They are being robbed, beaten and raped. Yet their cries for help are not being heard because they are physically and mentally handicapped and the abusers are relatives who live with them, state officials say.
But help appears to be on the way. The Domestic Abuse of Disabled Adults Intervention Act passed the Illinois Senate, 54-0, last week after clearing the House in early May by a vote of 113-0. The measure had 46 sponsoring legislators from both parties, including Senate President Philip Rock (D-Oak Park) and Rep. Virginia Frederick (R-Lake Forest).
The bill, if signed by Gov. Jim Edgar within the next two months, would require the Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services and the Department of Mental Health to establish guidelines for intervention on behalf of disabled adults who are abused, neglected or exploited in domestic living situations.
Although no money would be spent on the project this year because of budget constraints, sponsors are hoping the action will throw light on the problem.
The bill also requires that a statewide abuse hot line be staffed during business hours and that a recording device receive reports during non-business hours.
”It`s needed. We are just taking a small step this year,” Frederick said. ”It`s widespread. We`ve held hearings, and we`ve had testimony-and it`s very upsetting-about the family members. You understand, especially in the case of disability, burnout occurs when people get tired, day after day after day.”
Zena Naiditch, executive director of Protection and Advocacy Inc. of Chicago, said the group receives about 200 calls a year from people who detect such abuse. But the figure is just the tip of the iceberg, she said, because abuse is a hidden problem and many of the victims can`t phone for help.
”We are talking about the last group of dependent people who are not protected by the state system,” said Naiditch, whose agency lobbied for legislation to protect handicapped residents ages 18 to 59.
Those younger than 18, she said, are protected under the Department of Children and Family Services and those older than 59 are protected under the Department of Aging.
”We are talking about a group that`s very vulnerable,” Naiditch said.
”In the past, the focus has been on abuse in institution settings. People have not recognized adults at home are encountering the same violence.”
Naiditch said that until a central reporting mechanism is established, the problem will remain behind closed doors. ”It is a hidden problem right now,” she said. ”When we get a call, the person has been bounced from agency to agency in order to get us.”
Frederick said the legislation would not become ”full-blown” this year because the state is short of money and legislators are responding to the governor`s request not to launch new spending programs. But once it is implemented, she estimated that the program could cost the state $250,000 a year.
”Actually, we do need a staff,” she said. ”We need a separate division in (the Departments of Rehabilitation Services and Mental Health) to do this, and we had figured we would need about $250,000.”
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Officials for the Department of Rehabilitation Services are waiting for Edgar to act before they get excited about the bill.
`We feel it is a bit early to comment on it,” said spokeswoman Melissa Skilbeck.