On March 12, 2011, the New York Times published an investigative report on the care and treatment of individuals served in facilities and programs licensed by OPWDD. The report described incidents of severe abuse and mistreatment of residents with developmental disabilities receiving services in these facilities and programs. The acts described in the article taint the reputation and public perception of important programs and individuals who have chosen to dedicate their lives to providing care to this population.

The purpose of this hearing is to examine state and regulatory oversight of residential programs licensed by OPWDD, review current investigative policies and procedures as they relate to incident reporting, and to explore additional safety and quality measures to protect the State's most vulnerable residents.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible. In the absence of a request, witnesses will be scheduled in the order in which reply forms are postmarked.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

Individuals who are unable to attend are encouraged to submit a single copy of written testimony to the Committee staff listed below.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

Assemblyman Felix W. Ortiz
Chairman
Assembly Standing Committee on
Mental Health, Mental Retardation
and Developmental Disabilities

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Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on examining quality assurance of residential programs licensed by OPWDD are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail it to:

I plan to attend the following public hearing on examining quality assurance of residential programs licensed by OPWDD on: