Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) – A deadly assault at People Inc in the Town of Tonawanda raises questions around state requirements for dealing with violent people who have special needs.
In an interview unrelated to People Inc and the ongoing investigation, CEO of Suburban Adult Services Inc, Jeff Paterson explains that every individual has a behavior plan that is tailored to their needs and disabilities.
“There are pages of requirements from the state of what those plans need to look like, and very often, somebody with a behavior plan—most of the time—violent behaviors is not part of that plan. It may simply be other needs that they have. But every person has an individualized approach for what they need, based on their diagnoses and based on what a professional indicates is needed for them to support them for their best mental health. What is really important is that any staff who work with that person are familiar with that plan and well trained on it, so that they can provide that individualized type of support that’s called for in that person’s plan,” stated Paterson…