AUTISM UNCOVERED • Locked Behind the Door: Group-Home Abuse of Autistic Adults, Episode 3A

Welcome to Autism Uncovered, hosted by Mama Rae. In this powerful first half of a two-part investigation, we shine a light on one of the most hidden-in-plain-sight forms of violence against autistic people: abuse in licensed group homes.In this episode we examine multiple verified case clusters where adult residents — many non-speaking, nonverbal, unable to report their own suffering — were placed in 24-hour care settings meant to protect them, and instead became victims of cruelty, neglect, and exploitation.You’ll hear detailed accounts from: • A Maryland-based licensed facility where staff were charged with vulnerable-adult abuse, assault, and filming their own misconduct. • Parallel cases in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas that demonstrate a systemic pattern of staffing failures, regulatory blindness, and enabling silence.Episode highlights include: • The structural risk for autistic adults who cannot advocate for themselves • How licensed oversight failed in these residences • What families and advocates say must change to prevent the next tragedyContent Warning: This episode includes descriptions of violence, neglect, and abuse of vulnerable adults. Listener discretion is advised.🧭 Next week in Part B: we’ll shift from individual cases to the system: how inspections fail, how licenses stay open despite harm, and what you can do if an autistic adult lives in your life or your community.🔗 Show-Notes + Links for Verification • Maryland case: “Maryland AG announces convictions for vulnerable adult abuse in three counties” — Fox Baltimore. Link  • ProPublica investigation of for‐profit group homes in Maryland: “Maryland Sues Notorious For-Profit Group Homes” — ProPublica. Link  • Additional related coverage and state investigations (for deeper research).