Photos: Arizonans with developmental disabilities were promised help. Instead, they face delays and denials
“State of Denial” is a joint project between the Arizona Daily Star and the Local Reporting Network of ProPublica, a nonprofit investigative news outlet that helps local media produce accountability journalism.
Emory Webster, Eric Nunn, Jaden Ruiz, Michael Lundergan and Tyler Stumpf are all featured in the story about Arizona's Division of Developmental Disabilities.
Emory Webster
Emory Webster, 11, with her mother, Adiba Nelson, in their home in Tucson, Ariz., on October 14, 2020. Webster was born with cerebral palsy. Nelson says Emory was evaluated for a communication device in July 2019 and she's still trying to get the device through Arizona's Developmental Disabilities Division.
Emory Webster
Emory Webster, 11, sits for a photo in her home in Tucson, Ariz., on October 14, 2020. Webster was born with cerebral palsy. Her mother, Adiba Nelson, is trying to get a communication device through Arizona's Developmental Disabilities Division.
Eric Nunn
Eric Nunn, 29, sits in his bedroom in Scottsdale, Ariz. on August 6., 2020. Nunn was born with Down's syndrome. He received services from Arizona's Developmental Disabilities Division until he was six years old and then didn't qualify anymore. Nunn is a huge fan of the movie "Grease," he says he loves the songs and actors including John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
Eric Nunn
Eric Nunn, 29, right, with his mom, Terri Myers at their home in Scottsdale, Ariz. on August 6., 2020. Nunn was born with Down's syndrome. He received services from Arizona's Developmental Disabilities Division until he was six years old and then didn't qualify anymore.
Jaden Ruiz
Jaden Ruiz, 9, in his bedroom in Avondale, Ariz. on October 12, 2020. Ruiz was born with autism and received services from Arizona's Developmental Disabilities Division until he was six years old and then didn't qualify anymore. Ruiz's parents challenged the department and will have his services reinstated.
Jaden Ruiz
Jaden Ruiz, 9, with his parents, Maria and Ivan in their home in Avondale, Ariz. on October 12, 2020. Ruiz was born with autism and received services from Arizona's Developmental Disabilities Division until he was six years old and then didn't qualify anymore. Ruiz's parents challenged the department and will have his services reinstated.
Michael Lundergan
Michael Lundergan, 32, was born with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. He requires 24-hour oxygen and sleeps with a ventilator at night. Michael requires 24-hour care, seven days a week. He receives his services through Arizona's Developmental Disabilities Division.
Michael Lundergan
Michael Lundergan, 32, was born with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. He requires 24-hour oxygen and sleeps with a ventilator at night. Michael requires 24-hour care, seven days a week. He receives his services through Arizona's Developmental Disabilities Division. Michael with his mother, Darlene Jones-Lundergan, on August 5, 2020.
Tyler Stumpf
Tyler Stumpf, 31, with his dog, Rigley, in his bedroom in Phoenix, Ariz. on October 12, 2020. Stumpf was born with Prader-Willi syndrome. Stumpf and his mother, Melody Linderwell, moved to Arizona from Iowa and Linderwell says she has struggled with communicating with Arizona's Developmental Disabilities Division to get services for her son.
Tyler Stumpf
Tyler Stumpf, 31, with his mom, Melody Linderwell, in their home in Phoenix, Ariz. on October 12, 2020. Stumpf was born with Prader-Willi syndrome. Stumpf and Linderwell moved to Arizona from Iowa and Melody says she has struggled with communicating with Arizona's Developmental Disabilities Division to get services for her son.
Mamta Popat
Photojournalist
Tyler Stumpf wants to live in the community and work with animals. His mother says the state of Arizona is not doing nearly enough to help.
Emory, 11, has cerebral palsy and uses an augmentative communication device to talk to her friends. One day, her mother turned it on and smoke came out. “They make it so hard for families that they give up.”
Arizonans with developmental disabilities were promised help. Instead, they face delays and denials.
When state services don’t come through, Arizonans with developmental disabilities struggle with a system balanced on the backs of families.
Cuando los servicios estatales no llegan, los arizonenses con discapacidades del desarrollo luchan con un sistema que recae sobre las espaldas de las familias.
Emory, 11, has cerebral palsy and uses an augmentative communication device to talk to her friends. One day, her mother turned it on and smoke came out. “They make it so hard for families that they give up.”
We worked with ProPublica to write this story. The Star is part of ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network.This story has been translated into di…
Arizona’s Independent Oversight Committees helped it become one of the best places in the country for the care of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. But now members say the state hasn’t provided necessary resources.
When state services don’t come through, Arizonans with developmental disabilities struggle with a system balanced on the backs of families.
Emory Webster cried tears of joy when her new communication device arrived from the state after 18 months of waiting. But six months later, she’s still waiting for parts she needs to use it.
Read the original version of this story here.
The Arizona Daily Star has filed special actions demanding that state agencies release data used to determine eligibility for services for peo…
In addition to Journalist of the Year Tim Steller and Photographer of the Year Kelly Presnell, the Star won many other honors from the Arizona Newspapers Association.