Hundreds of thousands of Americans suffer from developmental disabilities like cerebral palsy, severe autism and mental retardation. Some 1,800 of California's most severely disabled are cared for at state-run facilities with around-the-clock supervision. But while the state spends about $300,000 a year on each patient, The Center for Investigative Reporting has uncovered a pattern of abuse and neglect, sometimes leading to death, and a failure to hold staff and administrators accountable.

• California Watch: Broken Shield
• Forum Discusses Disabled Patients and Abuse
• Unsolved Abuse at State's Developmental Centers