State of Denial
Inside Arizona’s Division of Developmental Disabilities
Arizona’s services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are supposed to be the best in the country. But the state is failing to deliver. ProPublica and the Arizona Daily Star are working to make stories accessible. You can read the stories in plain language and Spanish and listen to audio versions.
Original Text:
- People with Developmental Disabilities Were Promised Help. Instead, They Face Delays and Denials.
- Editors’ Note: Why We Investigated the Treatment of People With Developmental Disabilities
- He Has a Developmental Disability and Needs a Caretaker. The State Suggested Diapers Instead.
- She Needs a Device to Communicate. The State Has Kept it From Her for 18 Months.
- “I Thought Arizona Was Rated High for Disability Services, But That Is Wrong.”
- Community Storytelling Is Informing Our Coverage of Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services. Share Your Story.
- What’s Your Experience With Intellectual and Developmental Disability Care in Arizona?
- They Made a Revolutionary System to Protect People With Developmental Disabilities. Now It’s Falling Apart.
- Join Us for an Event About Our Investigation Into Arizona’s Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services
- After a Violent Crime, Arizona Promised Reforms for People With Developmental Disabilities. It Has Yet to Deliver.
Audio (Original Text):
- People with Developmental Disabilities Were Promised Help. Instead, They Face Delays and Denials.
- He Has a Developmental Disability and Needs a Caretaker. The State Suggested Diapers Instead.
- She Needs a Device to Communicate. The State Has Kept it From Her for 18 Months.
- “I Thought Arizona Was Rated High for Disability Services, But That Is Wrong.”
Plain Language:
- Arizona Promised to Help People With Developmental Disabilities. But Some Had to Wait a Long Time. Some Did Not Get Help at All.
- Editors’ Note: Why We Wrote about the Way People With Developmental Disabilities Get Treated
- How We Wrote the Story
- He Has a Developmental Disability. He Needs a Helper. Arizona Said He Could Wear Diapers Instead.
- She Needs a Device to Talk to People. Arizona Has Not Given It to Her. It Has Been 1.5 Years.
- “I Thought Arizona Was Rated High for Disability Services, But That Is Wrong.”
- This System Is Supposed to Protect People With Developmental Disabilities. It Is Falling Apart.
- Join Us to Talk About the Stories We Wrote About People With Developmental Disabilities in Arizona
- A Woman With Developmental Disabilities Was Abused in Arizona. The State Promised Changes. It Has Not Made Them Yet.
Audio (Plain Language):
- Arizona Promised to Help People With Developmental Disabilities. But Some Had to Wait a Long Time. Some Did Not Get Help at All.
- He Has a Developmental Disability. He Needs a Helper. Arizona Said He Could Wear Diapers Instead.
- She Needs a Device to Talk to People. Arizona Has Not Given It to Her. It Has Been 1.5 Years.
- “I Thought Arizona Was Rated High for Disability Services, But That Is Wrong.”
En español:
Event Recordings:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Editors’ Note: Why We Investigated the Treatment of People With Developmental Disabilities
Arizona’s treatment of people with developmental disabilities is important because it impacts tens of thousands of people. But for us, it’s also personal.
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.
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.”
“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.
Arizona Promised to Help People With Developmental Disabilities. But Some Had to Wait a Long Time. Some Did Not Get Help at All.
Arizona is known as the best state for people with developmental disabilities. But the Division of Developmental Disabilities has told many people they can’t have what they need. Sometimes it’s just because their paperwork is wrong.
Editors’ Note: Why We Wrote About the Way People With Developmental Disabilities Get Treated
How Arizona treats people with developmental disabilities is important. It affects a lot of people. It is personal for us too.
How We Wrote the Story
We talked to many people and read a lot of paperwork to make this story.
He Has a Developmental Disability. He Needs a Helper. Arizona Said He Could Wear Diapers Instead.
Some people with developmental disabilities get a lot of services. But they still might not have everything they need. Their families have a hard time when they don’t have enough help.
She Needs a Device to Talk to People. Arizona Has Not Given It to Her. It Has Been 1.5 Years.
Emory is 11 years old. She has cerebral palsy. She uses a device to talk to her friends. One day, her mom turned it on and smoke came out. She said, “They make it so hard for families that they give up.”
“I Thought Arizona Was Rated High for Disability Services, But That Is Wrong.”
Tyler Stumpf wants to live in the community. He wants to work with animals. His mom says Arizona is not helping him do that.
