Parents hope to raise awareness with website

After losing their son, the Careys continue their advocacy.

by Elizabeth McBreen

    Three years ago, Michael and Lisa Carey lost their son. Jonathan Carey died on a school van while in the care of two New York State caregivers from O.D. Heck Development Center, in Niskayuna, New York. At the time of Jonathan’s death, investigations into the care he received at his previous school, Anderson School in Staatsburg, New York, had been conducted by the Commission on Quality of Care (CQC) and the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD). 
    The investigation lead to a report issued in June of 2008 by Inspector General (IG) Joseph Fisch.  The report details the mishandling by the CQC and OMRDD of the investigation into Jonathan’s case. The report strongly criticized the two agencies and lead to the resignation of the CQC’s former chairman, Gary O’Brien. Unfortunately, as far as the Careys can tell, this is the only reform that has yet occurred as a result of the IG’s scathing report.
    But the Careys continue their advocacy for other disabled children in New York State in the name of their son. A few months ago, they created a website that outlines a history of abuse at the facility that is now called the Anderson Center for Autism.
    One link on the website shows a memo that the Careys obtained through the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). The memo from 2004 is written by Mark Keegan, then Director of Quality Assurance and Investigations of the CQC .  It is addressed to Jan Abelseth of OMRDD. Keegan states that during the 2002-2003 school year, “Our indication (proven or substantiated cases of abuse) rate of 23% of all Anderson School cases is nearly four times the overall indication rate for both OMH and OMRDD facilities and Anderson accounts for a staggering 73% of all indications for OMRDD certified facilities.”
    Shortly after their son’s death, the Careys established the Jonathan Carey Foundation. Michael Carey says the mission of the foundation is to help vulnerable children, “Autistic, non-verbal children are the most susceptible to abuse and neglect. We’re trying to bring awareness and information to their families.” 
    This is the kind of information that the Careys wish they had when they were making a decision about where to place their son. Jonathan was enrolled at the Anderson Center for Autism in 2003. His abuse began in early 2004. The Careys were never told of the school’s history that is outlined in Keegan’s memo. “Our concern is that the school had the highest indication rate of abuse of all OMRDD facilities,” says Michael. “And we believe that the people guilty of that abuse were not removed. We believe some of them are still there.” The Careys feel that the OMRDD and CQC are not properly investigating the abuse at the school. Several requests for comment from OMRDD were unanswered.
    “When parents are kept in the dark, they cannot properly advocate for their children,” says Lisa. “I wish we had known this when we enrolled our son.” The Carey’s website can be found at http://www.andersoncenterforautism.info.