Osseo Areas Schools v. A.J.T.

/in , , /by Pam Katz

Filed: April 21, 2023

Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit

Overview: Amicus brief to safeguard parental involvement in the IEP process and ensure children have access to a full school day as part of a free and appropriate education.

Excerpt: “…when a school district designs a program and placement without considering the student’s actual needs and parental input, it violates IDEA…Courts have recognized that shortening school days for IDEA-eligible children based on administrative convenience rather than individual student needs can cause substantive harm…IDEA’s procedural safeguards, especially the right to meaningful parental participation, exist to ensure the delivery of meaningful educational benefit to all children with disabilities. Because of Osseo’s undisputed failure to comply with IDEA’s procedural mandates, A.J.T. did not receive an appropriately ambitious program with challenging objectives.”

Case Documents

Amicus Brief 

Building a Powerful and Sustainable Self-Advocacy Program

/in , /by Pam Katz

In this webinar, The Arc of Beaumont will present a summary of their self-advocacy program.

The Southeast Texas Self Advocates Program increases the quality of life for people living with disabilities in Southeast Texas through leadership, education, and community service opportunities. Learn about the ways their adults are finding their voices, advocating for themselves and others, and being active in their community.

View presentation slides here.

2023 Policy & Advocacy Kick-off Webinar

/in , /by Pam Katz

Hear from The Arc’s policy and advocacy teams about:

  • The latest on Capitol Hill and what to expect from the new Congress
  • Information and resources about the end of Medicaid continuous enrollment
  • How to get involved in advocacy in 2023

Download the presentation slides here.

For further questions, please email events@thearc.org.

Creating Integrated Employment Opportunities for People With Disabilities

/in , /by Pam Katz

The disability community is one of the most overlooked talent pools in today’s labor force, causing many job seekers with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to remain unemployed. At the same time, many employers who want to hire people with disabilities are hindered by a lack of training and capacity to provide accommodations and supports to their new hires.

Enter your information below to watch a free video about how one organization created diverse employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

By completing this form you agree to receive email communications from The Arc and/or our affiliated chapters. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information, check out our privacy policy.

Promising Programmatic Practices for People With Dual Diagnosis

/in , , , , , /by Pam Katz

Incompass provides residential and day/employment programming for a dually diagnosed, forensically involved population as well as a residential program for individuals diagnosed with Huntington’s Disorder. In this webinar, Chris Snell, MS and Dorian Crawford, PsyD of Incompass Human Services will provide an overview of community-based service promising practices for an emerging, dually diagnosed population.

View session presentation slides here.

Engagement in the Early Intervention Program Planning Process for Parents and Professionals

/in , , , , , , /by The Arc

Early intervention program planning can be challenging at times for students, parents, teachers, service providers, and administrators—but it doesn’t have to be.

Enter your information below to watch a free video. You will hear from Dr. Rachel Brady about IDEA Part C & B, program planning requirements, and strategies that support more meaningful engagement in early intervention programs. Equity issues and the points of advocacy at the individual and systems levels are also explored through examples, discussion, and a review of available resources.

By completing this form you agree to receive email communications from The Arc and/or our affiliated chapters. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information, check out our privacy policy.

Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County v. Talevski

/in , , , , , , , , , , /by The Arc

Filed: September 22, 2022

Court: U.S. Supreme Court

Overview: Amicus brief explaining the importance of individuals having the ability to sue state and local governments when their civil rights are violated under Medicaid and other public programs.

Excerpt: The linkage between the RA’s and the ADA’s antidiscrimination mandate and Medicaid provisions implementing that mandate is evidence that Congress intended both aspects of its disability-rights scheme to be privately enforceable. That conclusion is bolstered by the fact that Congress, when enacting the ACA, broadened Medicaid’s “entitlement” provisions by expanding the definition of “medical assistance.” Congress did so in direct response to judicial decisions narrowly construing that term in § 1983 suits brought by people with disabilities. Petitioners’ request that this Court abandon its longstanding holding that Spending Clause legislation can give rise to a private right of action under § 1983 would undermine Congress’s scheme for enforcing disability rights. People with disabilities, including children, regularly bring private lawsuits to enforce each of their independent, mutually reinforcing entitlements under the RA, the ADA, and Medicaid. Those lawsuits have vindicated important rights, providing access to life-saving therapies and everyday living support services close to one’s family and community. Absent a private right of action to enforce their Medicaid guarantees, enforcement of Medicaid would be left to the federal government, which may have few enforcement options other than reduction of States’ Medicaid funding. That may exacerbate rather than remedy States’ failure to comply with Medicaid’s requirements.

Case Documents

Amicus Brief

Supreme Court Opinion

Press Releases

Amicus Brief Filed in U.S. Supreme Court Case Emphasizes Harms to People with Disabilities

A Major Win for Disability Rights From SCOTUS

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Exploring Locative Technology: What You Need to Know to Address Wandering

/in , , , , , , , /by Pam Katz

During this webinar, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) discusses the pros and cons of using tracking devices in wandering situations, emphasizing some effective alternatives.

The speakers are two parents and police officers, Laurie Reyes and Stefan Bjes, and Board Member, poet, and self-advocate Russell Lehmann.

Micro-Aggressions in the Workplace

/in , , /by Pam Katz

This webinar discusses the need to move beyond our own personal biases, beliefs, values, and perception, by realigning the way we think about and engage with each other. We must first recognize how assumptions influence one’s interactions and decisions and then make a conscientious effort to overcome assumptions. The negative consequences of unconscious biases, intentional or unintentional, can be detrimental to the workplace and affect morale and the overall experience of the individuals we serve. Diversity is needed more than ever to create solutions to business, economic, and social challenges of the 21st century and beyond. One step is understanding the different types of micro-aggressions and their effect on the individuals we serve.

View the presentation slides here.

United States v. Mississippi

/in , , , /by Pam Katz

Filed: April 5, 2022

Court: Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Overview: Amicus brief supporting the district court holding that Mississippi’s mental health system depends too heavily on institutionalization and does not provide the community-based services that Title II of the ADA and Supreme Court precedent under Olmstead require.

Excerpt: “Because the United States established each of the three components under Olmstead, the district court concluded that Mississippi was required to provide the community-based services that had been lacking. This ruling tracked established precedent, was supported by the evidence, and should be affirmed.”

Case Documents

Amicus Brief