getting caught the author states. PENNSYLVANIA (Philadelphia), Philly.com, January 22, 2014
Woman Accused of Throwing Hot Water on Disabled Man at Special Needs Facility
Photographs from the Lake County Sheriff's Office show the bandaged up burns of a 21-year-old man under the care of Carlton Palms in Mount Dora, a residential facility for special needs youth and adults. Deputies say an employee at the facility allegedly caused the burns on the victim. FLORIDA (Mount Dora), My Fox Orlando, January 21, 2014
Richmond Woman Pleads Guilty to Abusing Disabled Adult, Child
A Richmond woman charged with battering a disabled adult female and the victim's child pleaded guilty Tuesday in Wayne County Superior Court III, court documents indicate. Karen S. Ward, 59, who has been free on bond since an initial hearing in the case in October 2013, is accused of having for a period of time, beaten and abused a mentally disabled adult female who lived with Ward. INDIANA (Richmond), Pal-item, January 23, 2014
Mom Says 4th Grade Special Needs Son Abused by Teacher's Aide at ...
Andrew Salazar is a 4th grade special-needs student with down syndrome at Christa McAuliffe Elementary. On January 15th, shortly before the bell ... --- KERO-TV 23 --- January 17, 2014 (CALIFORNIA)
Catonsville Woman Indicted in Abuse of Disabled Resident
A Catonsville woman was indicted for abuse and neglect in the case of a developmentally disabled resident reportedly left in a hot vehicle in July, State Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced Friday. The temperature that day was in the 80s. MARYLAND (Catonsville), Catonsville Patch, January 17, 2014
Number of Deaths Double for People in State Care
The Murfreesboro man says he never got an answer to the question of why his intellectually disabled brother choked to death while in the state's care. His concerns were echoed by relatives of several other deceased people whose care was entrusted to the state Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The agency, already faulted for "serious problems" in a recent audit by the state comptroller's office, came under fire again last month. A massive report filed in U.S. District Court in Nashville under a longstanding consent decree details dozens of cases of poor and inadequate treatment of residents in Middle and East Tennessee. TENNESSEE (Murfreesboro), WBIR, January 19, 2014
Largest Special Ed Settlement Ever! Child Abuse by School Staff
The Antioch School Board approved a settlement of Eight Million dollars. Parents of the eight victims alleged that the special education teacher slapped, pinched, and verbally abused her students. The Antioch, CA school administrators failed to report abuse suspicions to the authorities. Some of the students were nonverbal children with autism in a Kindergarten class. The parents sued the district and five current and former employees. This appears to be the largest special ed settlement ever, having surpassed Steven Wyner's Manhattan Beach $6.7 Million case.
The Legacy of Ethan Saylor
Exactly one year ago in a Maryland movie theater, a 26-year-old man with Down syndrome cried out for his mommy in the final moments of his life and started a movement. The death of Ethan Saylor at the hands of sheriff's deputies who were trying to evict him from the theater he entered without a ticket has become a significant event for people in the disability community who push for equality and inclusion as a civil rights issue. Ethan Saylor is their Emmett Till. For me, the Saylor story is deeply troubling and personal. My 10-year-old daughter has Down syndrome. She is witty and sunny most of the time but there are moments when she is obstinate and difficult - much like any child. But the behaviors sometimes take extra effort to work around. That kind of understanding and patience should have been afforded Ethan Saylor, who had an IQ of 40. Instead, off-duty Frederick County Sheriff's deputies were summoned to oust Saylor... Denver Post - Jan 11, 2014
