Director of N.S. home for adults with special needs facing abuse allegations

CTV Atlantic: Allegations at special needs home The director of a Nova Scotia home for adults with special needs is facing abuse allegations. Kelland Sundahl explains.

The director of a Nova Scotia home for adults with special needs is facing abuse allegations after the mother of one of the residents says her daughter suffered emotionally.

The Nova Scotia Department of Community Services says the complaint alleges the administrator directed staff to keep Amanda Sheehan, who lives with autism, in her room all day long for at least seven days.

“That would be very, very, very traumatic,” said Sheehan’s mother, Eileen MacDonald. “That would stay with her for a long time.”

MacDonald says her daughter just turned 27, but has the mental capacity of a four-year-old. She says after waiting nearly a decade, her daughter moved into this residential care home in Amherst, N.S.

“She is probably wondering why this happened to her and why she was treated that way,” said MacDonald.

A second allegation of abuse against the director claims he swore at a different resident on at least one occasion.

Brenda Hardiman of Advocating Parents of Nova Scotia wants the director removed until the investigation is complete.

“Sometimes abuse is just plain simple abuse, and people need to be held accountable,” said Hardiman. “Wouldn't have that type of outcome if it was a daycare. Children are vulnerable and so are adults with disabilities, so we need to have the same processes in place.”

MacDonald received a letter from the director in April stating in one instance, her daughter showed aggressive behaviour against a defenceless resident.

"Amanda is housed in a small unit that she shares with three other residents and staff,” said the director in the letter. “It is a sardine can size space. Toss in a wheelchair, it becomes dangerous when you have an individual that can lash out with absolutely no warning."

The director added that a decision was made to have Sheehan removed from the house by the end of the week.

More than a month later, she is still living in the group home.

“If she needs to be in a home, I can't take her back into my home,” said MacDonald.

The director tells CTV News the home has never experienced the type of behaviour Sheehan exhibits and was concerned about the safety of the other residents.

He says the facility isn't equipped with a timeout area so he had staff put Sheehan in her room for seven days.

He says the door wasn't locked and she was allowed out to use the washroom.

Nova Scotia Minister of Community Services Joanne Bernard would not discuss the specifics of the case, but confirms the person in question hasn't been suspended during the investigation.

“There are protocols and policies that are there to protect not only the residents, but also the employees who work in these facilities,” said Bernard.

MacDonald wants her daughter moved into a home with fewer residents in the Halifax area.

“My opinion, as a mom, I do not believe they were trained in autism because if they were, they would have found another way. It keeps me awake at night and I worry about her,” she said.

Officials say information is still being gathered and they've have not determined whether the allegations of emotional abuse are true.

The minister says she expects an answer soon.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kelland Sundahl.