ALBANY — In a bid to crack down on rampant abuse at facilities treating the developmentally disabled, state inspectors will now double the number of times they visit the facilities.
For years, inspectors have been required to do surprise inspections of facilities at least once a year but under new legislation that Gov. Cuomo signed Wednesday, inspectors will now be dispatched at least twice a year.
Advocates for the disabled hailed the move. Among them was Michael Carey, who has been a sharp critic of Cuomo for not doing enough to follow through on promises to improve the system.
“Another vital step has been taken toward making it safer for people with disabilities living in residential care facilities that have had systemic problems of abuse and neglect,” said Carey, whose autistic son, Jonathan, was suffocated as a state employee tried to restrain him.
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