(Cross-posted from The COFAR Blogsite) An article last month in The New Yorker magazine on abuses in the guardianship system in Nevada is beyond disturbing, and its findings echo many of the concerns we have raised about the dysfunction … [Read more...]
State’s system of paying guardians and attorneys for the developmentally disabled appears secretive and poorly overseen
(Cross-posted from The COFAR Blogsite) State payments to attorneys and corporate providers to serve as guardians of developmentally disabled clients are rising rapidly, yet the payment system appears to be secretive and subject to spotty … [Read more...]
Isolation of developmentally disabled woman continues after more than a year and a half
(Cross-posted from The COFAR Blogsite) It has been a year and seven months since David Barr and his daughter, Ashley, were last informed by the Department of Developmental Services of the whereabouts of David's other daughter, a young … [Read more...]
Disability Law Center aids woman who has been kept away from father and sister by DDS
(Cross-posted from The COFAR Blogsite) In the wake of reports that an intellectually disabled woman has been prohibited for more than a year by the Department of Developmental Services from having any contact with her father and sister, … [Read more...]
DDS upholds complete ban on family contact with developmentally disabled woman…Case shows why voters feel abandoned by the political system
(Cross-posted from The COFAR Blogsite) After a "careful review" that did not happen to include interviews with at least two of the three principals in the case, the Department of Developmental Services has upheld an indefinite ban on all … [Read more...]
Court statements show DDS employees held a bias against family members seeking to visit Chelsea Barr
(Cross-posted from The COFAR Blogsite) In statements made in a probate court hearing last year, an attorney for the Department of Developmental Services and two other DDS employees appeared to demonstrate a bias against the father and … [Read more...]
Father and sister banned from all contact with developmentally disabled woman because they cried when they saw her
(Cross-posted from The COFAR Blogsite) Can it really happen in America that the state can take an individual into its custody, and then not even let that person’s family know where she or he is, for months on end? Yes, that is … [Read more...]
Guardianship under fire by the same groups that oppose congregate care and support privatization
(Cross-posted from The COFAR Blogsite) Guardianship of persons with developmental disabilities is under fire in Massachusetts and elsewhere, and families could see their advocacy rights eroded as a result. One prominent threat to … [Read more...]
More than six months later, Andy McDonald still has no legal representation in his guardianship case (with update)
(Cross-posted from The COFAR Blogsite) UPDATE: A new attorney for Andy McDonald will be appointed this week (the week of September 5) to represent him in his guardianship case, according to Mark Larsen, the director of the Mental Health … [Read more...]
Sen. Brownsberger and Rep. Fernandes once again order family rights bill sent into legislative black hole
(Cross-posted from The COFAR Blog) More than a year after an important family rights bill (H. 1459) for persons with developmental disabilities was sent to the Legislature's Judiciary Committee, the committee co-chairs have decided it's … [Read more...]