Lack of Supervision

In an article featured on Statesman.com titled Advocates: Texas should take immediate action on state schools, author Corrie MacLaggan shows how those on both sides of the argument are missing the main point. State schools, institutions for people with mental retardation, are in the spotlight for their lack of adequate care. And the numbers don’t lie – 114 people have died just in the last year. What is going on?

In a report sent to the Governor, the facilities have been found to be responsible because of inadequate supervision. The facilities claim that they have been working on this but because of low staffing, it has been a hard battle but they have been showing improvement. The state schools have also asked for more funds for a pay increase to help the cause.

Why is it that when the 114 people die from mishaps that could have probably been prevented, the news was not on the front page of the paper? Why is it that an advocacy group has to make a big stink for someone to pay attention? If it is due to staffing, then why do others complain that there are not enough jobs in Texas? The cost of a significant pay increase, even one larger than the 10% they are requesting, probably won’t hit the budget that hard and could make a huge difference in the care offered in state schools.

Seems as though the regulation of these state schools clearly needs reform, not only in the staffing needs but also in the management. People are so quick to place those with such disabilities in such a facility and just rely on the state to take care of the cost. If we are going to rely on the State to help us in helping our own, isn’t it our responsibility to ensure that it is being done correctly?

Thank God for advocacy groups!