This eight-minute video highlights key findings from focus groups held with medical professionals who were asked about how they address or talk about sexual violence with their patients with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Filed: February 14, 2022
Court: Supreme Court of Massachusetts
Overview: The brief argues that whether a constitutional right to assisted suicide exists must be addressed from the perspective of people with disabilities, the class of people who will be most adversely impacted if such a right is found. Amici discuss how assisted suicide is part of a long history of discrimination and bias against people with disabilities in medical settings. Amici also discuss how legalized assisted suicide amplifies ableist beliefs about the quality and value of disabled lives and how supposed safeguards are inadequate to protect people with disabilities.
Excerpt: “Legalizing assisted suicide in Massachusetts would add to the…history of discrimination and bias against people with disabilities. It would establish a discriminatory double standard for how health care providers, government authorities, and others treat disabled individuals versus others. Only disabled people would be removed from the protections of generally applicable laws on abuse, neglect, and homicide. And only disabled people would face an offer of assisted suicide, as opposed to an offer of services and supports, in response to suicidal ideations.”
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People with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) are sexually assaulted seven times more often than people without disabilities. Because of this, medical providers must talk about sexual abuse with their patients and offer support. Unfortunately, many medical providers do not have the tools or training to help them have these important conversations.
Talk About Sexual Violence centers on conversation groups of medical providers and people with disabilities, including survivors of sexual assault. It was important to hear from them about how medical appointments can be more supportive.
Conversation groups were held as live, online video sessions to hear from people with IDD about their appointments with medical providers.
This report contains the result of those focus groups.
Talk About Sexual Violence centers on conversation groups of medical providers and people with disabilities, including survivors of sexual assault. It is important to learn how medical appointments can be more supportive and patient-centered, especially if someone has experienced sexual assault.
Conversation groups were designed as a live, online video session with medical professionals who answered questions about their practices with patients who had been sexually assaulted, including those with disabilities.
This focus group details the findings from those conversation groups.
Amparo Ceja is a dedicated mother to her young son, Jesus. Jesus has Down syndrome. The Latino family has experienced discrimination and disparities because of their race and Jesus’ disability. Amparo is concerned about the disparities they and other Latino families experience in accessing disability services and supports. The COVID-19 pandemic deepened existing disparities. Amparo is worried about how persistent disparities will impact Jesus’ future after high school and the rest of his life, especially when she becomes too old to care for him. Amparo and other mothers joined forces with The Arc of California to launch a local chapter of The Arc called Madres Unidas Para Una Mendota Con Igualdad of The Arc. Angel Picon, Director of Community Organizing for The Arc of California, was instrumental in the formation of the new chapter and helps guide the mothers in their fearless advocacy to confront disparities and racism. Amparo, Jesus, and Angel shared their stories with The Arc.
En Español
Amparo Ceja es una madre dedicada a su pequeño hijo, Jesús. Jesús tiene síndrome de Down. La familia latina ha experimentado discriminación y desigualdad debido a su raza y la discapacidad de Jesús. Amparo está preocupada por la desigualdad que ellos y otras familias latinas experimentan en el acceso a los servicios y apoyos para personas con discapacidades. La pandemia de COVID-19 profundizó las desigualdades actuales. A Amparo le preocupa cómo las desigualdades persistentes afectarán el futuro de Jesús después de la escuela secundaria y por el resto de su vida, especialmente cuando ella sea demasiado mayor para cuidar de él. Amparo y otras madres unieron fuerzas con The Arc de California para lanzar una división local de The Arc llamado Madres Unidas Para Una Mendota Con Igualdad of Arc. Angel Picon, Director de Organización Comunitaria de The Arc de California, fue fundamental en la formación de ésta nueva division. Angel ayuda a guiar a las madres en su valiente defensa para enfrentar la desigualdad y el racismo. Amparo, Jesús y Angel compartieron sus historias con The Arc.
The COVID-19 pandemic shined a light on the inequities of the healthcare system that exist for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. For many people with IDD and caregivers, receiving care in a hospital setting has always been a challenging experience. We know that training in this area is lacking. Education and experiential learning for healthcare professionals is essential to addressing these challenges.
The Arc Massachusetts, The Arc Oregon, and The Arc’s national office have partnered to develop a web-based, culturally competent training and toolkit for emergency medical personnel. The goal is to support equal access to emergency healthcare for people with IDD by educating healthcare providers working in hospital emergency departments.
Download presentation slides here.
