Vermont Human Services Agency Poses Risk to Public Safety

Vermont Human Services is ignoring the standards of their own Best Practices Manual http://www.ddas.vermont.gov/ddas-publications/publications-os/publications-os-documents/os-pub-supervision-treatment-sex-offenders-with-ds committing Medicaid fraud and helping agencies such as Northeast Kingdom Human Services and Sterling Area Agency to cover up reports of abuse, posing a seriouse  “Risk to Public Safety”.  “Risk to Public Safety”  is the same term used to civilly commit and incarcerate some of the very people this service is supposed protect.

Vermont Human Services charges the state and federal government millions of dollars every year to pay for services not provided.  These State contracted Human Services Agencies are supposed to protect the public by “treating” and rehabilitating people; who could not be convicted of crimes, people who have served their sentences for crimes and in many cases people who haven’t even been charged with a crime.

Civil Commitment  is being used as a continuum of incarceration.  All over the country people are being detained indefinitely without charges or convictions.  Treatment is mandated and provided through state human services agencies and corrections.  The very people and agencies responsible for assessing and treating are the people profiting  from “treatment”.  This conflict of interest does not encourage treatment that results in successful rehabilitation.

In Vermont 194 individuals are in the custody of the Department of Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) under Act 248, Vermont’s civil commitment law for people with mental retardation (18 V.S.A Section 8839 et seq).  In a 2010 Report to Representatives Lippert and Marcotte on Individuals with Developmental Disabilities Who Pose a Public Safety Risk, http://www.ddas.vermont.gov/ddas-publications/…/ds-offenders-report-2009 DAIL  makes the following recommendations (to themselves) which remain unfulfilled;

1. Competency evaluations for individuals suspected of having a DD should include a current evaluation by a psychologist skilled in assessing individuals with DD.
2.  Some ACT 248 commitments should be for a defined period rather than indefinitely.
3. Additional review processes should be adopted  for individuals who are under guardianship and in a restrictive program.
4. The State should adopt the best available risk and criminogenic needs assessment tools, to ensure that these individuals do not remain in treatment or in restrictive settings longer than necessary.

Although the Act 248 Statutes give the individual the right to seek judicial review of an order of commitment, in many of the ACT 248 cases, annual reviews take place with no participation from private guardians or the DD clients themselves.

In the case of William Bennett notice of annual reviews were not given to him or the guardian.  This goes against Section 4.10 – (c) – (pg. 36) of Regulations Implementing The Developmental Disabilities Act of 1996 March 2011.  Clients with DD cannot be expected to fully understand and initiate these proceedings without support from their guardian and real advocacy from their attorney.

In the most recent annual review Bennett was phoned by a Vermont Legal Aid Attorney and asked if he needed a consultation.  For a person with a developmental disability the word “consultation”  may have no meaning.

Recommendations for continued services/incarceration were made by the service providers and DAIL, agreed to by the Legal Aid Attorney, submitted to the courts and approved by a  judge.  This automated system to extend “care” to ensure the continued funding is a breach of human rights.

Without  proper procedures for legal representation of DD individuals outlined in the legislation their human rights will continue to be violated for a profit to these privately owned publicly funded institutions at a cost to the state of $100,000 a year and up, per client.  The report to Lippert and Marcotte goes on to say that no court has ever concluded in the 23 years since the passing of Act 248 that a person committed should be released.  This should raise questions about the treatment being provided.

From a review of  the reel to reel tapes of the hearings it is clear that during the  formation of Act 248, the testifying professionals were concerned that DD people would be “swept up” due to public discomfort and families of DD individuals not wanting to deal with them   They expressed a clear concern that these individuals civil rights would be violated, that people would be detained longer than necessary and that treatment would not be given on an individualized basis.

Expert testimony given by mental health professional, felt that long-term commitment was not necessary for many of the Developmentally Delayed Individuals.  In testimony given by Charles Mosley to the House Judiciary, Mosley states that there is a lot of potential to train individuals with Mental Retardation and 24 hour supervision could often decrease after the first few months.  He goes on to say that Lots of these people are mildly retarded and have great potential for employment teaching.

