When Words Fail Me ...

This video speaks for itself.

But the saddest scariest thing is this woman is not alone. She may be the only one brave enough to actually type and deliver such a letter, but I can guarantee you she's not the only one who thinks such thoughts.




Perhaps most of those who do would never suggest that a child, any child, should be euthanized or his "non-retarded body parts" donated to science. But they wouldn't hesitate to express their belief that such children should not be going to their neighbourhood schools, should not be participating in the same extracuricular activities as their "normal" children do; perhaps, even should not be taking up scarce dollars in our healthcare system.

We would like to believe that human beings are inherently good. That, most of the time, if we just give them the chance, they will do the "right thing".  Maybe we're right - maybe most are.

But something like this has to make a parent wonder how many more monsters are hiding in the darkness or behind the annonimity of their keyboards. And shudder at the thought.

H/T to Krista Lettues for the video

Cross-posted at Free Falling

Bully For Him

The main reason why I don't list a blog roll on this site is because I have yet too find very many (read any) good Canadian blogs dealing with special needs and the law. Let alone any such Nova Scotia blogs (good or otherwise).  And that matters, of course, because laws can very drastically between provinces, let alone countries.

But I came across a blog post today I would really like to share.

Gregory R. Branch is an attorney in California who specializes in education law, be it special education, school suspension, bullying ... you get the picture. And while his legal services won't be of much any good to you here in Nova Scotia, some of his expertise might just be useful.

In particular, this blog post I came across today entitled "What To Do If Your Special Needs Child Is Being Bullied". Although much of the content appears to be the usual suggestions offered parents in such situations, I particularly like like his comments about involving the child's Program Planning Team ("Schedule An Emergency IEP").

So check out the post and the rest of the blog.

Just be careful to remember that we most definitely don't have access to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA") in Nova Scotia, with all the built-in due process and student and parent safeguards. Still, no doubt there's some good useful information buried there.

As an aside, I hope to get up some more education-related information in the next few days, particularly a list of links to some interesting Dept of Education documents.

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But What Does It Mean?

Deaf and hard-of-hearing children are neglected, abused and otherwise maltreated at a rate 25 percent greater than others, U.S. researchers say.

Researchers at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York directly correlate childhood maltreatment and higher rates of negative cognition, depression and post-traumatic stress in adulthood.

The researchers found 77 percent of deaf and hard-of-hearing respondents indicated experiencing some form of child maltreatment, vs. 49 percent among hearing respondents. In addition, respondents with more severe hearing loss indicated an increased rate and severity of maltreatment.

I found the above report interesting.  Even though I wasn't sure exactly what it meant.

I mean, yes, it's sad. And pathetic.  And wrong.

But what exactly does it mean?

What does focusing on the abuse of children who are deaf and hard of hearing, as opposed to those who have other forms of disability, really tell us?

Sadly, I'm not surprised to find these children are maltreated at a rate greater than 25% than others.  But when we compare them to their "hearing" peers, are we also comparing them to their hearing peers who are mentally challenged? Physically challenged?  Those with ADHD or autism? 

Are they abused amy more or less than children labelled with other disabilities?

Does it really matter?

Has anybody done the studies, published the statistics showing how much more children with any form of disability are likely to be mistreated?

I'm certainly not promoting any us v. them division in the disability community.  I guess I am just wondering why a study was done which focused on this particular disability as opposed to some different disability. Or all types of disability.

That and just what people propose to do about it.  If abuse of any child is a crime (as well it should be), can these perpetrators be sentenced for a "hate crime" when their abuse is perpetrated against a child (or an adult) with a disability?  Should they be?

Just some rambling thoughts of a mother/lawyer on yet another snow day in Nova Scotia.

Re-opening Pandora's Box

You might recall our previous discussion around the Protection of Persons in Care Act. Initially passed in 2004, the Act did not come into force until October, 2007.

Across the province, 1,625 residents with developmental disabilities are housed at licensed group homes and residential centres that are covered by the Act; apparently, one of the highest per capita rates in Canada.

And since it's passage, we have been hearing reports about investigations following complaints.

The most recent being the nineteen cases of abuse confirmed at the adult residential care centre located in Riverton, Nova Scotia.

The list of founded abuse cases at Riverview — which means an incident is accepted as having happened — includes four instances where staff physically harmed residents.

The 89-year-old centre houses about 100 residents with varying mental disabilities, including Down syndrome and long-term mental illness, with some residents sharing rooms and living in what are called "secure units." It also includes several smaller detached homes.

The cases of abuse were investigated under the Protection of Persons in Care Act, which defines physical abuse as actions "resulting in pain, discomfort or injury, including slapping, hitting, beating, burning, rough handling, tying up or binding."

The Riverview situation involved two founded cases of neglect by staff, defined as failure to provide adequate care; two cases of emotional abuse by staff, defined as "causing emotional harm," by actions such as intimidation or humiliation; and eleven cases were of residents abusing other residents, with 10 of those listed as instances of "non-consensual" sexual contact and one of physical abuse.

Disability groups are, predictably, up in arms.

READ MORE

Never Give Up

Update:

Press Conference

There will be a press conference at 10 a.m. on Friday, September 18th, in the Terrace Room of the Citadel Inn, Brunswick Street, Halifax.

Speakers will include friends, families.advocates and people who are at risk pf being institutionalized because of a label.

All who are concerned are urged to attend.

Mary Rothman
Executive Director
Nova Scotia Association for Community Living

~ ~ ~ ~

These people don't.

Disability Rights Coalition Calls For Immediate Review Of Operations At Outdated Government Funded Institutions: Continued Violations of Rights of Residents Can No Longer Be Tolerated

Halifax, Nova Scotia – September 11, 2009 –The Disability Rights Coalition expresses its outrage and demands the government of Nova Scotia to immediately convene a full, independent review of operations at the Riverview Adult Residential Centre in Riverton, Nova Scotia. This demand is in light of the 19 cases of abuse against residents with intellectual disabilities and mental illness at the Riverview Adult Residential Centre in Riverton, Nova Scotia, and the 22 other reported cases of abuse at other institutions throughout the province as reported in the news earlier this week.

I will likely post more on this topic later but I did want to get this press release out right away. So go ahead and read the rest of it.