WVA Releases Report in Choking Death
of 22 year old Man with Developmental Disabilities.
West Virginia Advocates (WVA) conducted an investigation into the death of Craig Allen Payne, a 22 year old man receiving day habilitation services from Deaf Education and Advocacy Focus (DEAF) at their West Sattes location in Nitro. Mr. Payne choked to death while eating a hotdog on February 12, 2007. Mr. Payne was an individual with developmental disabilities participating in a licensed Day Habilitation program funded by the West Virginia Medicaid Title XIX MR/DD Home and Community Based Waiver program. Mr. Payne was identified with swallowing difficulties and required a special diet.
Among the findings in the investigation, WVA concluded that DEAF did not have adequate staff at the West Sattes location on the day of Mr. Payne's death. In addition, the staff working were not properly trained or supervised in the care and treatment of Mr. Payne.
In the report, WVA made several recommendations to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources on how to improve services for individuals with disabilities and better ensure their safety. The recommendations included increased monitoring and oversight of providers of the MR/DD Waiver Program and a training certification program for direct care staff.
West Virginia Advocates, Inc., (WVA) is the federally mandated protection and advocacy agency for individuals with disabilities in West Virginia. The mandate provides WVA with the authority to conduct abuse and neglect investigations in settings that serve people with disabilities. The entire report can be viewed in Adobe PDF. Click Here.
