The United States Administration for Children and Families Child Welfare Information Gateway published a great review in March 2012, titled The Risk and Prevention of Maltreatment of Children with Disabilities. It can be downloaded for free from their website. This 588 Kb PDF provides lots of good information in clear, readable language and is highly recommended, especially for child welfare professionals who may not be fully aware of the risks and challenges faced by children with disabilities. Read the rest of this entry »
KCTV5 is reporting on an alleged case of sexual abuse by a physical therapist at “Prairie View State School Monday – a state-run school for severely disabled students.” The incident was reported by a teaching assistant who alleged to have walked into the room unexpectedly and witnessed the incident. Police are trying to determine if more students may have been abused. This news report includes a Video interview with mother of the student.
24 May 2012 The United States Justice Department has announced rules establishing standards and procedures to prevent rape in prisons. These standards are intended to offer all inmates, particularly those who may be especially vulnerable, from sexual abuse and exploitation. These rules will be applied to all Federal prisons and state prisons may be penalized through a reduction in Federal funds if they fail to comply. Read the rest of this entry »
22 May 2012 Disability Rights Washington and Video Galaxy have great new video on the Ashley Treatment on their website. There is also a poll on this page asking whether you believe more safeguards are needed to protect the civil rights of people with disabilities from civil rights violations and medical discrimination of the Ashley Treatment and related procedures. Please take a look at this video and please vote in this poll.
This site includes a number of other interesting topics related to human rights and people with disabilities. Read the rest of this entry »
The Measure of a Society:
Protection of Vulnerable Persons in Residential Facilities Against Abuse & Neglect
Report submitted to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
By Clarence J. Sundram Governor’s Special Advisor on Vulnerable Persons
16 May 2012 BBC Middle East News BBC Arabic’s reporter Ghada Nassef reports on abuse allegations in eight of Jordan’s 54 privately run care homes for children with developmental disabilities. The original documentary was aired in Arabic. A short English language video can be found here.
Perhaps the most telling and saddest part of this video is a senior attendant instructing a new staff member in how to brutalize the vulnerable children they care for. According to the BBC: Read the rest of this entry »
9 May 2011 Taman Kanagapuram, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia Brian Goh Kah Heng was a teenager with physical and mental disabilities. His parents placed him in care home. One morning in October 2010, he refused to eat his breakfast, and was punished severely by his caregiver. witnesses report that he was beaten severely for five to ten minutes before he died of his injuries. For the offense of not eating his breakfast, Brian Goh Kah Heng received the death penalty. For the offense of killing Brian Goh Kah Heng, the caregiver was given a six-year sentence. For more details, see the Malaysian Star.
11 May 2012 Mudgee, NSW, Australia 9News reports that Police have charged a 42-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman with murder in the death of an 11-year-old boy who was described as autistic. The boy was taken to hospital by emergency services where he died. The cause of his death is alleged to be severe abuse and neglect.
Sillery, Quebec City, Canada The trial of a former Canadian Judge began this week. Retired Court of Appeal Judge Jacques Delisle is believed to be the first judge to face murder charges in Canada. He is charged with first degree murder in the death of his 71-year-old wife, MarieNicole Rainville, on Nov. 12, 2009. Rainville, who was shot in the head, used a wheelchair and had additional disabilities resulting from a previous stroke and hip fracture. the former judge denies the allegations. For more information see the Toronto Sun.
Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY, USA The New York Times and a number of other news media are reporting the shunning by the Hasidic community of man who reported the sexual abuse of teenage son, The New York Times reported:
The first shock came when Mordechai Jungreis learned that his mentally disabled teenage son was being molested in a Jewish ritual bathhouse in Brooklyn. The second came after Mr. Jungreis complained, and the man accused of the abuse was arrested. Read the rest of this entry »
6 May 2012 According to an article by Danny Hakim in the New York Times, Governor Cuomo is proposing a new state agency to new “law enforcement and oversight agency” to help protect people with disabilities from abuse. New York is one of many States with a long history of recurrent issues of abuse and coverup allegations. The Times ran a series of articles over the last year covering abuse issues in New York State’s facilities, and a report from Clarence Sundram, who was the first head of the New York State Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, that will be released shortly.
Cuomo’s proposal would strengthen laws and an create a special prosecutor to deal with allegations of abuse in care facilities
16 October 2011 This Philadelphia story of human warehousing speaks for itself. Sadly, it is not a rare case.