Mentally Disabled Need Better Care

* We are truly grateful for The Times’ Aug. 2 and Aug. 30 stories on community-based care for people with disabilities. When reporters shed light in dark corners on behalf of a vulnerable population, it makes us all proud of our free press.

Our relatives and friends have been hurt by a state administration that puts dollars before people, and pursues deinstitutionalization as more important than consideration of individuals and families.

Our developmental centers are necessary options with a full array of services. Contrary to community-held stereotypes, they are not “locked” facilities. Most of the residents go to school and work, and enjoy recreation activities on campus and in neighboring communities.

They are served by dedicated and well-trained professionals. In our view this kind of work force is exactly what is needed in community-based care. Unfortunately this is not what exists for the more than 2,000 people moved from developmental centers in the last 3 1/2 years.

In Pennsylvania, it took twice as long to move 619 people from the Pennhurst Center for the mentally retarded. Even then the court admonished the state because as many as 176 people were “lost” in the system, and many others were abused and neglected.

Because California has acted so hastily and without proper planning, we have petitioned to join the federal lawsuit that Dr. William Cable filed against the state. Although we hope the upcoming change in leadership at the state Department of Developmental Services may lead to a more responsive, cooperative administration, we cannot gamble with the lives of those we love. We must act on their behalf.

Many thanks for informing the public. They need to know how their tax dollars are spent and how their compassion for the disabled may not be implemented as they expect.

BARBARA TURNER

President, California Assn.

of State Hospital Parent Councils

for the Retarded

* “Parents of the Disabled Sue to Stop Transfers,” Aug. 30, gives another example of the undermining of parental rights. These parents can’t stop the transfer of their dependent adult children, who have severe mental handicaps, to less safe facilities.

In another recent case, the state Supreme Court struck down parental consent legislation that would have required an unwed minor to obtain parental consent or a court order before obtaining an abortion. Some school districts are sending home notices that parents will not be informed when their child leaves school for medical reasons.

In another example, two congressmen are proposing a parental-consent amendment to the family planning bill as a result of a tragedy in Chicago public schools where a 36-year-old teacher seduced a 13-year-old and even took her for birth control pills at a federally funded clinic. The clinic personnel didn’t notify the parents even though they knew the relationship broke the law as the girl wasn’t old enough to consent to sexual relations.

When will this end? When enough parents wake up!

BEV CIELNICKY

Fountain Valley

* Is history repeating itself?

Twenty-five years ago the mentally ill were dumped out of our developmental center and into many unqualified community homes. Then the state money didn’t keep with the cost of living and the homes closed.

Today these forgotten Americans are living on street corners and alleys all over each city in the richest country in the world. Today we are doing the same thing to our retarded children.

We must stop this dumping now and put a two- or three-year moratorium on moving these forgotten Americans until we get qualified help with decent pay. The turnover today because of the minimum pay the helpers get there is 76%.

These homes should be inspected every six months. The money given to take care of these forgotten Americans should be accounted for, and a doctor or dentist should be on 24-hour call.

We must stop selling our developmental centers as we will always need them, as the state of Illinois has found out.

FLOYD HEMP

Anaheim