ALSO
HUMAN
ERADICATE ABUSE AND NEGLECT of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities reliant on a just and benevolent society CREATE A PROTECTIVE SYSTEM OF CARE which includes accountability and consequences for abuse and neglect
FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH IDD
©
The ALSO HUMAN© movement is created by activists and families of individuals with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) who are no longer willing to stand idly by and witness the widespread abuse and neglect of their loved ones placed in state-licensed treatment facilities. Psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, institutions and group homes are meant to provide a supportive and inclusive living environment for people who may need help with daily activities and benefit from a sense of community. The pain suffered by countless families of individuals with IDD who have been abused in New Jersey's state-run facilities has been exacerbated by the disinterest and inaction of the state agencies responsible for protecting them.
The ALSO HUMAN© movement is a Call to Action for all citizens of our state to stand in solidarity with the idea that individuals with IDD must be recognized and treated as human. Individuals with IDD residing in facilities throughout our state are often not afforded the same protection of basic rights as everyone else. This often results in tragic outcomes including injuries, emotional trauma and even fatalities.
The ALSO HUMAN© movement is borne out of the painful necessity to protect our loved ones from physical and emotional harm. It underscores the urgent need for our governor, legislators, protective agencies, and the citizens of New Jersey to uphold the rights of individuals with IDD as it does for all other citizens.
The ALSO HUMAN© movement seeks to protect our most vulnerable population. A large percentage of the IDD population is non-verbal, mentally and/or physically compromised, and often fully reliant on others to provide their basic daily care. The individuals with IDD require effective protection and oversight not only from the Department of Human Services (DHS), but also from the state attorney general and the police. Presently, DHS is the sole state entity responsible for investigating incidents of abuse and neglect of individuals with IDD residing in state-licensed facilities.
Victim's battered body, bruised leg, pictured at the hospital upon arrival from the
Special Children's Center group home
DHS investigations can span months and often yield "unsubstantiated" findings. Victims are often unable to corroborate details of abuse because they are non-verbal and simply are unable to express the details of crimes committed against them, while witnesses to the abuse are often not willing to incriminate themselves, their colleagues, or their employers.
Although there are some agencies that care well for their residents, the scope of abuse and neglect in state-run facilities is vast. One of the founders of the ALSO HUMAN© movement has experienced this firsthand when her own disabled child became the victim of abuse while residing in a state-licensed group home. Her non-verbal daughter suffered both emotional and physical injuries from the criminal acts committed against her by group home staff resulting in a desperate fight for her life and irreparable injuries. This disabled young woman was routinely locked in her room, starved, sedated, medically and hygienically neglected, denied prescribed medication, and committed to a psychiatric hospital against her will despite needing urgent medical care. As heinous as the crimes committed against this victim were, the lack of response from state authorities and the agencies put in place to protect her rights were equally as devastating. Not only was there no justice for this victim, there were no punitive consequences for the offenders or the state-licensed agency providing her housing and charged with her care. This sends a clear message of reassurance from the state to anyone feeling inclined to abuse individuals with IDD that there will not be any punitive consequences for their immoral and criminal acts. Despite evidence and testimonies supplied to DHS implicating staff at this facility, DHS ultimately found the abuse, neglect and injuries to this young woman to be "unsubstantiated." Unsubstantiated DHS incidents are not uncommon despite clear evidence of abuse verified by hospital and police records.
Body assessment upon arrival from the Special Children’s
Center group home. Victim’s battered body covered in
bruises as reflected in the body chart
Victim was bruised, locked, starved, physically and chemically restrained, had medication withheld from her, all teeth extracted, with overwhelming evidence supplied to DHS for investigation, and still DHS unsubstantiated the case - an excerpt from Steven Rusin's letter dated 01.30.23
Victim's mother outraged and desperate for justice
Victim locked in the room, door secured by rope tied to banister, staff laughing