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"Excessive
Neglect vs Excessive Force"
Recently
there was significant news coverage
on the tragic and extremely
unfortunate death of a young man
with autism in a Des Plaines group
home. While the circumstances still
remain cloudy, a group home employee
called police to report being
assaulted by a resident with autism
and the resident died after being
tasered and subdued by responding
police officers. While not
associated with Avenues, this
disastrous outcome is a major cause
for concern in all of our group
homes.
Additional review and examination of
the circumstances leading to his
death are especially warranted.
However, once completed, I am sure
the findings will prove that not
only was excessive force to blame,
but excessive neglect as well.
Robert Okazaki,
Executive Director
Family
and professionals who are
knowledgeable about persons with
developmental disabilities are
shocked over any response that could
lead to an outcome as terrible as
this. Rigorous, independent
research on shock devices as
non-lethal weapons needs to be
undertaken. Training first
responders in the art and science of
de-escalating aggressive behaviors
exhibited by persons with
developmental disabilities is a
must. Equally as important, will be
an examination of why the police had
to be called; and how Illinois’ “excessive
neglect” is responsible for
creating the circumstances that
allowed this tragedy to take place.
While I
know most officers to be concerned
and caring individuals, many are not
specialists in the numerous social
and domestic issues that are
unfortunately a part of the work
they do everyday. For society to
expect police to take the place of
professionals trained to work with
individuals who have autism, Down’s
Syndrome, mental retardation and
other developmental disabilities is
unthinkable. Use of police officers
as back-up staff in group homes is
not a viable strategy.
Unfortunately, excessive neglect
from the state is fast making public
safety officers de-facto group home
employees throughout Illinois.
Nationally, our state ranks 43rd
in funding of community
developmental disability programs
and 40th in the
percentage increase of new
disability funding during the past
two years. Over the past 20 years, Illinois’ excessive funding neglect suppressed wages and benefits in
community provider organizations.
Community organizations now face
tremendous difficulties in hiring,
training and retention of qualified
support staff.
As a
comparative example, Illinois state employees providing similar services
in institutions have a salary and
benefit package that is 15% to 25%
higher than those at Avenues and
other community organizations. In
the face of this competition for
talent, all community agencies have
had to reconsider their standards
for employment. Despite the dearth
of resources, community
organizations have done a stellar
job of maintaining their programs.
However, there is a limit to what
can be done.
This
recent group home death is yet
another “wake up call” for
Illinois
to reverse its trend of neglect. If Illinois
were to
improve resources to just the
national average, calling 911 would
not have to be a common occurrence.
Lost in
this frenzy are the more numerous
accounts of simple concern and
heroism on the part of public safety
professionals toward individuals
with disabilities everywhere. Let
us hope that no one else has to pay
the ultimate price for any future
excessive neglect. Illinois can and should
provide the resources needed to
improve conditions for all its
citizens with developmental
disabilities.
(this
article was printed in the Daily
Herald, December 8th, 2005.)
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