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So here we have a man *who has already been shot at by police* for being disabled and Latino in public* (Officer Aledda was very clear in court that he intended to "take [Arnaldo's] life), and his service provider called 911 and claimed he was dangerous. https://www.wftv.com/news/9investigates/orange-county-group-home-risk-losing-license-after-incident-with-autistic-man-caught-camera/S5YXR3GJQNCQBDWBEQH3EH5P54/
Fabricating records is not at all uncommon in disability services, in my experience. https://twitter.com/Cal__Montgomery/status/1282901983821737985?s=19
Fabricating 911 calls, in whole or in part, to get a quicker response or to try to prime first responders to see things the way the caller wants is far from unheard of.
https://popcenter.asu.edu/content/misuse-and-abuse-911-0
https://popcenter.asu.edu/content/misuse-and-abuse-911-0
When 13-year-old, 5'3" Max Benson was killed by staff at his school in a 1 hour, 45 minute particularly dangerous restraint, one of the first things the staff did was lie to the 911 operator, saying he was 6' tall and 280 lbs. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.sacbee.com/news/local/education/article237229909.html
And the consequences -- even when nobody dies -- can be horrific. Neli Latson was 18 years old, Black, autistic, and waiting for the library to open when someone called 911 and said he might have a gun.
http://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/changing-america/respect/diversity-inclusion/509312-amid-black-lives-matter-protests-advocates-seek%famp
http://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/changing-america/respect/diversity-inclusion/509312-amid-black-lives-matter-protests-advocates-seek%famp
We have all seen the police being called on Black people and other people of color this kind of way.
And again, Arnaldo's staff knew this because he had already been shot at by police, and the staff person with him was hit by the bullet. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox.com/platform/amp/2020/5/26/21270699/amy-cooper-franklin-templeton-christian-central-park
And again, Arnaldo's staff knew this because he had already been shot at by police, and the staff person with him was hit by the bullet. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox.com/platform/amp/2020/5/26/21270699/amy-cooper-franklin-templeton-christian-central-park
But even truthful 911 calls on BIPOC and disabled people are dangerous. Very dangerous. https://www.google.com/amp/s/time.com/5857438
The last time Stephon Watts' parents called 911 on him (as they had been instructed by his service provider to do), even though they tried to cancel the call, the police shot and killed their teenage son. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nwitimes.com/news/local/illinois/court-rules-in-favor-of-cal-city-cops-in-fatal-shooting-of-autistic-teen/article_b6ccccb4-ec61-5f43-ab58-bd65750328d1.amp.html
But now here's an added wrinkle. The state is looking at shutting this place down. Good! Right? It's actually more complicated than that.
In late 2018, an indigenous woman living in an intermediate care facility in Arizona unexpectedly gave birth. This led to the discovery of a substantial history of abuse and neglect. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/05/23/us/arizona-disabled-woman-family-lawsuit-claim/index.html
One of the reasons this could happen without anyone noticing is that the woman lived far from her loved ones: there was only one ICF in Arizona that provided the care she needed. And services at home are hard to get.
So when the state moved to strip the facility of its license, that would have moved residents even farther from their families.
In the end, the facility stayed open, but the administration changed. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.azfamily.com/news/investigations/hacienda_healthcare/embattled-hacienda-healthcare-will-keep-state-license-stay-open/article_54074a50-38d1-11ea-9833-23f676274b17.amp.html
In the end, the facility stayed open, but the administration changed. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.azfamily.com/news/investigations/hacienda_healthcare/embattled-hacienda-healthcare-will-keep-state-license-stay-open/article_54074a50-38d1-11ea-9833-23f676274b17.amp.html
So back to Arnaldo Ríos Soto.
Arnaldo needs a lot of skilled support. There aren't that many providers.
After he was shot at and his staff hit, one of the places the state sent him was Carlton Palms, known for trauma-inducing, not trauma-informed, care. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article219613345.html
Arnaldo needs a lot of skilled support. There aren't that many providers.
After he was shot at and his staff hit, one of the places the state sent him was Carlton Palms, known for trauma-inducing, not trauma-informed, care. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article219613345.html
He's been bounced around from program to program. And his family keeps moving, to be there for him.
Not all families will do this. Not all can. Not everyone has a family. And congregate care makes it hard to get to know your neighbors.
So for a lot of disabled p
Not all families will do this. Not all can. Not everyone has a family. And congregate care makes it hard to get to know your neighbors.
So for a lot of disabled p
So for many people in places like Arnaldo's group home, other residents and paid staff are people's primary relationships.
And because people are slotted into "beds" in facilities owned (or leased) by providers, rather than services being offered in their own homes...
And because people are slotted into "beds" in facilities owned (or leased) by providers, rather than services being offered in their own homes...
When a provider of congregate residential services loses its contract, residents lose their homes, their communities, and many or even all of their relationships. They have to start over. https://www.mainepublic.org/post/staffers-protest-maine-dhhs-decision-terminate-providers-contract
To keep updated on Arnaldo, who deserves to thrive -- and could thrive, with proper supports -- but is merely trying to hang on amidst the racialized ablism that he must contend with, follow @dislaw
