IDD and Mental Health: What We Are Learning About Challenges and Needs

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

People with IDD and mental health needs and their families often struggle to get the help they need. Our first project wanted to learn what could be done to help young adults with IDD and mental health needs to get better mental health care. This project brought together young adults with IDD and their families, service providers, and researchers to develop priorities for practice and research. This project was funded by the Patient Centered Outcome Research Institute (PCORI). The second project hosted focus groups to learn more about the challenges that people with IDD and mental health needs and their families have and what we can be doing to better help families. This project was funded by the Family Support Research and Training Center (FSRTC). Presenters from The Arc, Boston University, and The Intellectual Developmental Disability Mental Health (IDD-MH) Research Partnership discuss their projects, results, and next steps.

Grief and Loss in the Lives of People With IDD

/in , , , , , /by The Arc

Death is something that we all have to face at some point in our lives. We have systems in place to help us understand and get over a loss. However, some adults feel they must protect others from grief and loss including children, elderly people, and people with disabilities. Some have gone as far to protect people with IDD from experiencing grieving. Knowing more about the feelings and thoughts that come after the death of someone close to us can help us and the people we support. The presenters will remove any misunderstandings by sharing best practices and methods to support people with IDD deal with grief and loss.

Eliminating Barriers and Supporting People with IDD to Vote

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

For millions of people with disabilities in the United States, exercising the basic right to vote remains a challenge. Over the last few decades, the U.S. government has passed several policies to make voting easier for individuals with disabilities. However, people may still struggle to vote because of barriers they face from the government, caregivers, and family members. This webinar reviews barriers people may face when voting and explores solutions to break down these barriers for people with IDD so that everyone can exercise their right to vote.

The Importance of Talking About Sex: The Elephant in the Room

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

Sexuality is a natural part life for all people. However, people with developmental disabilities, family members, and professionals often feel unprepared to discuss this subject with each other. Presenters discuss common misperceptions and myths people have about people with IDD and sexuality; what a healthy, relationship looks like and how you can help support people to have healthy relationships; and how to prevent abusive relationships or leave bad relationships. Our presenters also discuss ways you can start discussing this subject with people with disabilities in your life.

Planning for and Using Technology Across a Lifespan

/in , , , , /by The Arc

Using and accessing technology is important throughout our lives. We use technology to pay our bills, to keep in touch with friends and families, to receive healthcare and medical support, and even to help us get to and from work, school, and other activities in the community.

One important part of future planning is making sure that people with disabilities have the skills and ability to access technology and the support they need to find new technologies to use throughout their lives. This webinar reviews the steps that people and their families should take to evaluate any needs that a person has that can be assisted by technology and provides tips and resources that families can use to find relevant technology.

We also describe ways that people with IDD and their families can work to make sure that people are building their technology skills throughout their lifetime.

Aging and IDD: Planning for Growing Older

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

As we grow older, we should continue to grow and develop our skills and interests, and we can continue to live well, happily, and healthfully. But, getting older also creates challenges that we should plan for. These challenges may include staying active and engaged, paying our expenses when we stop working, and addressing changes in body and mind. In addition, people should plan for how decisions will be made in this part of life and make sure that they have the skills and support they need to age successfully.

Dr. Kathie Bishop addresses planning and skill-building to support people with complex medical needs and adults with IDD who experience cognitive or functioning loss, possibly related to dementia. Dr. Bishop also describes how people with IDD and their families can work together to advocate to and with health care professionals to make sure that they receive needed medical care and that their wishes are carried out.

Mental Health Courts and Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Criminal Justice Solution?

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

Mental health courts were created to divert offenders away from prison into long-term community-based treatment. These courts rely on assessments, treatment plans and ongoing monitoring of behavior to address both the mental health needs of the offenders, as well as the safety needs of the community. But, are mental health courts appropriate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)? Can they do more harm than good? Join NCCJD as we explore these questions and hear from experts in the field about this under-recognized dilemma in the criminal justice system. NCCJD will discuss the results of a recent informal survey of mental health courts serving people with IDD, followed by Ms. Baird who will provide a historical perspective of mental health courts, and define their role and purpose in the criminal justice system. Ms. Patton will discuss how the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Court specifically addresses the needs of individuals with IDD and the benefits of serving these individuals. Mr. Stone will address the concerns of mental health courts and whether they are adequate to serve those with IDD.

Panelists:

Jennifer Baird, Program Manager, Mental Health Court, St. Lucie County, Florida
Meghan Patton, Court Coordinator, Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Court, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Adam Stone, Criminal Defense Attorney

Policing & People with Disabilities Webinar Series: Community-Based Strategies for Reform

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

Join NCCJD as we delve further into the topic of policing and people with disabilities, with a focus on community-based solutions. This webinar is the second in our 2017 Policing & People with Disabilities series that educates law enforcement, other criminal justice professionals, people with disabilities, family members, and disability advocates about the various intersections that play into discrimination and violence toward people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) within the criminal justice system and how we can address the issue by examining innovative programs and potential solutions from around the country. Law enforcement personnel will also discuss how they are changing police culture from within to reform policing practices around disability. NCCJD will highlight its innovative Pathways to Justice® program, a community-based solution that aims to increase trust and understanding between the criminal justice and disability communities, as well as build the capacity of criminal justice professionals to respond to gaps in services for people with IDD.

Panelists:
Ken Capone & Mat Rice, People on the Go
Travis Akins, Growth Through Opportunity
Nils Rosenbaum, Matthew Tinney, Caren Vendetti & Peter Winograd, Albuquerque Police Department
Leigh Ann Davis & Ariel Simms, The Arc’s National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability

Policing & People with Disabilities Webinar Series: The Intersection of Race, Disability, and Policing

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

Join NCCJD as we delve into the topic of policing people with disabilities, with a focus on people of color and women with disabilities. This webinar was the first in our 2017 Policing People with Disabilities series that educates law enforcement, other criminal justice professionals, people with disabilities, family members, and disability advocates about the various intersections that play into discrimination and violence toward people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) within the criminal justice system and how we can address the issue by examining innovative programs and potential solutions from around the country.

Panelists:

Lorrell Kilpatrick, Social Justice Advocate; Everybody Counts, North Indiana
Janine Jackson, Board Member, African American Policy Forum
Ronald Hampton, Advisory Board Member, National Police Accountability Project
David M. Perry, Disability Rights Journalist and History Professor at Dominican University

Competency of Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the Criminal Justice System: A Call to Action for the Criminal Justice Community

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

Join NCCJD as we explore the concept of competency for individuals with IDD in the criminal justice system. Topics addressed will include the competency to stand trial process, the differences between competency and the insanity defense, importing death penalty standards for individuals with IDD into competency determinations, competency evaluation wait times, and the impact that guardianship and supported decision making have on competency in criminal cases. Individuals familiar with IDD will get an introduction to competency issues that people with IDD may face while legal professionals will gain insight into the specific implications of IDD within the conceptual framework of competency. The speakers for this webinar are authors of our new white paper, Competency of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the Criminal Justice System: A Call to Action for the Criminal Justice Community.

Panelists:
Robert Fleischner, Assistant Director, Center for Public Representation
Claudia Center, Senior Staff Attorney, ACLU Disability Rights Program
Robert Dinerstein, Professor of Law, Associate Dean for Experiential Education, Director of Disability Rights Law Clinic, American University Washington College of Law
Andrew Flood, Stanford Law School
Brooke Boutwell, Wake Forest University School of Law, NCCJD Intern
Hillary Frame, Wake Forest University School of Law, NCCJD Intern