During Testimony Walt Morris, Defender General disagrees with the characterization of the individuals as “getting off the hook”.  He also points out that public discomfort with street people and people who are different tends to sweep them up into the system.

Testimony by Bill Reedy of the Vermont Coalition of the Handicapped urges access to the same civil rights proceedings as any other citizen.  He also voices concern that commitment be provided in the “least restrictive manner” and adhere to constitutional standards.

Roger Strauss, Director of Washington County Mental Health refers to the Judicial Review as a method to see if  “appropriate therapy” is being received.  Saying that “constitutional law requires the commissioner to provide appropriate therapy”.  In discussions of the annual review it is repeatedly stated that the Commissioner is responsible to provide “individualized” treatment in the “least restrictive manner” possible.

It also requires that the burden of proof be more substantiated as the individual proceeds through the care-program. Thus putting more pressure on the Department of Human services to prove the individual still poses a danger to public safety.  This is obviously a measure that has failed.

An expert witness in the taped hearings, believed to be Bill Reedy of the Vermont Coalition of the Handicapped puts it very clear, we are talking about people with inappropriate behavior, not armed and dangerous criminals.  He continues saying “very few people need to be shackled, mentally retarded people actually are less violent than you and me“.

Major parts of the original Act 248 statutes in Vermont have been repealed leaving civilly committed individuals with no civil rights and undermining the oversight and accountability originally intended by the legislatures.  Section 8821-8834 regarding Provisions of Service and Judicial Review has been repealed, Section 8842 stated that Hearings be  in accordance with 8827 which has been repealed, Section 8845 states that procedures shall be in accordance with 8834 which has been repealed.  Just take a look at the most recent draft, it looks as though they will cross-out (repeal) the entire Act.

Total authority is given to DAIL due to the Court’s and the Legislature’s lack of concern for civil rights for all and fear of public opinion, “out of sight, out of mind”.   Developmentally Disabled people remain in restrictive and abusive environments for decades without hope.

DAIL has demonstrated that they will go to great lengths to silence reports of abusive practices.  In a recent petition for Relief From Abuse in which one DD client’s life was threatened by another client in a State Licensed Group Home, Attorney’s from the Agency (NKHS) running the  home and an Attorney for the Commissioner of DAIL showed up to fight the order.  The Defendant nor his guardian or attorney for the defendant was even present.  NKHS and DAIL made  no denial that the threat was  made, yet the judge dismissed the order after the attorney from DAIL threatened to call in the Attorney General if the judge pursued the matter further.  DAIL and NKHS immediately moved the aggressor client back into the group home with no concern what so ever to the risk posed psychologically and physically to the Aggressed client.

In January of 2011 William Bennett”s guardian and mother hired an attorney to contest the Act 248 placement. William’s Guardian is concerned that his placement in this program will have permanent detrimental effects on him.  Since his placement in this “Safe Choices”  program he has been assaulted by a home care provider, kept incommunicado, been double staffed by workers who refuse to give their names, been denied his rescue inhaler, been sexually harassed by a staff member, been kept isolated from his family and guardian, been denied a low fat diet recommended by his physician, been denied opportunities to exercise, forced to witness another client having daily uncontrolled grand maul seizures, has been denied private conversations with his attorney and his guardian, has been threatened and intimidated to sign releases of information for medical and psychological appointments. William Bennett has and still is being harassed and Bullied by the State of Vermont.

DAIL and it’s Agents have been actively thwarting efforts by William and his guardian to improve his mental and physical health through years of suppressing and isolating William.  The damage done due to the negligence and incompetence of these supposed providers is inexcusable.

DAIL has the ultimate responsibility for the well-being of people in custody, they have a vested interest in covering up abuse by providers they contract with.  The Human Services Board would normally review decisions made the Commissioner of DAIL  but has recently stated that they don’t have authority over the commissioner in Act 248 cases.  The  Human Services Board defers to the courts, which under threat of the Attorney General submit to the DAIL.

