Overview
How we protect people from abuse and neglect
We help people with disabilities by visiting places where they receive services. We are able to:
- Access programs and facilities at reasonable times to provide information about our services
- Meet with people receiving services
- Meet with staff
- Ensure protection of individual rights
- Observe all areas where people receiving services have access
- Obtain reports related to abuse and neglect investigations, quality assurance, and licensure
- Obtain reports related to restraint and seclusion
- Obtain records related to people who have died
We use the following techniques and activities to protect people:
- Engage in unannounced visits to facilities to find whether there are dangerous conditions or practices and fundamental rights violations
- Perform secondary investigations that examine the findings and recommendations of state and federal investigators
- Investigate deaths and serious incidents; make recommendations to address identified problems
- Collaborate with public investigators
- Share findings and recommendations with state agencies, service providers and the public
How we protect people’s rights to safety and quality of care
We provide advocacy and legal services to help make sure that people with disabilities are safe, receive high-quality care and have their rights enforced. To do this, we:
- Address the underlying causes of abuse, neglect and exploitation
- Ensure people’s access to appropriate services
- Challenge restrictions placed on individual rights
- Help people begin state and federal investigations
- Compel action by state agencies and service providers
- Ensure access to the justice system
- Visit our Abuse & Neglect Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page
- Learn about rights in institutions, facilities and programs
- Learn about misuse of restraint and seclusion
- Find out where to report abuse and neglect to authorities
- Get legal help
Last updated: January 07, 2016