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State of Denial

Inside Arizona’s Division of Developmental Disabilities

Arizona’s services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are supposed to be the best in the country. But the state is failing to deliver. ProPublica and the Arizona Daily Star are working to make stories accessible. You can read the stories in plain language and Spanish and listen to audio versions.

25 stories published since 2020

ProPublica and Partners Nominated for Seven ONA Awards

by ProPublica,

ProPublica Local Reporting Network Partner Amy Silverman Named Arizona Journalist of the Year

by ProPublica,

Two ProPublica Local Reporting Network Projects Named Finalists for Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics

by ProPublica,

A Woman With Developmental Disabilities Was Abused in Arizona. The State Promised Changes. It Has Not Made Them Yet.

by Amy Silverman for Arizona Daily Star,

After a Violent Crime, Arizona Promised Reforms for People With Developmental Disabilities. It Has Yet to Deliver.

by Amy Silverman for Arizona Daily Star,

They Made a Revolutionary System to Protect People With Developmental Disabilities. Now It’s Falling Apart.

by Amy Silverman for Arizona Daily Star,

Join Us for an Event About Our Investigation Into Arizona’s Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services

by Amy Silverman for Arizona Daily Star,

This System Is Supposed to Protect People With Developmental Disabilities. It Is Falling Apart.

by Amy Silverman for Arizona Daily Star,

Join Us to Talk About the Stories We Wrote About People With Developmental Disabilities in Arizona

by Amy Silverman for Arizona Daily Star,

People with Developmental Disabilities Were Promised Help. Instead, They Face Delays and Denials.

by Amy Silverman for Arizona Daily Star, with data analysis by Alex Devoid, Arizona Daily Star,

Editors’ Note: Why We Investigated the Treatment of People With Developmental Disabilities

by T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, and Jill Jorden Spitz, Arizona Daily Star,

He Has a Developmental Disability and Needs a Caretaker. The State Suggested Diapers Instead.

by Amy Silverman for Arizona Daily Star,

She Needs a Device to Communicate. The State Has Kept it From Her for 18 Months.

by Amy Silverman for Arizona Daily Star,

“I Thought Arizona Was Rated High for Disability Services, But That Is Wrong.”

by Amy Silverman for Arizona Daily Star,

Arizona Promised to Help People With Developmental Disabilities. But Some Had to Wait a Long Time. Some Did Not Get Help at All.

by Amy Silverman for Arizona Daily Star, with data analysis by Alex Devoid, Arizona Daily Star,

Editors’ Note: Why We Wrote About the Way People With Developmental Disabilities Get Treated

by T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, and Jill Jorden Spitz, Arizona Daily Star,

How We Wrote the Story

by Amy Silverman for Arizona Daily Star,

He Has a Developmental Disability. He Needs a Helper. Arizona Said He Could Wear Diapers Instead.

by Amy Silverman for Arizona Daily Star,

She Needs a Device to Talk to People. Arizona Has Not Given It to Her. It Has Been 1.5 Years.

by Amy Silverman for Arizona Daily Star,

“I Thought Arizona Was Rated High for Disability Services, But That Is Wrong.”

by Amy Silverman for Arizona Daily Star,

Prometieron ayuda para las personas con discapacidades de desarrollo. En lugar de recibirla, enfrentan retrasos y rechazos.

por Amy Silverman, en reporte especial para Arizona Daily Star, junto con Alex Devoid, Arizona Daily Star,

Community Storytelling Is Informing Our Coverage of Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services. Share Your Story.

by Beena Raghavendran and Maya Miller, ProPublica, and Amy Silverman for Arizona Daily Star,

Arizonans: Share Your Story About Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at our Virtual Event

by Amy Silverman, Arizona Daily Star, Beena Raghavendran and Maya Miller, ProPublica,

What’s Your Experience With Intellectual and Developmental Disability Care in Arizona?

by Amy Silverman, Arizona Daily Star, and Maya Miller and Beena Raghavendran, ProPublica,

Intellectual Disability Service Providers Want to Protect Clients. The State Isn’t Telling Them How.

by Amy Silverman, Arizona Daily Star,

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