Adult Protective services is supposed to defer to the Secretary of Human Services when the Commissioner of DAIL is implicated in reports of abuse but instead make findings that the abuse never occurred.  The Secretary of Human Services Douglas Racine, after repeated pleas from the guardian of William Bennett defers to the Commissioner.  Vermont’s Governor Shumlin after repeated pleas from the guardian of  William Bennett defers to the Secretary of Human Services.

Adult Protective Services, commissioned with investigating abuse has recently been threatened by Vermont Legal Aid and Disability Rights Vermont for not investigating reports of abuse.  APS settled out of court and is supposed to implement changes and clear up a back log of abuse reports.  William Bennett and his guardian have made several recent reports of abuse to APS  and has not seen any action taken.  No doubt they will at some point write a letter saying “no abuse occurred”.

In case after case of abuse reported to The Department of Human Service they have hammered clients and advocates into submission with their incredible powers and access to tax payer funded attorneys.  It is time we as a Civil Society end this atrocious abuse of this vulnerable group of fellow human beings.

Too Temporary Relief From Abuse

William Bennett was granted a temporary Relief From Abuse Order on May 26, 2011, the relief was all too temporary.  After Charlie Phillips,  a resident of the Lowell House, a group home operated by Northeast Kingdom Human Services and licensed by the State of Vermont, threatened to Kill him.

A hearing was set for 6/15/11 at which time a final order would be granted or the case would be dismissed.  Relief from Abuse Orders are between two parties, the defendant and plaintiff.  Without party status Northeast Kingdom Human Services and The Department of Aging and Independent Living each filed a Motion to Dismiss.

So in a court room in Orleans County two days prior to the hearing set for the final order, a judge granted the parties an audience. Charlie Phillips, the defendant was not present, nor was there an attorney for Charlie  present.

The judge at first seemed inclined to grant “party status” to the State and NKHS and continue with the scheduled hearing on the 15th.  The Attorney from DAIL rose to offer what seemed to be a warning that if the judge continued on with the hearing she would be compelled to inform the Attorney General of the judges attempt to manage a group home from the bench.  The Judge asked the Attorney for DAIL to repeat her statement, she went on to repeat with a bit gentler approach that this would involve a “separation of Powers” issue which the Attorney General would be interested in.  Her threat seemed to work and the Judge dismissed the whole case, leaving William Bennett without protection.  Our courts might as well add more furlough days, justice seems to be absent while it’s in session.

Both the defendant and the plaintiff are court ordered into the “Care and Custody” of the Commissioner of DAIL.  If the Judge granted the order the Commissioner would be compelled to comply and find alternative living arrangements for Phillips.  The Commissioner has the ability to thwart or compel an investigation into the abuse.   To this date nearly three weeks after the incident, nobody from Adult Protective Services has contacted William Bennett to investigate.  It was only due to the Temporary Order that Phillips was removed from the House.  Nobody denied that the threats were made, nobody denies that Phillips is a schizophrenic who has violent outbursts. In a voice mail message a supervisor from NKHS admits that the threat was made.  It seems the State and the Agency intend to bring Phillips back into the Lowell House and continue to subject Bill Bennett to more verbal abuse and violence.

The Attorney for NKHS states that the Agency was unaware until the RFA was applied for that there was an issue with Phillips.  This was a flat-out lie, it was common knowledge that I, William’s Legal Guardian and Mother applied for a Temporary Change of Placement as well as a Relief From Abuse for a Vulnerable Adult on two occasions in the past two months, citing this as grounds.  The Atotorney from NKHS made other statements to the Judge that were lies and I can prove it.  It seems that if you’re sitting in fromt of the rail, next to an Attorney from the Commissioner of DAIL you can say anything in court and win whether it’s the truth or a lie.

Abuses have been repeatedly reported to the Commissioner as well as to NKHS.  Employees of NKHS have been the abusers in many of the reports to Adult Protective Services.

There seems to be only one course of action left to take.

