Texas mum on institutions amid federal investigation
February 4th, 2009An excerpt from the San Antonio Express-News:
Facing federal pressure to correct widespread abuse and neglect, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services [DADS] has imposed a near blackout on information about how it runs the state’s troubled facilities for the mentally retarded.
The agency clamped down on information in response to a U.S. Justice Department investigation that in December found deadly lapses in health care and systemic civil rights abuses of the nearly 5,000 residents who live in the state-school system.
… A review of opinions from the Texas attorney general’s office, which rules on open records disputes, shows DADS has withheld information on a broad scope of topics – ranging from statistics on abuse and neglect to numbers on staffing vacancies, overtime and disciplinary actions against employees.


May 14th, 2009 at 2:49 am
I go to Dallas Texas two or three times a year to visit family. I bring my adult daughter with Downs Syndrome. I live in the northwest where special people are out and about in town. They’re treated with respect are given support to live and be treated like anyone else. I always wondered where the mentally disabled children and adults are when I visit Texas. I don’t see them out in the public.
I had heard that Texas was behind in their treatment of developmentally delayed citizens but last night on late night cable TV they had a segment on the Texas institutions and how the people were treated. The conditions were deplorable. Last night on the news they showed the deplorable conditions they live in. They’re put away and hidden in institutions, some are there their whole life. I was horrified. Shame on Texas.