Private Care for the Retarded

After finishing Hurst’s third article my ire was raised to the point of frustration and outrage. I have been a teacher of the developmentally disabled in the public school system for 16 years, and have witnessed firsthand some of the problems Hurst so poignantly described. My colleagues and I have discussed daily the appalling conditions in which some of our students have been living, only to be frustrated and confused as to whom to turn to when problems arise.

Although I strongly advocate the community placement of the developmentally disabled, perhaps it is not the answer for all. Exploitation of this population is a common problem that I, as a teacher, must deal with when vocationally training students. The Department of Labor and the school district have strict guidelines one must follow when placing students in community settings. Violations of these policies would result in immediate loss of a training program, as well as future community involvement for my students. It seems to me care providers should follow similar regulations and be under closer scrutiny than what exists presently. Slapping these people on the hand with probation for abuse and mistreatment of clients is truly exploitation in its greatest sense.

LYNNE LAUMEISTER

Seal Beach