Reasons for Institutionalization and Admittance Procedures

Residents reported being institutionalized because they were orphans, abandoned or did not have families that could support them. Other family-related issues, such as the death of a family member, the divorce of parents or the imprisonment of a guardian, were also given as reasons for institutionalization. 

A number of current residents had previously lived at other similar institutions. Some used to live with their families. Some residents were enrolled in mainstream schools before dropping out in middle or high school. Other residents had attended literacy centres that focused on improving reading and writing skills, while some were not previously enrolled in any type of educational program. An interviewed parent said his child had been rejected from both public and private schools.

In general, residents were admitted to the institution by the Ministry of Social Development at the request of families. Prior to institutionalization, disability assessments were carried out by a medical committee and a report was sent to the Ministry of Social Development, which assigned people to the most convenient institution based on their disability and area of residency. If the assessment results show mental illness instead of a disability, the person was transferred to a mental hospital. 

Instances of incorrect assessments were reported by staff. Some persons were admitted to the institution because their disability was classified as severe, but later tests showed their disability was actually mild and they were sent home.  There were other cases where the centre had a different assessment outcome from the Ministry but were unable to change the Ministry’s original report (though the support given was based on their own assessment). There were other instances where people with mild disabilities were admitted to the center “through a higher authority” despite not having a severe disability. According to the head of the institution, the centre has no say in accepting or rejecting cases.  

Only one resident out of five reported having been admitted to the institution against his will. All interviewed family members reported that their institutionalized relatives did not initially want to enter the institution, and later changed their minds. One family member of a resident commented that she hoped her relative would stay at the institution forever, because of the quality of the rehabilitative care he was receiving there. According to the head of the institution, residents were rarely ever deinstitutionalized; there was no age criterion for termination of residency.