Disability Rights Connecticut

DRCT PARTICIPATES IN CT TOWN CLERKS ASSOCIATION SPRING CONFERENCE! BY MIKE WHILBY, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER *** On Thursday, April 18th, Disability Rights Connecticut (DRCT) participated in the Connecticut Clerks Association (CTCA) Spring Conference held at the Hartford County Doubletree Hilton in Bristol. Our concentration at the conference was to provide Connecticut town clerks with an overview of DRCT’s organizational services, that included a focus on voting accessibility and registration, along with educational services that help underserved communities and individuals with disabilities.   I would like to thank Sue Pawluck, Stratford Town Clerk and CTCA President, Patty Spruance for once again putting together a wonderful conference that included several CT non-profits and state agencies.   Finally, I want to give special thanks to my colleague, Staff Attorney Gina Teixeira and DRCT alum Jim Welsh for doing an outstanding job along with CT Family Support Network’s Executive Director, Adrianna Ramirez and Family Support Coordinator Melissa Mills for sharing a table with us. What a great example of teamwork and collaboration!

DRCT ATTENDS 2024 SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR @ MARK T. SHEEHAN HIGH SCHOOL IN WALLINGFORD! BY MIKE WHILBY, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER *** I would like to thank Aimee Turner, Assistant Superintendent for Schools, Meghan Shortell-Fratantonio, Special Education Clerk, and all the members and volunteers from the Wallingford Public Schools for inviting Disability Rights Connecticut (DRCT) to their 2024 Special Education Community Resource Fair in Wallingford on Tuesday, April 16. It was a great event that allowed DRCT to meet with parents of students with disabilities and community organizations. This event enabled us to continue to promote and showcase our education rights & supported decision making (SDM) clinics.

We posted more content than usual yesterday, but did you know we also observed the 13th Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)? The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than One Billion people with disabilities/impairments. For more information, please click this 🔗 here: https://lnkd.in/gpUGPSj #betterlatethannever #disabilityrights #gaad

🌺 To shine the spotlight on individuals with disabilities who are members of the AAPI community click on the following link: https://lnkd.in/epQ5F59N

**UPDATE: Today's May 16th fest is CANCELLED due to weather. 🙁 It was a super tough decision and we are very sorry. If you have questions, please email info@willimanticstreetfest.com Here's to a DRY June! We hope to see you there, where we'll be collaborating with Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR)'s Windham Recovery Center! https://lnkd.in/eNjg_KUs

DRCT TAKES PART IN Special Education Equity for Kids OF CONNECTICUT SPECIAL EDUCATION RESOURCE/PROVIDER FAIR! BY MIKE WHILBY, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER *** On Saturday, April 6th, Disability Rights Connecticut attended the SEEK Special Education Resource/Provider Fair at @easton community center EASTON COMMUNITY CENTER. This fair included ~30 vendors across the state which included: evaluators, ABA providers, advocates & attorneys, special education schools, executive function coaches, speech language pathologists, along with occupational and physical therapists. This event provided a wealth of informational advocacy materials for parents of students with disabilities, community providers, and professionals. I would like to thank SEEK President, John Flanders, and Vice-President, Naomi Nova, for inviting DRCT to participate in the fair. It was nice meeting both of you and having the opportunity to talk with families and network with so many great organizations.

Each year, #NationalChildrenMentalHealthAwarenessDay seeks to raise consciousness about the importance of children’s #mentalhealth and to show that positive mental health is essential to a child’s healthy development. As we celebrate this important day tomorrow May 9th, please feel free to peruse these resources: https://lnkd.in/gfNK43hN via Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Click the link below to read the alert. https://lnkd.in/gfbejMBp

Haga clic en el siguiente enlace para leer la alerta. https://lnkd.in/gfbejMBp

More resources to follow!