Mary Smith’s biggest fear is how her son, Brian Smith, 29, will survive when she and her husband die; a grim realization that she has come to terms with. Her son has down syndrome and the functional level of a three-year-old. Her son requires around the clock care and ca not be left alone. “I don’t think you are allowed to legally leave a three-year old alone,” said Mrs. Smith. “I would be put in jail if I left a three-year old alone and my house went on fire, and my three-year old died.” Brian Smith has been on the housing waiting list, known as the Residential Request List for over 10-years. He was recently contacted by a group home near his residence in Bronxville, New York, where he lives with both his parents. “He had two interviews. It was a great home, [but] he did not get the spot because …show more content…
“You can’t put a child like my son, who is very vulnerable, with people with behaviors, because he has absolutely no capacity to protect himself.” The New York State statutory, in accordance with the Department of Mental Hygiene, is responsible for supporting people with disabilities and to fulfill those responsibilities the state contracts nonprofit organizations to provide the necessary services, said the president and CEO of the New York State Rehabilitation Association, Michael Seereiter. The Office of Persons with Developmental Disabilities has an understanding that the agencies who employ direct support professionals are also responsible for hiring, training and supervising the support staff. “This issue has galvanized everyone. It’s getting more and more difficult to hire employees,” said executive director at the Interagency Council of Developmental Agencies, Peter