According to DMH's website, Director Keith Schafer (pictured above) mentioned that if there are any abuses and neglect, we are to report any to DMH or by calling the Department's Consumer Affairs Office toll free at 1-800-364-9687.
We do need to have someone to investigate DMH administration for its failure to meet the needs of deaf patients. There are ongoing abuses and neglect of deaf patients under DMH.
Hearing patients have no problem and are capable of getting services anywhere from the telephone book to the advertised programs and services available in the community. They are getting first class services and programs while we are getting nothing! Seriously NOTHING! ZILCH! NADA! ZERO!
Where are the services for deaf patients? Nothing again and again.
There is a deaf woman stuck in the hospital somewhere in Missouri. I believe the program is under the auspices of DMH. There has not been real deaf support services for that poor patient who has been stuck there for more than 10 months. I believe she is being held against her will.
This calls for investigation. She had turned from a young lady at 32 to the aged lady at 80.
It is time now to sound the alarm as we cannot wait anymore. She is not the only one being abused. There are more deaf patients throughout the state who have fallen through cracks. The hearing people continue to abuse the system. It is for real. We have scores of witnesses who have stories to tell.
Do you want to go through the same thing that the poor deaf lady is going through? How do you feel when a nurse comes in your room and looks you down? The nurse says that you are a good girl/boy and touches your hair as if you are 10 year old. How would you feel? That patient has been excluded from exercises, programs and discussions. She has withdrawn from living and very isolated in her own world.
The website by DMH for deaf program receives an F for its lousy make up and lack of real support for our needs.
It shows how audistic they are.
You can see that website at http://www.dmh.missouri.gov/diroffice/depdir/deafsvcs/DeafServices1.htm
The video was not working when I tried to check it out. The message was lacking.
We need to clarify what kind of mental health care needs for our deaf patients. It is to include mental illness, mental retardation and substance abuse. We need to have a system of identification, evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of individuals. We need services on inpatient and outpatient basis. We need trained counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and other mental health care professionals.
So what are they doing really at this time of serious problems affecting deaf patients? How do they sleep at night and they are taking tax dollars into their pockets doing nothing about it. They are just window dressing all over again and again. There is a growing census of frustration and anger geared towards DMH. The deaf advisory groups under DMH are just token for their egos and selfish advantages.
Not too long ago, I was heavily involved with DMH meetings. I was told promises by DMH.
1. DMH agreed to hire a deaf person to lead the deaf program. They LIED! * They hired a hearing person against our wishes.
2. DMH agreed to send out advertisements for the position. They LIED! *Search of internet and materials did not show any indication of their action to announce job opening.
3. DMH agreed to wait until September 30, 2008 to hire someone. They LIED! *They already hired a hearing person in mid-August (about six weeks before deadline).
At the last meeting, I noticed in Keith Schafer's eyes that he has not been telling the truth about the promises.
We had spent many months and years meeting with his staff. We have spent hours and hours formulating ideas and suggestions for programs. We had several deaf and hearing professionals with accreditation to help formulate programs for deaf. We have covered every nook and cranny in getting programs ready.
We have dealt with a lot of resistance from DMH. DMH is changing the face of the deaf program against our wishes. It is spelled as abuse and neglect. They are ignoring our recommendations so it is time to fight back and demand what we need in mental health services. Time is now because they are eliminating the information we provided and decided on their own the way they see fit to handle deaf patients. The deaf program is in danger and we need to stop them in the tracks now!
It is time to call 1-800-364-9687 and report DMH's abuses of deaf program.
