I applaud Governor Cuomo’s decision to step forward to assist child sex abuse victims, but the disabled deserve the exact same help

DELMAR, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES, January 13, 2017 /EINPresswire.com/ -- I applaud Governor Cuomo’s decision to step forward to assist child sex abuse victims http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/cuomo-unveils-plan-child-victims-act-article-1.2943920 , but at the same time it is critical that he also takes decisive actions to stop and prevent the rampant sexual abuse of the disabled within his mental health agencies.
Statistical data obtained through New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) reveals a pattern of staggering numbers of reported sexual assaults of people with developmental disabilities throughout the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) system alone, one sixth of New York State’s mental health system. Numerous OPWDD State documents and records reveal approximately 325 reports of sexual abuse every 3 months or 1300 on average annually. A well known report on the State of Massachusetts website titled “Prevalence of Violence” http://www.mass.gov/dppc/abuse-recognize/prevalence-of-violence.html reveals that “Only three percent (3%) of sexual abuse cases involving people with developmental disabilities will ever be reported.” Using this recognized statistical data in New York State’s OPWDD system alone of approximately 126,000 developmentally disabled children and adults approximately one third are victims of sexual abuse annually. This evil must be stopped.
Tragically, nothing has been done to stop or prevent the rampant sexual abuse of the disabled since the award winning New York Times “Abused and Used” investigative reporting series which was a runner up for a Pulitzer Prize http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/nyregion/abused-and-used-series-page.html?_r=0 . The disabled are a forgotten group of people that are being clearly treated as unequal New York State residents. Massive numbers of extremely vulnerable children and adults with disabilities are not only victims of repeated sexual abuse, but victims of horrific discrimination.
A few quotes from Governor Cuomo in the Daily News regarding child sex victims should be no different than for our most vulnerable disabled. Governor Cuomo is directly quoted in the news story titled “Cuomo unveils plan for Child Victims Act that would do away with statute of limitation” stating, "Child victims are one of the most vulnerable populations of this state,” Cuomo wrote. “The outdated laws of New York do not adequately address the needs of these young victims.” He told the Daily News that changing the law is “the right thing to do.” "These survivors deserve justice, plain and simple," Cuomo said. "Giving victims the opportunity to advance their claims in court is the right thing to do and I urge the Legislature to join me and pass this measure once and for all."

I could not agree with Governor Cuomo more, but why is he remaining silent regarding the wide-scale sexual abuse within his own agencies is the question? One thing that I have noticed over many years now as an advocate for people with disabilities and their families, the State of New York and multiple governors will look outwardly at horrors happening in private institutions, but will do almost anything to hide and conceal the exact same atrocities and in this case sexual assault crimes occurring in agencies under their control and authority.

Right now in New York State thousands of sexual assaults are reported to Governor Cuomo’s established abuse hotline for the disabled wrongfully titled the Justice Center for the Protection of People with special Needs (Justice Center). This entity is not a Justice Center, but a fraudulent whitewash entity where most reported crimes, including criminally negligent deaths and sexual assault crimes literally disappear. Remember, most sexual assaults and rapes of people with developmental disabilities, which most are all like little children, will never be reported. The fact is that right now throughout New York State almost all reported sexual assault crimes occurring in both state-run and state certified private facilities and group homes for the disabled are purposefully kept by the Justice Center from local police, from any criminal investigation and kept from County elected District Attorney’s. This entity under Governor Cuomo’s authority and directive is doing the exact same thing the Catholic Church did which was to hide and conceal the horrific sexual abuse and do almost everything protect and shield sexual predators. In doing so, the vast majority of sexual predators escape justice and remain employed and able to reoffend the same victim or other innocent victims.

As the father of a child killed in State care in New York and full time advocate it is outrageous that this wickedness and corruption continues to go on in New York State. It is literally as if the disabled are not treated as human beings and I am not exaggerating. The emergency 911 call systems are being purposefully bypassed when our disabled are victims of sexual assault crimes and victims of many other crimes. The disabled in most reported cases never receive immediate emergency medical or police assistance. Crimes against the disabled are rarely criminally investigated and the proper evidence collection and retention purposefully not done. New York State penal laws, county elected District Attorney’s and local courts in most reported criminal cases regarding the disabled are completely bypassed.

Jonathan Carey, my son, was only 13 when he was suffocated to death by his New York State caregiver. Jonathan was developmentally disabled, he had autism and he was non- verbal, yet what happened to him speaks loud and clear today for equal rights for the disabled http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/06/nyregion/boys-death-highlights-crisis-in-homes-for-disabled.html and https://www.nytimes.com/video/nyregion/100000000849083/a-failure-to-protect.html . As Jonathan’s father and the founder of the Jonathan Carey Foundation http://jonathancareyfoundation.org/ I cannot remain silent. The horrors and literal atrocities that Jonathan suffered and endured within the three short years he lived in residential care facilities before he was killed demand massive reforms. The disabled can no longer be treated unequally and denied emergency 911 first responder services and their basic constitutional right to equal protection of laws.

The disabled that are sexual assault victims also deserve justice and their abusers that are criminals must be held fully accountable for their actions. New York State cannot continue to hide and conceal these sexual assault atrocities occurring in astronomical scope within their own agencies. Governor Cuomo, cannot speak out and take actions only for vulnerable children sexual assault victims, but also for our most vulnerable disabled. Everything that Governor Cuomo is proposing for child sexual assault victims must also be established for all people with disabilities.

Stand with us for “equal rights” and “civil rights” for people with disabilities in New York State and throughout our great country by signing our petition at www.jonathancareyfoundation.org. No longer can 911 be bypassed, 911 call systems must be immediately called by all mandated reporters regarding all physical and sexual assaults, gross negligence of care, significant and suspicious injuries and when a person with a disability is in medical distress or has stopped breathing. http://jonathancareyfoundation.org/donate/

Michael Carey
Mr.
5188529377
email us here

The incredible life and tragic preventable death of Jonathan Carey, who was disabled, had autism, was non-verbal & only 13 when he was killed by his caregivers