Politics As It Happens: Today’s NY Times Story Summarizes Allegations of Abuse at a State-Operated Program for People with Behavioral Issues

“Nearly 20 percent of the staff at a prison-like center for the developmentally disabled in upstate New York are on administrative leave amid allegations of abuse or neglect, according to a new report from state Inspector General Ellen N. Biben’s office. The state-run facility, the Valley Ridge Center for Intensive Treatment, is in Norwich and [...]

Categories: Legislative/Governmental , Politics As It Happens

From the Executive Director: The Challenge Before Us

The latest New York Times article published yesterday, “An Operator of Group Homes Keeps State Aid Despite Faults,” is only the latest in an increasingly distorted misrepresentation of our field. It adds insult to the injury of prior articles such as “Aiding Disabled, Nonprofits Rake in State Money.” Too many of these articles falsely purport [...]

Categories: Advocacy , From the Executive Director , Legislative/Governmental

Politics As It Happens: Yet Another New York Times Article

This one focuses on nonprofit providers generally and the Federation of Multicultural Programs of Brooklyn specifically. “The state has had plenty of reasons over the years to end its relationship with the Federation of Multicultural Programs of Brooklyn. During the 1990s, the federation, which provides care for developmentally disabled people, filed for bankruptcy protection twice, once [...]

Categories: Legislative/Governmental , Politics As It Happens

Politics As It Happens: NY Times Story on Overmedication Throughout New York State’s Developmental Disabilities System

“Everything with them is, let’s sedate the kid instead of trying to solve the problem,” Ms. Strignano said. “They want to dope her up; they want her to sit there like she doesn’t exist.” Tens of thousands of powerful pills created to treat serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia are given to developmentally disabled people in [...]

Categories: Legislative/Governmental , Politics As It Happens

Politics As It Happens: Albany Times Union Article Cites Federal OPWDD Whistleblower Case about Lapses in Care, Medication

Concerns about over-drugging of people who live in state-run homes for the disabled are arising this week in a federal whistleblower lawsuit involving a woman who was fired from her job as an advocate in 2005. Susan McLaughlin, who was fired from the state-funded group that watches out for New Yorkers who previously lived in the [...]

Categories: Legislative/Governmental , Politics As It Happens

Politics As It Happens: New York Times Editorial

On Tuesday, the New York Times published an editorial on its “Abused and Used” series on New York State’s system of care for people with developmental disabilities. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has vowed to reform the wasteful and sometimes dangerous system that is supposed to care for more than 125,000 developmentally disabled adults in about 6,000 homes [...]

Categories: 1115 Waiver , Legislative/Governmental , Politics As It Happens

Politics As It Happens: Pattison to OPWDD, Illinois Gov. Keeps Institutions Open, National News of Note

Mark Pattison has joined OPWDD Mark was the former Troy Mayor, held a top job with the State Comptroller, and was a Rensselaer ARC employee. His late parents, Eli and Ned, were prominent in NYSARC and government. His mother was NYSARC’s President from 1978 to 1982. His father, Ned Pattison, was the former congressman from [...]

Categories: Education , Legislative/Governmental , Politics As It Happens

The Self-Advocate Corner: Thoughts On My Experience at the 2011 NYSARC Convention and Becoming a Board of Governors Representative

I was installed to the NYSARC Board Of Governors on Friday, October 21st, 2011. When I was sworn in, and I took my vows, I was very proud. I am very proud of my agency, The Jefferson Rehabilitation Center, and NYSARC. I take my responsibilities as a Board of Governors representative very seriously. There are [...]

Categories: NYSARC Events , Self-Advocacy , The Self-Advocate Corner

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