** Important to Understand **
This website is primarily made up of DOCUMENTED incidents of NEGLECT and ABUSE. The documentation has been generated by the relevant agencies responsible for such 'oversight'. In short, it's documentation OF the system, BY the system that CONDEMNS the system.
It spans more than two decades.
The Legal Process
Click the link below to learn more about the lawsuits filed on Lauren's behalf. Currently, we have a Civil Tort Lawsuit as well as a recently filed Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit.
It is rare that there is photographic evidence of my events but this one was documented. This was an intentional act that occurred at Takoda Trails, Fairfield, OH Owned and operated by Empowering People, Inc., Warren, OH
Please Support "Lauren's Law" to Make Families First the Default Position and First Line of Defense for IDD Care. End Neglect and Abuse
Click Here for a brief introduction to Lauren's MUI's
Sixteen Major Unusual Incidents and Counting
For those unfamiliar with the world of institutional care and state oversight, an MUI is short for Major Unusual Incident. They exist to document occurrences that are considered out of the norm. Incidents that are generally categorized as Abuse, Neglect or Malpractice. During my life, I have been the victim of all of the above, sixteen times. It could be said that sixteen times somewhat contradicts the idea of 'Unusual'. Five of my MUI's have been Imminently Life Threatening.
I have experienced the following:
- As pictured on this page, I was assaulted and cut significantly. If the cut were any deeper, this story would be different today.
- I have been left on a hot bus not once, but TWICE! And one of those was the hottest recorded day of the year. The second, I was strapped in my seat for 5 hours on another hot day in July.
- I once left a care facility in the middle of winter (in the Midwest) while dressed for indoor activity AND with no shoes on.
- I am fed with a G-Tube and was hospitalized when my feeding and bowel functions were not monitored correctly. The hospital pumped 2 liters of fluid from my 4'9", 77#, anesthetized body.
"Fragile Lives", Michael Berens, the Columbus Dispatch, 1995
This is when the Nightmare began.
In 1995, Lauren first entered an institution. Her family never wanted her to be there and fought it relentlessly. Twenty-eight years later and there's no such thing as an 'appropriate' facility. Families First was/is not a thought process with State Sponsored IDD Care
Here is her story from that time as it appeared in the Columbus Dispatch.
Please Follow on Social Media
Here is her story from that time as it appeared in the Columbus Dispatch.
About Me
I'm just one little girl.
One little girl with multiple handicaps.
One little girl who resides in a care facility for the Developmentally Disabled.
One little girl who was told at age 12 by a caregiver that they would "break your f*cking arms" if I didn't behave.
One little girl who was called a "Devil Baby" for bumping my feeding tube
One little girl who was told to have heel cord surgery which my dad questioned, and an orthopedist agreed, was unnecessary. This was followed by the facility physical therapist declaring that they would no longer treat me.
One little girl who walked out of her facility in the winter without shoes and appropriate attire for an undetermined amount of time only to be found in a gutter elsewhere in the neighborhood.
One little girl who was left on a bus on the hottest day of that year for two hours and fifteen minutes. Only to be found in a full sweat from head to toe with an elevated body temperature.
One little girl who was left on a bus for a second time, again on a hot July day, this time for five (5) hours.
One little girl, fed by a g-tube, who was sent to the hospital as a result of being overloaded with fluid without attentive monitoring of output. I had 2 liters of fluids pumped from my 4'9", 77# body.
One little girl who had her throat cut resulting in 12 stitches and no one knows anything
One little girl who suffered a broken collarbone, and nobody knows how it happened. And,
One little girl who received 18 stitches to her hand from 'getting her hand caught in a door'.
I'm just one little girl who's a survivor!
A survivor of Neglect
A survivor of Abuse
A survivor of Malpractice
A survivor of 'The System'
Lauren's Blog
Contact Us
Thank you for visiting and learning about Lauren and the reasons for Families First IDD Care
Lauren Deserves Better
Your Help Can Make a Difference
Fund Raising Goals
Fund Raising Goals
Fund Raising Goals
- We are dedicating the future to Advocacy for IDD individuals and the care they receive.
- Please consider donating to the Lauren Elizabeth Center for Families First IDD Care
- Click here for the Foundation Page
Go Fund Me
Fund Raising Goals
Fund Raising Goals
Funds raised through Go Fund Me will be used to support the Lauren Elizabeth Center for Families First IDD Care
Give Send Go
Give Send Go
Give Send Go
Funds raised through Give Send Go will be used to support the Lauren Elizabeth Center for Families First IDD Care
PayPal
Give Send Go
Give Send Go
Funds raised through PayPal will be used to support the Lauren Elizabeth Center for Families First IDD Care
Media Interviews
55KRC Radio - Cincinnati - How Things are Going/Crowdfunding
1/21/23 Interview with Brian Thomas (Click Here)
Local 12 - Cincinnati - Lauren Comes Home
2/17/23 David Winter covers Lauren's return to her home with family. (Click Here)
Local 12 - Cincinnati - Follow Up
2/6/23 Follow up story by David Winter regarding MUI's in the state and a lack of accountability. (Click Here)
WCPO 9 - Cincinnati
2/2/23 Interview with Craig Cheatham on WCPO 9 Television (Click Here)
Local 12 - Cincinnati (Part 1)
1/18/23 Interview with David Winter on Local12 Television - Part 1) (Click Here)
Local 12 - Cincinnati (Part 2)
1/19/23 Interview with David Winter on Local12 Television - Part 2 (Click Here)
55KRC Radio - Cincinnati
1/16/23 Interview with Brian Thomas on 55KRC Radio (Click Here)
Justice is on the Horizon
The court has scheduled two weeks for Lauren's trial.
DaysDays
HrsHours
MinsMinutes
SecsSeconds
This website uses cookies.
Click accept if you wish or just scroll to view, read, and interact with our site.