If anything happens to my son, Governor Shumlin who has been well informed, Secretary of Human Services Douglas Racine, who has been well informed, Commissioner Susan Wehry, who has been well informed, and all of the Supervisors of Safe Choices of Northeast Kingdom Human Services who are not only well informed but directly facilitate abuse, will be accountable.

I think it’s safe to assume the Attorney General who has been “well informed” of Medicaid Fraud will not be doing anything about that.

What has happened to our country?

Assault By Home Care Provider Vermont Human Services Takes No Action

On June 1st William Bennett and me met with Disability Rights Vermont to review their investigation into the abuse Bill had reported on February 23rd.  I felt that DRVT did a thorough investigation into the abuse and pointed out some additional problems in the Sterling Area Agencies procedures, trainings and contracts.

In sharp contrast to this investigation, is the Adult Protective Services investigation.  APS is a one page three paragraph letter with two check boxes indicating that

1.  The available evidence indicated that abuse, neglect or exploitation did not occur.

2.  The allegation does not meet the statutory definition of abuse, neglect or exploitation.

33 V.S.A. § 6902. Definitions

(1) “Abuse” means:

(A) Any treatment of a vulnerable adult which places life, health or welfare in jeopardy or which is likely to result in impairment of health;

(B) Any conduct committed with an intent or reckless disregard that such conduct is likely to cause unnecessary harm, unnecessary pain or unnecessary suffering to a vulnerable adult;

(C) Unnecessary or unlawful confinement or unnecessary or unlawful restraint of a vulnerable adult;

So, the Home Care Provider follows Bill into his bedroom,  lifts and throws Bill, who is 4ft.11in tall. and 120 lbs, onto his bed, pinning him down while on top of him.  This doesn’t fit the Vermont Statutes of Abuse?  I see no reason for APS’s backlog at all with this interpretation of the definition of abuse.

The last paragraph of the APS letter indicates that I can ask the Commissioner to review this decision.  The Commissioner of the Department of Aging and Independent Living has recently motioned the court to remove me as my son’s legal guardian and make her his legal guardian. Commissioner Dr Susan Wehry has admittedly terminated unsupervised visits with my son because of a statement I made on my blog. Furthermore since the abuse occurred simultaneously with the Commissioner trying to remove me as guardian I’m quiet certain her stamp of approval is already on it.

After speaking with DRVT about some incidences that recently occurred at the group home where Bill lives, they urged me to report it to, APS so I did.  I called APS and spoke to an intake specialist who was very rude, she raised her voice to me and impatiently said “it’s been a really long day”.  This was not said in an apologetic tone.  I ended up having to call back several times because her attitude made it so difficult to focus on what I was trying to report.  Her attitude would have devastated me if I was disabled and had been abused.

More funding won’t eliminate an attitude of hostility.  Without significant measures to ensure that changes are real we’ll just have more letters going out denying abuse occurred.

View this document on Scribd

Dear Douglas Racine, Another Former Employee Comes Forward

Submitted on 2011/05/16 at 1:27 pm

Tracy, I applaud your uphill battle against the “Evil Empire”, being NKHS and Safe Choices!!! Not too many people dare to go up against this corrupt, demeaning, and self-serving so-called “non-profit” organization! There is so much corruption, neopatism and favoritism that goes on there, in particular the DS Department in St J. I know how you are feeling, Tracy – I too have attempted to expose this using the proper channels, and it was so convienently swept under the rug. I remember BIll’s situation so vividly – when you first attempted to have him removed from Safe Choices – I think it was in ’04 – he came onto my caseload, and was placed at Kate’s. That was the start of the nightmare for Bill! He was totally set up, left alone on numerous occasions, and left unsupervised at the Comfort Inn (more like dropped off by Kate!!) also left unsupervised at her home. (as I recall, the alleged “victim” was there without any knowledge of NKHS). I also remember when you were practically forced to put Bill back into the Safe Choices – you did not want that, but a certain so-called Assistant Director of DS practically threatened you. I have nothing but respect and admiration for what you are trying to accomplish – your dedication, devotion, and love for Bill goes far beyond what I have ever experienced in dealing with many families of Special Needs children. Safe Choices shold no longer exist, and those running it should be admonished, and in some incidences, lose their license to practice. Tracy, I will support your effort in any way I possibly can. Please e-mail me if there is anything you need that will assist you in shutting these demons down!

A PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION will be held in Newport VT May 25 at 5:00 -8 P.M.  We will be in the State owned parking lot on Field Ave. Turn between the Goodrich Memorial Library and the Police Station on Main St..  DR. SUSAN WEHRY, THE COMMISSIONER of The Department of Aging and Independent Living ( has the ability to end this abuse) will be speaking to home care providers.  According to their Brochure it will be “an evening of pampering“, with Reiki, Massage and Dinner.  That would all be fine if disabled men weren’t languishing away year after year hidden in the woods eating bologna sandwiches and whatever else the food bank donates.  It would be okay If disabled men weren’t cut off from their families and all forms of social contact, left with no hope of the close connections Dr. Wehry will be enjoying.  It would be okay if disabled men weren’t forced to go to a group once a week where they are called liars, yelled at and demeaned by a  so called “Therapist”.  And it would all be okay if Vermont Tax payers weren’t paying over $20,000,000 a year to fund such programs.  It’s time to take back our Human Services.

A petition will be available to sign, volunteers are needed to gather more signatures and all are welcome.  Even if you can only stop and sign a petition, you’ve done your part.  Signs will be available.  We’ll be there until 8 p..m.  We Mean Business!

Comment From Former Employees of Northeast Kingdom Human Services

I will be dedicating the next several posts to “Comments From Former Employees”.  This link posted by a supportive blogger has great information.  http://vermont4evolution.wordpress.com/2011/05/17/vermont-abusing-the-developmentally-disabled/

Be sure to click on the New York Times Article.  A very similar situation where the Governor finally acted.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/13/nyregion/13homes.html

PLANNING A PROTEST IN NEWPORT AT THE GATEWAY CENTER MAY25th.  THE COMMISSIONER WILL BE SPEAKING TO HOME CARE PROVIDERS.  5 P.M.  MARK IT ON YOUR CALENDAR, LEAVE A COMMENT SO I KNOW WHO’S WILLING TO TAKE A AFTERNOON AND DO SOME CHANTING.  THIS IS A WORTHY CAUSE, I’VE BEEN DYING TO HOLD UP A SIGN FOR YEARS.  IF THIS IS THE ONLY ISSUE YOU EVER PROTEST FOR, IT’S A GREAT ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LET’S TAKE BACK OR “HUMAN SERVICES”.

A Very Touching Letter:

Dear Senator Kitchel,

I am writing to you about my outrage at the misuse of funding at Northeast Kingdom Human Services…in particular the program “Safe Choices”.  All that program is to NKHS is a cash cow and a legal way to abuse people who have had their rights stripped from them… and they are mentally impaired so they have no way to fight back.  They are so programmed by the staff at Lowell house and Roy Mountain House that many of them feel that this is all they deserve in life.  These people (clients) are bringing in a lot of tax dollars to line the pockets of the directors, assistant directors, therapists and supervisors (who already make MORE than a living wage) at NKHS and (OF COURSE) NKHS wants to keep them there.  The more the clients are abused, the more afraid to speak out against the program they become and the more secure NKHS staff is about their income in these troubled times.

Imagine being born with a disability.  It makes life a struggle from day one!  Friends, family and freedom is something that we all take for granted but when one’s life is shrouded in a disability most people never look past that diagnosis to the person living inside.  Many parents throw their hands in the air and let “the system” take over…or other parents have their children ripped away because someone in “the system” saw another big Medicaid waiver waiting to happen.  Medicaid waivers ARE, after all, what keeps people in  jobs.

