New Jersey 101.5 Reports: Family Blames NJ Day Program After 22-Year Old With Severe Autism Dies in Horrific Fall
Justin McCafferty, a 22-year-old with severe autism, died after he was left unattended at a day program, according to his grieving family.
New Jersey 101.5 reported that the staff at the Fort Monmouth Day Program didn’t realize at first that McCafferty had died. A passerby was the first to find McCafferty and attempt to revive him after his tragic fall.
Minutes passed before the staff, who were supposed to be watching Justin, showed up. They did not respond to calls or voicemails following the incident.
The family intends to sue the program for $35 million, represented by Daryl Zaslow, the McCafferty family’s attorney with Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow LLP.
“Those entities, people, or businesses who promise to protect the most vulnerable must live up to that promise,” Zaslow said.
Justin’s mother Kimberlee has been a lifelong advocate for families facing severe autism. She founded HomeLife 21, a non-profit that provides support for adults who require full-time care.
The New Jersey Chapter of the National Council on Severe Autism encouraged donations to help Justin’s mother continue her work on behalf of the community.
“Kim has not only been an advocate for her son, Justin, but she is a champion for the entire autism community, having travelled to Washington, D.C. to fight on the Hill for the rights of adults on the autism spectrum and their families,” the NCSA-NJ said on facebook.