Human rights denied
William Skipworth’s expose in the NH Bulletin revealed unimaginable tragedies and total disregard for human life. People with disabilities need extra support, like everyone else, but that doesn’t make us less human. The horrible treatment of the people mentioned in the articles included injury and death. Steven, Christine and Lucas are no longer with us, so we must speak up for them. They were entitled to their freedom without discrimination, as well as the right to life, liberty and security of person. No one should be subject to the torture or inhuman cruelty that they endured. These basic universal human rights were denied.
These cases bring to light the dire need for more rigorous hiring practices of Direct Service Professionals, people tasked with the care and protection of vulnerable, disabled citizens. There is a general attitude that all you need is a warm body to do this work, but we deserve more than that. As a woman who uses direct support every day to meet my basic needs, finding great, dedicated women hasn’t always been easy.
New Hampshire can do better to end the suffering. DSP work needs to be seen as a viable career option with a livable wage and benefits. We need to pay better attention and have regular performance evaluations. Law enforcement needs to be trained to work with disabled people, and our community needs to come together and speak up for those without a voice.