Hamaspik accused of dismissing nurses because of “dark skin”

 BY JOEL GROSSBARTH

Two women have filed racial discrimination claims with the New York State Division of Human Rights stemming from their employment with a Kiryas Joel child. Tiffany Clemoms and Lillian Adoyo, both African-American nurses, claim that they were dismissed from caring from a child in Kiryas Joel based solely on the color of their skin.

According to papers obtained by The Rockland County Times, Clemons and Adoyo, both Licensed Practical Nurses, were dismissed from caring for a disabled child in the highly religious Jewish community because the child was frightened and scared of the nurses’ “dark skin.”

According to the claimants’ attorney Jason Sona, Esq., the disabled child’s care was managed by Hamaspik of Orange County. Hamaspik is an organization that provides and coordinated care for people with development and intellectual disabilities. Hamaspik hired the claimant’s employer Accucare Nursing and Home Care of Nanuet, New York. The nurses were then assigned to the care of the disabled child.

According to the claim, the nurses would visit the child’s home in Kiryas Joel and provide the necessary nursing care. After a few visits, the child’s mother allegedly contacted Accucare and stated that no other black nurses should be sent to care for her child.

Accucare refused the request, stating that race could not be a factor in determining which nurses treated a patient. After many requests to have the nurse removed because “her dark skin color would frighten the baby,” Accucare, and the two nurses, were fired by Hamaspik.