TAXPAYER COSTS SKYROCKET ALONG WITH REPORTS OF ABUSE OF DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED IN CA

Governor's May Budget Revise Increases Spending on Developmental Centers; People with Developmental Disabilities Urge the Governor to Stop “Taxpayer Supported Abuse”

May 18, 2013 (Sacramento) – People with developmental disabilities and their advocates are speaking out in reaction to Governor Brown's May Budget Revise, and his decision to spend even more taxpayer dollars on a system that has been repeatedly cited for abusing people with developmental disabilities:

“As a California taxpayer I’m outraged, and as a person with a developmental disability I’m repulsed,” said advocate Kiara Hedglin. “It’s unconscionable for the Governor to increase spending on a system that abuses people with developmental disabilities.   It’s time for these archaic centers to close and for people with developmental disabilities to receive the quality care they deserve in home-like settings.”

Governor Brown’s budget revision increases funding for  Developmental Centers at the same time the Centers are coming under fire for unprecedented reports of chronic abuse.  The Governor’s 2013-14 revised budget proposal would increase the amount spent on each Developmental Center resident by more than $50,000 a year, jumping from $356,000 to nearly $410,000 per person.

Meanwhile, cases of abuse within the Developmental Centers continue to mount.  Reports of chronic abuse have prompted extraordinary actions by multiple government agencies, including a citation by the US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and a rare recommendation by the State’s independent Legislative Analyst’s Office that the Legislature  appoint an Office of Inspector General to oversee the dysfunctional Centers.

A coalition of people with developmental disabilities and their advocates want the Legislature to exercise oversight of the budget process and protect people with developmental disabilities.  The coalition is calling for the Legislature to redirect funding from “dilapidated institutions and start moving those institutionalized residents into quality community based programs where they can receive the care, dignity and freedom they deserve,” a press release issued by the coalition states. “Studies show the move could save taxpayer money while improving care and the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities.”

California Developmental Center Facts

• Developmental Centers are state-run institutions that house Californians with Developmental Disabilities.

• Typical residents include people with autism, cerebral palsy and other intellectual and developmental disabilities.

• The state operates four Developmental Centers and one Community Based Facility.  The total population for fiscal year 2012-13 is expected to average 1,544.

• The facilities employ 5,156 people.

• The Developmental Center population declines each year but taxpayer costs per resident skyrocket.

• Taxpayers will spend over $400,000 for each Developmental Center resident in fiscal year 2013-14.

Record of Abuse

• Substantiated abuse cases jumped 43.1% from 2008-2010, even though the overall population dropped 11.9%.

• 327 Reported Abuse Cases from 2006-2012.

• 762 Reported Injuries of “Unknown Origin” from 2006-2012.

• Abuse reports resulted in just 2 arrests from 2006-2012.

• There were 36 cases of reported sexual assault from 2009-2012 but the Developmental Center police force failed to order any standard rape exams.

• The Lanterman Developmental Center was cited by the Civil Rights Division of the United States Justice Department for violating the constitutional rights of people with developmental disabilities.

• In 2012 the California Legislature banned Developmental Centers from accepting new residents, except under very limited circumstances.