Advocates Speak Out After Developmentally Disabled Man Found Chained Up In Edmond

The discovery of a developmentally disabled man tied up inside his home on Wednesday night had advocates speaking out Friday about the problems facing so many families in similar situations.

5/2/2012 Related Story: Developmentally Disabled Male Found Chained Up Inside Edmond Home

Thousands of Oklahoma families are on a waiting list for services to help care for their developmentally disabled family members. The Feltys from Norman know the system all too well because their daughter was stuck on that waiting list for years.

"It got to where I was the only one giving her services," explained Wanda Felty. "I had two other kids and I just remember thinking nobody knows we're waiting, nobody is out there paying attention."

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Felty waited more than five years until her daughter finally received state funding for services. She has now turned that experience into a voice for others.

"The problem with the list is it seems to be just a piece of paper instead of humans or people or families," said Felty. "That's my new plight, to say, ‘no these are real people with real issues.'"

DHS said as of March there were more than 6,500 people on the waiting list with more than 200 of those older than 54. They all wait for a variety of programs to better their quality of life.

"One of the core functions of government is to protect vulnerable citizens," said Ann Lee with the Development Disabilities Services Division of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. "The only way to help more people is to get more state dollars so that we can capture the federal dollars that are available to help those people."

Felty said the key to getting that funding would be bringing state lawmakers on board. Felty said families should share their situations with their representatives to put a face with a name on the list.

"My life changed, everything changed," explained Felty, who finally received the services for her daughter. "If I thought nobody noticed or nobody cares, I bet the 6,000 people on the waiting list feel the same way. So I want them to know that they have at least on family out here that's speaking up for them."

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