Posted on April 7, 1999
| WHO: | Witnesses who will testify to the U.S. Senate on the deadly use of restraints in facilities serving people with disabilities. |
| WHAT: | Press availability prior to Senate hearing Embargoed copies of testimony and other materials will be distributed. |
| WHERE: | The Hall of the States, Room 333 444 North Capitol Street N.W Washington, D.C. |
| WHEN: | Monday, April 12th, 3:00 p.m. |
On April 13, 1999 Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) will convene a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education & Related Agencies, at 9:30 a.m. in 186 Dirksen Senate Office Building, addressing the deadly use of restraints in facilities serving the disabled. The National Association of Protection & Advocacy Systems (NAPAS) and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) offer the media an opportunity to meet in advance with several witnesses who will testify in support of legislation on the issue:
Jean Allen - mother of a teenage boy who died from misuse of restraints in a private psychiatric hospital in North Carolina Ms. Allen also will be featured in a 60 Minutes interview that will air on April 21st about abuse in child and adolescent wards of private psychiatric hospitals.
Tom Harmon (tentative) - New York State Commission on Quality Care (NY's P&A). Mr. Harmon investigates deaths at institutions.
Wanda Mohr - Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing Chair for Research & Education, Association of Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Nurses, and NAMI member.
Email: [email protected]
NAMI HelpLine is available M-F, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET. Call 800-950-6264,
text “helpline” to 62640, or chat online. In a crisis, call or text 988 (24/7).