News and Alerts 2010
Disability Rights North Carolina
News and Alerts 2010
IN THE NEWS Cosing of Dorothea Dix Hospital marks failure of state reforms - 12/8/2010 http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/closing-of-dorothea-dix-hospital-marks-failure-of-state-reforms/Content?oid=1866209 Disability Rights NC's October 21st "listening session" in Winston-Salem was covered by the Winston-Salem Journal. Forum targets health concerns. Editorial: Help - State home-health cuts are likely to backfire. (9/20/2010) fayobserver.com Construction begins on replacement for troubled mental hospital (10/1/10 wral.com) http://www.wral.com/lifestyles/healthteam/story/8381267/?print_friendly PDF
Construction begins for new mental hospital (10/1/10 newsobserver.com) PDF
Goldsboro Project questioned (10/1/10 newsobserver.com).

Editorial: Careful - Cuts really are a matter of life and death. NC nursing homes are the subject of a federal investigation. FayObserver.com 11/29/2010.
A Special Report released by Disability Rights NC:Trapped in a Fractured System - People with Mental Illness in Adult Care Homes, August: 2010 PDF
Trapped in a Fractured System (PDF document will open in a new window) DOC
Trapped in a Fractured System (Word document will open in a new window)

Disabilities rights group listens to concerns reported The Wilson Times (8/26/10). Residents say more interpreters are needed. Click below for the full story. PDF
The Wilson Times article.

Investigators report 'hostile work environment' at NCSD (9/28/10-The News Herald) http://www2.morganton.com/member-center/share-this/print/ar/422706/ Advocates disappointed by NC School for Deaf probe (9/28/10) http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20100928/APN/1009281407 Update: NCSD director ousted (morganton.com 8/18/10) An editorial in the Pilot of Southern Pines on North Carolina's shameful record in mental health care, and what should be done about it, cited the work of Disability Rights. A Dismal Record of Mental Care (8/8/10) And another in the N&O. http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/06/616352/a-states-shame.html A state's shame - Read the newsobserver.com Editorial (8-6-10) Editorial - Nursing homes and jails are not staffed to deal with this vulnerable population - Read the August 3, 2010 editorial. State's housing of mentally ill people under fire, http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/01/607552/states-housing-of-mentally-ill.html And the Hendersonville Times-News. Revamping park plan (7/31/10) Vicki Smith of Disability Rights was quoted in an N&O story on a federal complaint that Disability Rights filed against the state for failing to care for adults with mental illness. http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/07/30/1610209/four-killed-in-nc-rest-homes.html Rest homes side with suit filed by advocates. Read the newsobserver.com Under the Dome (7-30-10) NBC 17 reports on Disability Rights' federal complaint - Disability Group files complaint on NC adult homes (7/28/10) and The Associated Press http://www.reflector.com/ap/staten/advocates-disappointed-nc-school-deaf-probe-139468 New adult care home complaint filed on the 20th anniversary of the ADA, http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2010/07/26/new-adult-care-home-complaint-filed-on-20th-anniversary-of-ada/
Complaint filed by Disability Rights North Carolina to the U.S. Department of Justice
"Disability Rights NC believes that thousands of adults with serious mental illnesses in North Carolina are inappropriately being warehoused in Adult Care Homes where they receive no mental health treatment and are frequently subject to unhealthy and dangerous conditions. Twenty years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and over ten years after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Olmstead v. L.C., the state of North Carolina continues to rely on institutional placements for the long-term care of many adults with severe and persistent mental illness. While the State classifies these homes as "community settings," in practice Adult Care Homes are truly institutions, with a high bed capacity, a lack of individual autonomy, and isolation from the general community. In filing this complaint, Disability Rights NC respectfully requests the assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice in evaluating and investigating the appropriateness of placement of adults with mental illness in Adult Care Homes, and whether these placements constitute a violation of the ADA under the principles articulated in Olmstead." Source - Disability Rights NC's Department of Justice Complaint concerning Adult Care Homes in North Carolina PDF
Complaint by Disability Rights NC to the United States Department of Justice on behalf of Individuals with Mental Illness living in Adult Care Homes in North Carolina. Includes Facility Summaries and Memo. (PDF documents will open in a new window)

Study: Four killings reported in rest homes. Read the News and Observer article on July 28, 2010. News14 Carolina interviews Executive Director, Vicki Smith about the complaint filed against DHHS.
Hundreds of DOT facilities violate federal law for disabled-Read the story by WRAL 7/29/10.
Press Release Monday, July 26, 2010
1276.jpg Disability Rights NC files a complaint on behalf of adults with mental illness on 20th Anniversary of the ADA.
Documents are provided in PDF format, allowing any computer to open them with the free Adobe Reader. PDF
Press Release in PDF format (document will open in a new window)

Complaint filed with Justice Department against DHHS Abuse probe at NC School for the Deaf begins (7/16/10) http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=7559265 NC disabled fights for rights on 20th anniversary of ADA http://charlotte.news14.com/content/628506/nc-disabled-fight-for-rights-on-20th-anniversary-of-ada
Michael Murray, outreach specialist for Disabilty Rights North Carolina witnessed firsthand how the ADA could change a life. Read Michael's story in the Winston-Salem Journal. Advocates say more work needed to aid disabled - WRAL.com 7/26/10
PRESS RELEASES
Press Releases in PDF format PDF
6-29-10 Disability Rights North Carolina Receives Award from National Group PDF
2-16-2010 Seclusion and Restraint: A Dangerous Education (PDF document will open in a new window) PDF
1-15-2010 Federal Judge Enforces ADA in North Carolina (PDF document will open in a new window)

IN THE NEWS
Advocate for disabled trumpets clients' rights
Advocate Kirby Morrow presented to caregivers from several Iredell County agencies in September. http://statesville.com/ar/423472/
28th Judicial District Bar Recognizes Disability Rights NC's Asheville Office
Disability Rights North Carolina was featured in the September 2010 Bar News. Look for the picture of Staff Attorney and 28th JDB member Holly Stiles on page 11 of the newsleter. The article highlights some of the work that Disability Rights NC is doing. PDF
28th Judicial District Bar (Asheville)

Attorney Kristine Sullivan was interviewed about the corporal punishment bill by LRP Publications (7-6-10)
North Carolna News Service story: Mental Illness and the Death Penalty Debated in NC - quoting Kris Parks May 3, 2010. Here is a link to the full text and podcast audio versions online http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/13762-1
Proposed N.C. budget has personal impact. Gov. Bev Perdue's proposed budget could eliminate a personal care service that would affect thousands of people. Click here for the story by WRAL (4/22/10).
Annaliese Dolph of Disability Rights was quoted in WRAL-TV's report on Perdue's budget proposal. http://www.wral.com/news/local/politics/story/7411884/
Kristin Parks contributed to the article in the N&O March 28, 2010, A better law for North Carolina. Vicki Smith, executive director of Disability Rights North Carolina, a federally mandated advocacy group, is concerned the mold could spread and says it is a serious environmental concern. Advocates concerned for N.C.'s youngest mental patients.(2/24/10 WRAL) DRNC files suit against head of DHHS, Piedmont Behavioral Healthcare - February 11, 2010 (wral.com) Mom camps out to get spot in mental ward for son- 1/27/10 N&O
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thumb1156.jpg Raleigh Convention Center - November 9, 2010
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