Quadriplegic: Monroe County made decision on inaccurate investigation

Posted at: 07/28/2010 12:41 AM | Updated at: 07/28/2010 10:25 AM
By: Nikki Rudd | WHEC.com

For the first time we’re hearing from one of the 12 people the County claims was neglected by the Center for Disability Rights (CDR).

Stephen Kasper of Rochester says Monroe County made a decision based on an inaccurate investigation and is making the lives of people with disabilities worse.

This is all about the County’s decision to terminate its business relationship with the CDR. CDR helped patients hire their own home health aides who were paid by the County through Medicaid.

Kasper says his words were twisted and taken out of context in report given to County Executive Maggie Brooks by Department of Human Services Commissioner Kelly Reed. The report is based on an investigation by DHS.

“They are not true,” said Kasper. “And these other individuals, I just wonder if their claims are being twisted.”

Kasper says he’s Client #2 in the report, but says they got it all wrong. He says he was never neglected and wants to stay with CDR.

Dozens of other CDR clients had the same thing to say at Tuesday night’s Monroe County Human Services Committee meeting.

“I always say that my wheelchair gave me legs, but the CDR gave me wings,” said CDR client Michelle Fridley. “They’ve done so much for me.”

For the first time Human Services Commissioner Kelly Reed spoke publicly about the issue. Reed is the one who recommended that the County cut ties with CDR.

“Quite frankly, I was shocked and appalled by what we found,” said Reed.

She says CDR clients are misinformed and safety is the County’s first priority. Reed says the investigation began after complaints from clients.

“Our special investigation unit found that in 100% of the randomly chosen 12 cases there were issues of concern,” said Reed.

Again, Kasper says he’s one of those cases, and he says the County Executive made her decision on false information.

His message for Maggie – “Investigate the claims that these people are making before you condemn an entire organization.”

When we asked him if he was happy with the services CDR provides Kasper said, “Absolutely! The longer I’m with them the better my service gets.”

CDR serves more than 300 clients in this program and employs more than 730 home care aides. They will all be out of jobs. The County says they are eligible to be hired by any of the other five providers the County works with, but some aides tell us they are already having problems getting hired.

County Executive Brooks says the decision is final and hopes to have everyone transitioned within two months.

You can see the letter and other documents, including more detailed accounts of the allegations of neglect, by clicking on the link below.

View — Letter sent to CDR from Monroe County
View — Allegations against CDR
View — Letter from CDR to Monroe County
View — CDR’s website