"Heads Up on Lauren Carter"

The book's title is derived from a memo written at the highest levels of the government of Ohio in 1995. The memo was a derogatory and defamatory effort from cabinet level personnel to disparaged the family of an individual with Intellectual Developmental Disability issues and it is a glaring example of how the 'system' operates. Now, thirty years later, there exists a stack of evidence proving that they were wrong then, they've been wrong all along and they are wrong today. "Heads Up on Lauren Carter" lays out in DOCUMENTED detail all that Lauren and her family has had to endure. 

~ Dedication ~

Dedicated to Lauren Elizabeth Carter, the Strongest, most Resolute, Young Woman Determined to Overcome the Forces of Evil That Dominate What is Mistakenly Referred to as a Care System for Individuals with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities. 

Also dedicated to all the families everywhere who are trying to, or have tried to, care for a loved one with IDD issues. 

~ Introduction ~

The ‘system’ is insane, but no one knows

Families know 

Provider companies know

Facility employees know

Government agencies and their employees know

Everyone involved knows that the entire process is systemically flawed to the point of being a human disaster. The problem is the masses of our society DON’T KNOW. The masses see well produced propaganda via social media, fliers in the mail, advertisements and ‘pretty picture’ news coverage. 

What no one ever covers is the day-to-day, month-to-month, year-to-year, decade after decade of Neglect and Abuse that exists for those who have been beset by IDD issues, their parents and their families. 

State, County and Federal agencies seek to gloss over and minimize the incidents that occur. They obfuscate data and are, in no way, helpful or forthcoming. It takes FOIA requests, lawsuits, investigative reporters, and blind luck on occasion to get information that is helpful. 

The rationale that is often verbalized, or in written form, supporting the system often defies logic. The ‘rules’ that are developed and written in support of the ‘system’ are unconscionable in their inhumanity. The corruption involved in maintaining the status quo is, at the very least, immoral. Huge sums of money are involved and there is a cycle of campaign donations to keep the process going. 

Funding for care begins at the federal level, extends to the state level and involves the local level as well. By the time the intended ‘care’ reaches the person being served, they are served by people who, in 2024, often are being paid in the mid-teens for their efforts. They possess a minimal level of skill that is rivaled only by their minimal enthusiasm for an acceptable level of productivity. They routinely place vulnerable people in very concerning situations. Neglect is a daily function of the job and, quite frankly, seems to be the goal. Abuse occurs at a far too elevated level of acceptance. Incidents that require investigation are almost unanimously ignored. For example, in the state of Ohio, in 2020, 18,000 Major Unusual Incidents (MUI’s) were accumulated across the state. Despite the investigations at the county level, and despite these investigations being forwarded to the state level, virtually no repercussions, consequences or punishments were administered to the offending provider companies.

In the world of institutional care, there are a few levels of care incidents. 

1. Nurses Notes

2. Incident Reports

3. Unusual Incidents

4. Major Unusual Incidents (MUI’s)

While ALL ‘incidents’ are concerning, it is the Major ones which are of the most concern. MUI’s represent occurrences in which a life was in danger. Lauren has had at least 16 in her life. This story…Lauren’s Story…uncovers and explains the life-threatening situations, the lies, malfeasance and corruption, and the utter nonsense that constitutes our Federal/State/Local Developmental Disability Care System. 

Lauren’s Legacy is a story of Survival, Endurance, and a Relentless Will to Overcome. In 1995, at the Highest Levels of the State of Ohio government, a memo was created and faxed around to various departments and to the Governor’s office itself. The memo was titled, “Heads Up on Lauren Carter.” The memo was defamatory and derogatory toward the family of Lauren and, most specifically, to me, her dad. A dad who was constantly fighting the system to keep his daughter out of institutional care and fighting the powers that be in the structure that exists. The people who wrote this memo were also sitting on top of the pile of people who ultimately decided to place Lauren in the facilities. 

Thirty years later…multiple MUI’s later…multiple death-defying incidents later…and the evidence is clear. They were wrong then, they have been wrong over the past three decades, and they are wrong today. 

So, get ready, it is time for a “Heads Up on Lauren Carter”