People with disabilities are often involved in the criminal justice system. They can be involved as either defendants or victims. A victim is someone who is hurt when a crime is committed. It’s important for victims to know that they have rights.
This session addresses three key rights:
James Meadours, a survivor of sexual violence, leads this discussion and provides insight into this topic.
This listening session is hosted by The Arc’s National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability (NCCJD) and supported by the People With Disabilities Foundation.
Britney Spears’ public battle over her conservatorship is shining a light on some of the broader challenges that people with disabilities face under guardianship, which is a term some states use for that kind of court involvement. This webinar describes some of the issues being highlighted in the media from Ms. Spears’ case, how they might apply to people with IDD, and alternative approaches that individuals with IDD and their families might consider.
State: Iowa
Filed: 2021
Court: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
Plaintiffs: The Arc of Iowa and parents of students with disabilities
Defendant: Governor Kim Reynolds, Iowa Department of Education, individual school districts
Counsel: The Arc, ACLU, ACLU of Iowa, Disability Rights Iowa, Arnold & Porter Law Firm, Tom Duff Law Firm
Overview: In the final days of the 2021 legislative session, the Iowa General Assembly passed HF 847, which prohibits school districts in Iowa from requiring everyone to wear masks in their schools. As the school year begins and COVID cases soar, school districts face a dilemma: whether to comply with HF 847 or whether to meet their obligations under federal disability rights laws by protecting the health, safety, and dignity of their students with disabilities and providing equal access to their education. Parents of children with disabilities that put them at risk of severe illness should they contract COVID also face a dilemma: whether to send their children to school at risk to their health and even lives or whether to keep them at home at the expense of their education and development. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act provide broad protections for individuals with disabilities. Both federal disability rights laws prohibit outright exclusion, denial of equal access, or unnecessary segregation of students with disabilities in public education.
Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction
Order Granting Temporary Restraining Order
Reply in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction
American Academy of Pediatrics Amicus Brief
Order Granting Extension of Temporary Restraining Order
Order Granting Motion for Preliminary Injunction
Eighth Circuit American Academy of Pediatrics Amicus Brief
Eighth Circuit Per Curiam Opinion
Order on Motions to Dismiss and Summary Judgment
Lawsuit Challenges Iowa Law Banning Schools from Requiring Masks
Federal Court Blocks Iowa’s Law Banning Masking Requirements in Schools
Mask Mandate Preliminary Injunction Continues to Protect Iowa Children
Associated Press: Parents of disabled kids sue over Iowa ban on mask mandates
Des Moines Register: Parents of students with disabilities sue over Iowa’s COVID mask mandate ban in schools
KCRG: Parents of students with disabilities, ACLU sue Iowa over mask mandate ban law
We Are Iowa: ‘Not an equal education’: Parents of kids with disabilities sue over Iowa ban on mask mandates
Iowa Capital Dispatch: Lawsuit: Iowa’s school mask mandate ban violates disability rights
Business Insider: Iowa ban on mask mandates at schools overturned by federal judge
WQAD8: Davenport Education Association praises federal judge’s order to allow Iowa schools to mandate masks
Des Moines Register: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds asks judge to reinstate mask mandate ban, citing concerns from parents
The Gazette: Documents: COVID outbreaks at nearly quarter of Iowa schools
Des Moines Register: Iowa school districts may continue mask mandates after judge grants preliminary injunction
NBC News: Federal judge blocks Iowa’s ban on school mask mandates
ABC Action News: Families of children with disabilities challenge mask mandate bans
Des Moines Register: Federal court will decide the fate of mask mandates in Iowa schools
KETV Omaha: Federal judges hear Iowa’s appeal over injunction of law that bans school mask mandates
Courthouse News Service: Iowa asks appeals court to uphold ban on mask mandates in schools
Iowa Public Radio: State attorneys ask appeals court to restore Iowa’s ban on school mask mandates
Des Moines Register: Iowa will not enforce school mask mandate ban for now, Attorney General’s Office says
Iowa Capital Dispatch: Appeals court rules that some Iowa schools can impose mask mandates
Our Quad Cities: ACLU, others celebrate federal ruling on Iowa mask mandate in schools
Education Week: Relaxed Mask Guidelines Raise Anxiety for Parents of Children With Disabilities
Des Moines Register: Iowa must permit school districts to require masks in some cases, court rules; Iowa to appeal
Associated Press: Federal court dismisses case against Iowa governor’s ban on school mask mandates
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