The Disability Rights Center-NH’s examination of deaths and other serious incidents within New Hampshire’s network of taxpayer-funded disability care providers remains active and has been extended to the end of the calendar year, the agency said Thursday.
Background and scope of the review
The review was launched in November after reporting by the New Hampshire Bulletin detailed patterns of abuse and neglect across the state-regulated provider network. That reporting identified hundreds of credible reports of abuse and neglect and recounted the experiences of five people harmed by caregivers paid with public funds; two of those individuals died as a result of the incidents documented in the Bulletin’s stories. The Disability Rights Center (DRC-NH) said the Bulletin’s work provided what it regarded as “probable cause” to open a formal investigation.
Deodonne Bhattarai, a DRC spokesperson, said the agency is currently reviewing records for hundreds of individuals connected to the system. The review involves scrutiny of documents and records produced by agencies and providers that make up the state-regulated disability care network.
“We hope that this will lead to discussions aimed at improving the system,”
Bhattarai included that statement in an email outlining the agency’s intentions to share findings first with the agencies that oversee and operate the care network and with state officials before issuing a public report.
Timing, public release and coordination
The DRC had tentatively aimed to release a public report this summer but now lists the end of the year as its target for completing the investigation. The agency said its role in a newly created state body — the Disability Oversight Commission — may affect the investigation’s timeline and how the DRC presents its findings.
Senate Bill 670, passed by lawmakers in response to the Bulletin’s coverage, established the commission as a vehicle to review system performance and recommend measures intended to keep people with disabilities safe. The commission is scheduled to meet soon, and the DRC will participate in its work.
Related work and other investigations
In addition to the disability care review, the DRC is participating in a separate, unrelated investigation into conditions at the Sununu Youth Services Center, the state’s juvenile justice facility in Manchester. In that inquiry, the DRC has worked with the Office of the Child Advocate and other partners to raise concerns about potential abuse and neglect at the center.
Bhattarai said the DRC intends to present its findings and any identified concerns directly to the agencies responsible for delivering and regulating care, and to state officials charged with oversight, before making those findings public.
What’s at stake for families and the public
The DRC’s probe touches on central questions about accountability and safety for people with disabilities who rely on a mixture of state-regulated providers paid with public funds. Families and advocates have voiced concern that systemic problems could leave vulnerable residents at risk of harm or neglect, and they have called for stronger oversight and clearer mechanisms for reporting and correcting dangerous practices.
While the DRC did not provide a detailed timeline for when individual findings or recommendations might be released, its stated plan to brief agencies and state officials first reflects a common watchdog practice intended to allow responsible parties to respond or take immediate corrective steps before the findings reach the wider public.
Key milestones
| Milestone | Date / status |
|---|---|
| Investigation launched | November (previous year) |
| Initial public reporting that prompted review | New Hampshire Bulletin — documented hundreds of credible reports; five personal stories; two deaths |
| DRC public release target | Now aiming for end of year |
| Related legislation | Senate Bill 670 — created Disability Oversight Commission |
- DRC is reviewing records for hundreds of individuals tied to the care network.
- DRC will brief agencies and state officials before issuing a public report.
- DRC’s involvement in the new Disability Oversight Commission may shape the timing and approach of the investigation.
The DRC’s public statement did not include additional specifics about its investigatory methods or a more granular timeline for various stages of the review. As the agency completes its work and consults with the commission and state officials, families, advocates and lawmakers will likely watch for recommendations that could change oversight, reporting requirements or provider practices across the state’s disability care system.
Reporting for this story relied on a DRC spokesperson’s email summary of the agency’s current plans and the Bulletin’s reporting that prompted the review.
