Linda Luxenberg says that Vermont has failed her son, a 35-year-old man with autism and a rare neurological disorder. Why has the state fought to be his guardian?
The Vermont Attorney General’s office has settled with Upper Valley Services, a service provider for adults with developmental disabilities, over allegations of false claims and neglect, including one incident where a client drowned.The settlement.
The service provider for adults with developmental disabilities will pay at least $112,000 and make changes to its operations under the terms of the agreement.
Recent reports in the media have drawn attention to the issue of abuse, assault and neglect of people with a disability. Protection of all people with disabilities from mistreatment is a core concept of public policy in the United States. Any abuse of a person with a disability is wholly unacceptable. The current allegations should not be dismissed as an isolated incident involving a few bad actors. They should also not be over-generalized. The vast majority of Vermonters who participate in home sharing programs provide high-quality care. Rather, these recent incidents need to be seen for the systems issues that