Allan Bloom was an American philosopher, classicist, and academician. He died in 1992. -- Wikipedia


"Enlightened" Self Interest

An Argument for:
* moving away from Punishment & Consequences,
* Honestly acknowledging the huge resource issues of cognitive disability in our society
*Using our creativity to Design innovative service delivery & funding mechanisms to comply with existing disability rights laws.

       
        The "right against self-incrimination" really began in England and Wales and was incorporated into the 5th Amendment to the US Constitution.   A lot of human rights that we consider basic human rights were articulated during the  "Enlightenment" [16 & 1700s] . 
       
The Right Against Self-Incrimination is designed not only to prevent coerced confessions but also to protect the  person against the so-called triple threat of:
  • Having to testify against yourself
  • Contempt, & 
  • Perjury 
 
The  "Enlightenment"  of the 16 & 1700s was not only an "ENLIGHTENMENT" regarding human rights BUT it was  also  a Scientific Enlightenment and Revolution.

           We are currently undergoing a Scientific Revolution with regard to HUMAN BIOLOGY  and  once "INVISIBLE DISABILITIES"  that are becoming VISIBLE with greatly improved technology.

           THAT IS CAUSING A HUGE FUNDING CRISIS In OUR SOCIETY --- cognitive disability is more common than we thought it was.  For example, we generally didn't know someone had brain injury unless there was some visible sign of it.

           Further, the US is in the midst of a full out Mental Health Epidemic that among many, many, many  other things may be related to a LACK of good parasites and mental illness seems to be a lot more related to the Immune System than we previously knew.--

           It is not in our enlightened self-interest to ignore the CHRONIC STAFFING PROBLEMS of Disability Service Provision in Colorado.

           It is NOT in our enlightened self-interest to cannibalize  each other either.

           In the words of Clinician Ross Greene -- why don't we go to Plan B and Solve the Problem. 

Our reporting scheme isn't as
"enlightened"
as we think it is

​       Regulation and enforcement of DISABILITY STAFFING REQUIREMENTS are generally CIVIL IN NATURE and REPORTING REQUIREMENTS whether Children or Vulnerable Adults are GENERALLY CIVIL IN NATURE, although sometimes they have a CRIMINAL COMPONENT for FAILING TO REPORT -- 

CO Child Abuse & Neglect Reporting Statutes

​"Yes, there are legal consequences for not reporting.  You could be charged with a class 3 misdemeanor, receive a fine of $750 and/or imprisonment up to six months, and be liable for what the law terms “damages approximately caused” if you fail to report a suspicion of child abuse or neglect.​"

 https://co4kids.org/mandatoryreporting 

Colorado Bar Association  on  At-Risk Adult Reporting Statutes. What Happens if Abuse Is Not Reported?

"If a person willfully fails to report the abuse or exploitation of an at-risk elder, he or she can be charged with a class 3 misdemeanor. This type of misdemeanor may result in a fine from $50 to $750, up to six months in the county jail, or both."

http://www.cobar.org/portals/cobar/repository/SLH/chap33.pdf

Well, most of us are are against Abuse & Neglect of Children & Adults.  It may go against our notions of proximate cause -- BUT IT REALLY IS ALL CONNECTED.

AND ultimately, it comes down to some pretty IMMORAL and/or UNenlightened allocation of resources and blatant often fear-based disregard of EXISTING LAW not  by families & front-line workers BUT by policymakers & oversight agencies as well regarding:
  • A Free & Appropriate Education for Children with Disabilities, not to mention a Safe Environment
  • The State's Obligation to Prevent Unnecessary Institutionalization of People with Disabilities,
  • Mental Health Parity & Addiction Equity
  • Medicaid Network Adequacy.

Are we going to continually sue those @ the top and criminally prosecute those at the bottom -- OR are we going to get honest, work together & solve this? 

An important first step is instituting routine independent staffing audits of all service providers of Children and Adults with Disabilities, including from Education to the Colorado Mental Health Insititute @ Pueblo.
​
Lives In The Balance

​"Behaviorally challenging kids are often on the receiving end of the most brutal, unenlighted, ineffective treatment society has to offer."
www.livesinthebalance.org

​Well, those kids don't stay kids --- They become ADULTS-- the brutal, unenlightened, ineffective and often just MISSING intensive treatment, housing & placements --- take on NEW MEANING.

Further, we're not going to get into the BIrds & the Bees -- BUT most of these kids as adults -- are going to have kids.

So even if all you care about is KIDS --- you need to care about ADULTS.

Most of the people serving children and adults with disabilities are THE PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY WHO CARE THE MOST along with FAMILY MEMBERS.

Those FAMILY MEMBERS & FRONT LINE WORKERS are also the people who are most likely to be "Blamed" if we didn't provide ADEQUATE RESOURCES given demonstrated NEED relating to  EXISTING LEGAL REQUIREMENTS to provide such RESOURCES.


A Mental Health Discovery That Could Change Criminal Justice Forever

50 to 80% of People in Criminal Justice Have A Traumatic Brain Injury

​Dr. Kim Gorgens is a professor of Psychophysiology, Clinical Neuropsychology, and Psychology of Criminal Behavior at the University of Denver. She manages a portfolio of brain injury-related research--studying the reported history, cognitive function and brain biomarkers of probationers, inmates and college athletes.