Archive - Southwest

He Has a Developmental Disability and Needs a Caretaker. The State Suggested Diapers Instead.

Even if you qualify for the highest level of services, you still might not get the care you need as a person with developmental disabilities in Arizona. The challenges for families can be immense.

She Needs a Device to Communicate. The State Has Kept it From Her for 18 Months.

Emory, 11, has cerebral palsy and uses an augmentative communication device to talk to her friends. One day, her mother turned it on and smoke came out. “They make it so hard for families that they give up.”

“I Thought Arizona Was Rated High for Disability Services, But That Is Wrong.”

Tyler Stumpf wants to live in the community and work with animals. His mother says the state of Arizona is not doing nearly enough to help.

Arizona Promised to Help People With Developmental Disabilities. But Some Had to Wait a Long Time. Some Did Not Get Help at All.

Arizona is known as the best state for people with developmental disabilities. But the Division of Developmental Disabilities has told many people they can’t have what they need. Sometimes it’s just because their paperwork is wrong.

Editors’ Note: Why We Wrote About the Way People With Developmental Disabilities Get Treated

How Arizona treats people with developmental disabilities is important. It affects a lot of people. It is personal for us too.

How We Wrote the Story

We talked to many people and read a lot of paperwork to make this story.

He Has a Developmental Disability. He Needs a Helper. Arizona Said He Could Wear Diapers Instead.

Some people with developmental disabilities get a lot of services. But they still might not have everything they need. Their families have a hard time when they don’t have enough help.

“I Thought Arizona Was Rated High for Disability Services, But That Is Wrong.”

Tyler Stumpf wants to live in the community. He wants to work with animals. His mom says Arizona is not helping him do that.

She Needs a Device to Talk to People. Arizona Has Not Given It to Her. It Has Been 1.5 Years.

Emory is 11 years old. She has cerebral palsy. She uses a device to talk to her friends. One day, her mom turned it on and smoke came out. She said, “They make it so hard for families that they give up.”

Prometieron ayuda para las personas con discapacidades de desarrollo. En lugar de recibirla, enfrentan retrasos y rechazos.

Arizona se conoce como el mejor lugar del país para las personas con discapacidades de desarrollo. Sin embargo, debido a problemas con sus trámites, el estado ha rechazado a miles de personas que buscan asistencia.

Trump Got What He Wanted at the Border. Would Biden Undo It?

Democrats agree that Trump’s caused asylum-seekers unacceptable misery. But the goal of deterring people from migrating to the U.S. — which has motivated Trump’s complex web of border policies — has seduced some Democrats, too.

ProPublica to Launch New Regional Units in the South and Southwest; ProPublica Illinois to Expand to Midwest Regional Newsroom

Nonprofit Newsroom Also Launches Distinguished Fellows Program to Support Local Investigative Journalism

The Federal Government Promised Native American Students Computers and Internet. Many Are Still Waiting.

Native American students in BIE operated schools were forced to start the school year without adequate technology, sometimes sharing a single computer among siblings, because the agency disbursed funding late and failed to purchase equipment in time.

Federal Investigation Finds Hospital Violated Patients’ Rights by Profiling, Separating Native Mothers and Newborns

It remains unclear just how many newborns were separated from their mothers as a result of the policies. Lovelace Women’s Hospital did not admit to any wrongdoing but reported that the practice has been halted.

For Election Administrators, Death Threats Have Become Part of the Job

In a polarized society, the bureaucrats who operate the machinery of democracy are taking flak from all sides. More than 20 have resigned or retired since March 1, thinning their ranks at a time when they are most needed.

Cellphone Data Shows How Las Vegas Is “Gambling With Lives” Across the Country

Las Vegas casinos, open for months now, are a likely hotbed for the spread of COVID-19. For many reasons, contact tracing has proved next to impossible as tourists return to homes across the U.S.

The Federal Government Gives Native Students an Inadequate Education, and Gets Away With It

The Bureau of Indian Education has repeatedly neglected warnings that it is not providing a quality education for 46,000 Native students. Once called a “stain on our Nation’s history,” the school system has let down its students for generations.

Politicians and Business Interests Pushed Health Officials Aside to Control Reopening. Then Cases Exploded.

Interviews and internal emails show that Utah prioritized the health of businesses over keeping coronavirus case counts down. As case counts rise, the state will now allow indoor gatherings of up to 3,000 people.

Community Storytelling Is Informing Our Coverage of Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services. Share Your Story.

Journalists have not always brought people with intellectual and developmental disabilities into the conversation. We’re trying to change that with our investigation into Arizona’s disability services. But we need your help.

Since We Reported on Flawed Roadside Drug Tests, Five More Convictions Have Been Overturned

Convictions against five people in Nevada were vacated after ProPublica revealed flaws with the drug tests administered by police. The exonerations come after five overturned drug convictions in Oregon.

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