My grandson is three years old and he has autism.  He has the face of a cherub and a head surrounded by blonde curls. He also has a lot of socially inappropriate behaviors and we are faced with the daily task of teaching him what is right and what needs to change.  Because he is cute a lot of actions are excused by the public and even by family.  “That’s Rowan!” has been even my explaination for taking apart my flashlight or spitting on the floor and stomping in it, or taking his diaper off or unplugging the TV while we are watching it when his brother and sister are expected not to do these things.  As he matures his behaviors will become less and less those of a cute little boy and harder and harder to control.  His mother will need a lot of help from Human Services agencies.   WHAT IF…when he arrives at puberty and he is faced with an entirely new (and natural) change in his body…we don’t get the time to teach him what is and is not OK?  What if something comes to the attention of an agency my daughter went to for help and HE becomes a cash cow?

What about your own family?  I know that I never anticipated having a disabled grandchild…it never crossed my mind.  I have hopes and dreams for my family and I am sure you do for yours.  Please consider that could be me” and take a good hard look at the agency serving your area.  I have guardianship of a woman who was a client of NKHS and she was beaten down, threatened and abused by that agency and she didn’t know how to fight back.  She asked me to be her guardian and fight for her.  NKHS accused me of “sneaking that one in under the door”.  They broke the law more than once in the way she was treated and then were shocked when I transferred her services to Sterling Area Services.  I knew her rights and mine as a guardian but had I not, she would still be one of their puppets.  I was lucky…she was lucky.  Most people with a family member or ward don’t even know their rights and NKHS does NOTHING to educate them on this matter.

I have read the blog by Tracy Gilman, safechoicesabuse.org and I am appalled by the stories of abuse there.  They are all true and documented by the very agency she is fighting.  I have worked for NKHS and I have seen firsthand the way they treat the clients who bring in the big waivers.  They deliberately keep them in a crisis state to generate more money for themselves.  This is not JUST the Safe Choices clients.  I encourage you…no I am asking you… to take a look at NKHS and the ways they use the monies given to them for providing “services”.  Look at their “CADRE” billing.  Is it possible that every weekend a client is in crisis and the same people are paid (over and over) an additional $18.00 to $22.00 per hour to watch them?  Why do these clients rarely have a crisis during the week when staff are doing other things and don’t have time built into their days to supplement their salaries?

Look at the life of the safe choices clients and imagine trying to live it?  Twenty four hours a day, seven days a week they are antagonized and made to feel like the dirt of the universe.  I would go crazy if I had a loved one in that program.  It is “arms length” supervision.  Some of these people have not been touched in years.  What must that be like?  Babies DIE if they aren’t held.  The staff is creating a death of the soul in these already vulnerable people who would be at enough of a disadvantage if this had never happened in their lives.  Prisons don’t even treat people like that.   Please help them…and save the state a LOT of tax dollars.  Shutting down Safe Choices and installing the VERY small handful of people who really DO need such a program in a place where they will be treated humanely would be a good start.

Sincerely,

Jeannie Ayer

Voter and taxpayer.

Bill Bennett Denied FOOD by Tammy Crowe & Rick Devost of “Safe Choices”

As if not providing the low fat diet recommended by Bill Bennett’s doctor was not bad enough.  Bill was picked up at Lowell House 7:00 a.m. after eating a banana for breakfast and transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for an 11:00 Pulmonary Exam, where we were followed around for 3 hours by two staffers. (Our tax $$ at work)

About 2:00 p.m. I asked Tammy Crowe, case manager and Rick Devost, supervisor what they had planned for Bill’s lunch.  Tammy Crowe casually said something like “oh, well, we were just thinking he’d eat when he got back to The Lowell House”.  Lowell, a two hour drive from Hanover puts  Bill there at 4:30, on just a banana.

I explained that  Room & Board taken out of Bill’s disability check, an $ amount they refuse to reveal, should provide for a lunch to take when he is going out for the day.  Crowe then said in her monotone voice “we knew you would be here”.   Meaning they knew I would take care of my son.   In the cafeteria at Dartmouth, I bought peta bread with humus, fruit and yogurt.   I offered to let the two pay but they declined.

On Saturday his choice for lunch was a high cholesterol Bologna & Cheese sandwich or nothing, today it’s just nothing.

