Conway Human Development Center considered High Risk

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a motion yesterday in court calling the Conway Development Center a high risk operation.  500 individuals live in Conway with a variety of disabilities including autism. 50 children live in the facility, with the Department of Justice asking for the immediate suspension of all children's admittances to Conway.

This information all comes from the Wednesday, March 10 Democrat-Gazette. The Arkansas Department of Human Services operates the Development Center.

papoose boardsThe Conway Center has been the subject of negative press since 2004, but after years of investigation and consultation with the State of Arkansas, the Department of Justice has now moved to litigation. I was astonished at the horrifying facts of the filing. Restraints, for instance, were alleged by the Department of Justice to include straitjackets, papoose boards, and restraint chairs, which it calls "practices that have been largely barred from other facilities for years."

Even the written plans for restraint use were horrifying; the memo states that one 14-year-old girl could be put in a papoose board "until she was apologetic for her behavior."

On education, the memo notices that "none of the CDHC children receives a full day of special education services or adequate transition plans."

In 2004 Arkansas agreed to a plan to transition individuals out of institutional settings. However, the memo states that "the State is not taking any meaningful action to end the unnecessary segregation of individuals with disabilities." Instead, the "State is actively increasing its capacity for institutionalizing children."

The U.S. government expert testified that half of the Conway residents, or about 250 people, could be moved to community settings. However, Conway itself had recommended only 5 residents for community placement as listed in the memo.

Here's the Department of Justice Memo on Conway. I highly recommend everyone read this document. It's well-written and jaw-dropping in its description of the institution.

Update on Friday, March 12, 2010 by Eye Contact Arkansas

List of articles written on the Conway HDC dating back to 2001:

LINK HERE

Comments

[Phillip Pengelly]

The Conway Human Development Center is a way of life from 20 years ago. It is a look back in to our past. The problem at Conway is that the staff and parents are just as "institutionalized" as the consumers who live there. It has been there way of life and they don't look at their practices as doing anything wrong. This is not Conway's first appearance in the news, it is a state of the state of the facility.

I know kids under the age of 15 who reside in the facility. I know individuals who have been there most of their lives and the first child with a disability I worked with in my life over 30 years ago; died there. I am not a supporter of any of the HDC's because I work in the community side of program services and believe that this is by far the best, but this is not the perspective of those who receive services there.

The board the governs the facility is made primarily of parents of the individuals in the facility, at least that is what I believe to be true.

The stagnation of the waiting list for community services is another problem. Services such as Medicaid Waiver that would provide the means to move, are sorely underfunded.

I used to be proud to boast about my state's service capability back in the 90's. Arkansas was one of the first state's to have Medicaid waiver and only one of 11 who had the option of TEFRA. I can now say I am embarassd at my state for its record on being one of the worst, if not the worst when it comes to institutionalizing people with disabilities.

Forget the Evaluator business they talked about in the article, and set a plan in motion to teach the parents and their kids of the options of community care. Put the services in the community for the residents and families of Conway, save the state possibly millions of dollars and get us off another of the "bottom of poll" about services in our country!!!!!!!!

[Eye Contact Arkansas]

Thank you so much for your extensive comment on the situation at Conway HDC.

Taking care of a disabled individual is just exhausting for families, but there's no middle ground. In Arkansas you either "suck it up" on TEFRA until you can get through the ACS Waiver waitlist, or institutionalize your child. Respite programs? Recreational programs for adults and children with disabilities? Employment support? All three of these take pressure off families who need help.

[Phillip]

Bingo! The state needs to get off their collective butts and do something. I just saw the Mr. Beebe on the news stating he did not know what was going on. Well guess what it's an election year, maybe he can provide the rest of the public a little more clarity to the situation.

Fund Medicaid Waiver now, not later! Put community experiences back on the waiver!

Welcome to the 'never-ending process".

[Eye Contact Arkansas]

The problems in Conway HDC aren't just the federal government riding in to take charge. Arkansans also believe that change is necessary....