S.C. disabilities and special needs director removed from office

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) - Mary Poole, the state director of the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, was suddenly removed from her position on Thursday afternoon.

The DDSN Commission voted to remove Poole from service as state director and remove her from service as a DDSN employee during a regular meeting after a roughly three-hour executive session.

Members appointed Legal Counsel Constance Holloway as the agency’s interim director and also implemented a temporary hiring freeze at DDSN.

DDSN operates facilities such as the Coastal Regional Center in Dorchester County, which has been the subject of a series of reports by Live 5 Investigates.

Commission members did not state in the meeting why Poole was removed from office. During the COVID-19 pandemic, DDSN meetings have only been accessible to members of the public through an audio stream.

A DDSN spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.