Advocate Archives - Page 3 of 34

2022 Policy & Advocacy Kickoff Webinar

February 10, 2022/in Advocate, Chapter of The Arc All States Advocacy Webinar/by Pam Katz

Get the most up to date information and have your questions answered about areas of focus this year and how we, as The Arc network, can make the greatest impact both in Washington D.C. and around the country.

View the presentation slides here.

Talk About Sexual Violence Focus Group Report: People With Disabilities

December 28, 2021/in Advocate, Chapter of The Arc, Family member, Service provider / DSP, Victim Services Professionals All States Criminal justice, Health Care Report/by Pam Katz

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 Focus Group Report: Medical Providers

December 28, 2021/in Advocate, Chapter of The Arc, Service provider / DSP, Victim Services Professionals All States Criminal justice, Health Care Report/by Pam Katz

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.

Disparities for People of Color With IDD in Accessing Long-Term Services and Supports

December 15, 2021/in Advocate, Chapter of The Arc, Family member, Nonprofit professionals All States Advocacy, Community-based LTSS Video/by Pam Katz

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.

Enhancing Health Care for People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

December 14, 2021/in Advocate, Chapter of The Arc, Family member, Nonprofit professionals All States Health Care Webinar/by Pam Katz

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.

Know Your Rights: Crime Victims with Disabilities

November 29, 2021/in Advocate, Person with a disability All States Criminal justice Webinar/by Pam Katz

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:

Your right to live free from violence
Your right to get help and support after victimization
Your right to speak your truth for yourself and for other crime victims with disabilities

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.

#FreeBritney: Lessons for People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Their Families

October 13, 2021/in Advocate, Chapter of The Arc, Criminal Justice Professionals, Family member, Legal Professionals, Nonprofit professionals, Service provider / DSP All States Civil rights, Family support and future planning Webinar/by Pam Katz

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.

Webinar slides

Webinar transcript

The Arc of Iowa v. Reynolds

September 8, 2021/in Advocate, Legal Professionals Iowa Civil rights, Education Litigation/by Pam Katz

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.

Case Documents

Complaint

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 Brief

Eighth Circuit American Academy of Pediatrics Amicus Brief

Eighth Circuit Opinion

Eighth Circuit Per Curiam Opinion

Order on Motions to Dismiss and Summary Judgment

Press Releases

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

Federal Appeals Court Decision Ensures Iowa Schools Can Require Masking to Protect Students with Disabilities

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

ACLU Iowa: 8th Circuit Court Decision Allows Iowa Schools To Protect Students With Disabilities With Masking Under Federal Law

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

Houston Area Urban League v. Abbott

September 8, 2021/in Advocate, Chapter of The Arc, Legal Professionals Texas Civil rights Litigation/by Pam Katz

State: Texas

Filed: 2021

Court: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas

Plaintiffs: The Arc Texas, Houston Justice, Houston Area Urban League, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Jeffrey Lamar Clemons

Defendant: Governor Gregory Abbott and various state officials

Counsel: The Arc, NAACP LDF, Reed Smith LLP

Overview: For the past 150 years, the State of Texas has had a long track record of excluding and discouraging Black and Latino residents of the State from exercising their fundamental right to vote. Voters with disabilities, including Black and Latino voters with disabilities, have also persistently experienced barriers in accessing their right to vote in Texas. The State’s policies of exclusion and restrictive voting laws have resulted in chronically low voter turnout. In passing S.B. 1, instead of making the election process safer or more secure, the law eliminates methods and opportunities of voting disproportionately used by Black and Latino voters, burdening or effectively disenfranchising these voters by raising the time, cost, and risk associated with exercising their constitutional right to vote. The law also erects barriers to voting that will disproportionately and unlawfully deny equal access to individuals with disabilities.