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Amy Silverman

State of Denial

A Woman With Developmental Disabilities Was Abused in Arizona. The State Promised Changes. It Has Not Made Them Yet.

A woman with DD living in a state home was raped and had a baby. A task force was made to come up with changes to protect people like her. Most of those changes have not happened yet.

Local Reporting Network

State of Denial

After a Violent Crime, Arizona Promised Reforms for People With Developmental Disabilities. It Has Yet to Deliver.

After a woman with developmental disabilities was raped and gave birth to a child in a state home, a task force recommended changes to improve care for some of Arizona’s most vulnerable residents. Only a third of them have been fully implemented.

Local Reporting Network

State of Denial

They Made a Revolutionary System to Protect People With Developmental Disabilities. Now It’s Falling Apart.

Arizona’s Independent Oversight Committees helped it become one of the best places in the country for the care of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. But now members say the state hasn’t provided necessary resources.

Local Reporting Network

State of Denial

Join Us for an Event About Our Investigation Into Arizona’s Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services

Hear from people featured in our investigation into services for people with developmental disabilities living in Arizona, at a free, virtual event on Dec. 16. The event will also feature people who were instrumental in making the project accessible.

Local Reporting Network

State of Denial

This System Is Supposed to Protect People With Developmental Disabilities. It Is Falling Apart.

Arizona’s Independent Oversight Committees helped make it one of the best places to live as a person with DD. But now they say the state isn’t giving them what they need.

Local Reporting Network

State of Denial

Join Us to Talk About the Stories We Wrote About People With Developmental Disabilities in Arizona

There will be a free event on Zoom on Dec. 16. You can hear from the people in our stories and the people who helped make them.

Local Reporting Network

State of Denial

People with Developmental Disabilities Were Promised Help. Instead, They Face Delays and Denials.

Arizona is known as the best state in the nation for people with developmental challenges. But its Division of Developmental Disabilities has turned down thousands of people who seek assistance because of paperwork issues.

Local Reporting Network

State of Denial

He Has a Developmental Disability and Needs a Caretaker. The State Suggested Diapers Instead.

Even if you qualify for the highest level of services, you still might not get the care you need as a person with developmental disabilities in Arizona. The challenges for families can be immense.

Local Reporting Network

State of Denial

She Needs a Device to Communicate. The State Has Kept it From Her for 18 Months.

Emory, 11, has cerebral palsy and uses an augmentative communication device to talk to her friends. One day, her mother turned it on and smoke came out. “They make it so hard for families that they give up.”

Local Reporting Network

State of Denial

“I Thought Arizona Was Rated High for Disability Services, But That Is Wrong.”

Tyler Stumpf wants to live in the community and work with animals. His mother says the state of Arizona is not doing nearly enough to help.

Local Reporting Network