'A pattern of abuse, neglect and mismanagement'

Disability Rights Montana has documented a pattern of abuse, neglect and mismanagement at the Montana Developmental Center. On March 23, the Helena-based advocacy group, wrote a withering letter to the head of Montana's Department of Public Health and Human Services, the agency that oversees MDC, demanding that it toss out the Center's director and two other administrators.

Two days later, MDC Superintendent Kathy Zeeck resigned. The other two remain.

In making its case, Disability Rights Montana cited a November 2010 draft report on the facility prepared by the Mental Disabilities Board of Visitors calling for a comprehensive transformation of the facility in these areas:

• Organizational Structure, Planning and Quality Improvement
• Staff Competence, Training and Supervision
• Incident Management, Investigation and Client Protection
• Role of Clinical Professionals
• Leadership and Organizational Culture

Copies of Disability Rights Montana's letter and the draft report are available from DRM.

On Saturday, Lee Newspapers of Montana published a story on the turmoil at MDC by reporter Mike Dennison.