These people really believe they’ll never be held accountable.  and it should be said that by not taking action, after being informed, the current Governor of Vermont, Peter Shumlin,  Secretary of Human Services, Douglas Racine and on and on, put disabled people at a higher risk for abuse than they already were.   Shame On You

Safe Choices control’s every aspect of their “client’s“ lives, they decide what and apparently “if” they eat, who they will talk to and for how long, where they will go and when they will go there.  These are the same people who just removed my right to unsupervised visitation with my son.   They refuse to let him carry his inhaler then forget? to bring it to his exercise class, go out on all day trips and neglect to concern themselves with food,  and I am not suitable?

And why is it that my son is forced to be picked up and taken places by people who wont give their full names?  Even to me?  People he has never even met with no names pick him up and follow him around all day.  How disgusting and BRUTAL Northeast Kingdom Human Services, Kathy Aiken, Heather Allin, Susan Wehry, Commissioner of abuse.  Your mothers will be shamed.

I wouldn’t ever associate myself with most of the staff I’ve met through this program.  The few I’ve met along the way who had any integrity are long gone!  My son is forced to spend hours a day surrounded by people I couldn’t stomach for more than 5 minutes.   Soon my son will be able to make “Safer Choices”.  God Bless Him

Does this Document Apply to All?

Tammy Crowe, Case Manager, Withholds Client’s Inhaler

“Safe Choices”, Northeast Kingdom Human Services Case Manager withholds Bill Bennett’s Inhaler, refuses to let him carry it on his person, forget to bring it to his exercise class and try to say it’s because I didn’t sign a release they never sent me.  Instead of being concerned about the danger to him,  the case manager, Tammy Crowe coolly shrugs it off.  they clearly know they can get away with any form of abuse.  They clearly feel certain they are above accountability.  And why wouldn’t they? This has been going on for years.

How much more does this state government need to see?   This is brutality, medical abuse, emotional abuse, intimidation, Harassment through the courts, abuse of power, Medicaid fraud, human rights violations, reckless endangerment.

Commissioner of DAIL Retaliates Against Client’s Free Speech

Mrs Susan Wehry, COMMISSIONER of Department of Aging and Independent Living takes a drastic measure to stop William Bennett and Tracy Gilman from reporting the abuses of the “Safe Choices” Program run by Northeast Kingdom Human Services.

SHE RETALIATES BY DENYING MOTHER AND SON VISITS.

In an email Wehry says:

” It has come to my attention that in a blog authored by you”,  you wrote, “Even though my son Bill isn’t a sex offender, he’s been court ordered to take part in the safe choices sex offender program”

She says, “in light of your statement regarding your son not being a sex offender”  “I am terminating unsupervised visits between you and William”

She clearly states it’s retaliation against my son for a statement I made.   

AMENDMENTS

TO THE CONSTITUTION

OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Amendment I.*

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OR OF THE PRESS, OR THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE PEACEABLY TO ASSEMBLE, AND TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.

Mrs Wehry clearly states that this actions is a result of my statement, not any action that I took.  Whether I agreed with the court order or not, I have always followed it.  NOWHERE IN THE COURT ORDER DOES IT SAY THAT I  HAVE TO CALL MY SON A SEX OFFENDER. 

 How do people in this day and age, especially  someone who is entrusted with the care of our disabled population think that they have the authority to overrule our constitution?

In February my son was assaulted by a home care provider and DAIL immediately denied me access to my son.  They denied him  use of the phone, They took him to an undisclosed location and would not tell me, his legal guardian where he was or who he was with and they kept him under the supervision of the Home Care Provider who assaulted him.  Then they petitioned the court to remove me as his legal guardian and attempted to place him under their guardianship.

My son has never been tried or convicted of a crime, he was “Accused” while he was under their “supervision”.  They, with their high professional standards brought him to the Comfort Inn & Suites and left him there with a 19 year old girl.   I have been asked so many times if this was a set up.  YOU JUDGE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKUPdcNNyYk

DON’T EVER ASK THE STATE FOR “HELP”

Please take a moment and write your thoughts, Bill needs us more than ever. Peace and Love Good People

                                                                                        Sign The Petition  http://www.change.org/nonprofits/view/864311