Enhancing The Effectiveness Of Disability Activism By Organizing And Empowering

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Enhancing the effectiveness of disability activism by organizing and empowering individuals, families, groups, and organizations! Empowerment! Opportunity! Justice!

October 2009 Calendar of Events To include events in next month’s calendar please contact us: Jayne Kleinman, 203-631-4800 or [email protected] Stan Kosloski, 860-614-8351 or [email protected] Website: http://www.ct-dac.org/contactus.htm

October Events October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. For more information go to www.dol.gov/odep/faqs/ndeam.htm. In 1988 Congress designated each October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This effort to educate the American public about issues related to disability and employment actually began in 1945, when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week. The Learning Disabilities Association of Connecticut is offering a series of seminars designed to provide parents and supportive professionals the training they need to be fully knowledgeable and engaged at IEP meetings and as parent advisors. Seminars are held Thursdays from 9:30 am – noon from October through December 17th at the LDA office on the fifth floor of 999 Asylum Avenue in Hartford. For details call the LDA office at 860-560-1711 or e-mail [email protected] The Connecticut Association of Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities is also offering a series of workshops for parents and supportive professionals seeking to improve or develop their advocacy skills. The workshops will take place on Tuesdays from October 6 – December 8 in Conference Room 8C, First Floor, 25 Van Zant Street in East Norwalk. For details call CACLD at 203-838-5010 or e-mail them at [email protected]. Wednesday, October 7, 8:15 am – 5:00 pm, “A New Day for Housing”, the annual conference of the CT Housing Coalition – at the CT Convention Center in Hartford. All major candidates for Governor have been invited – three sets of workshop sessions will be held during the course of the day – cost is $95 for members, $110 for non-members For more information call 860-563-2943 x20.

2 Wednesday, October 7, 7:00 - 9:00 pm, Interactive Round-Table Discussion, Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Ave., Norwalk - Attorney Nora Ann Belanger will present a streamlined, parent-friendly discussion of “Fact or Fiction” issues regarding parental rights and misconceptions regarding special education. Attorney Belanger will also answer general audience questions. The round-table discussion is co-sponsored by NorwalkSEEKS and Connecticut Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities (CACLD). It is free and open to the public. For more information or questions contact [email protected], or call 203-846-2501. Wednesday, October 7, 6:30 - 9:00 pm, “No Kidding, Me Too!” A community event for adults & teenagers with mental illness/brain disease - featuring Joe Pantoliano - at Wilton High School, 395 Danbury Road, Wilton. Joe Pantoliano, award winning actor/producer, (The Matrix, Empire of the Sun, Risky Business) and NY Times best selling author, makes his documentary directorial debut with “No Kidding, Me Too!” as part of his fight against the stigma and shame of mental/ brain disease. There is no admission fee. For more information call Wilton Youth Services at 203-834-6241. Thursday, October 8, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm, “KTP Annual Legislative Advocacy Trainings: Essentials of Legislative Advocacy,” Legislative Office Building, 300 Capitol Avenue in Hartford. A box lunch will be provided. There is a $10 fee to help cover the cost of a book and lunch. Scholarships and pre-approved travel/family care stipends are available. Call Cheri or Maura with any questions at 860-882-0236 or 1-800215-3021 or e-mail [email protected]. (See also Dec. 3 and 10.) Thursday, October 8, 6:00 pm, Community Forum on Direct Care Workforce Shortage - Rose Senior Center Library, 8 Mahan Drive in Norwich. For more information contact Senior Resources at 860-887-3561 or 860-886-4736, or e-mail [email protected]. The forums (there are three more, on October 15 in Willimantic, October 21 in Waterford, and November 11in Norwich) are a follow up to the recent white paper, “When No One Cares”. Each will feature a panel of local experts fielding audience questions involving the direct care workforce challenges of recruitment, retention, and reimbursement. Saturday, October 10, 2:00 pm, “The Master Builder” (an Audio Described performance, with a preshow description beginning at 1:45 pm) - presented by Yale Repertory Theatre, performed at the University Theatre, 222 York Street, between Chapel and Elm in New Haven. Wednesday, October 14, 10:30 am– 12:00 pm, Northwest Connecticut Disability Advocacy Collaborative Meeting, in the LARC Conference Room, 314 Main Street in Torrington. Do you have a disability, or are the friend or relative of someone who is disabled and want to get involved in disability advocacy? If so attend the next meeting of the Northwest Connecticut Disability Advocacy Collaborative. If you would like more information about this meeting contact Bill Knight at 860-489-6494. You can also e-mail your questions to [email protected]. If you are planning on attend please RSVP to Bill no later than Monday, October 12.

3 Thursday, October 15, 9:00 am - 12 pm, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Symposium, Legislative Office Building – Room 2 B, Hartford. For information or to register for the symposium, contact Ryan Lynch at the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, [email protected] or call 860-796-6988. The Keynote Speaker for the event is Mr. Joseph Calabrese, the Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Cleveland Transit Authority. Mr. Calabrese will present an overview of Cleveland’s HealthLine System, discuss its implementation and how it spurred development and transit oriented development, and focus on the overall flexibility of bus rapid transit to suburban development pattern Thursday, October 15, 6:00 pm, Community Forum on Direct Care Workforce Shortage -The forums (there are two more, on October 21 in Waterford and on November 11in Norwich) are a follow up to the recent white paper “When No One Cares”. Each will feature a panel of local experts fielding audience questions involving the direct care workforce challenges of recruitment, retention, and reimbursement. This forum will be held at the ACCESS Agency, 1315 Main Street in Willimantic. For more information contact Senior Resources at 860-887-3561, 860-886-4736, or e-mail [email protected]. Friday, October 16, 11:30 am, “StandUP for 25 Years”, at the State Capitol in Hartford. The Mental Health Association of Connecticut and the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut are sponsoring this event to draw awareness to a little known but tragic health problem; in 2006, a landmark study revealed that people with mental illness have a 25 year shorter life span than the general public. The goal of the event is to educate lawmakers, providers, consumers and the public about this issue and to call them to action. At the event, participants will hear several presentations and will be asked to sign an open letter to our lawmakers asking them to make future decisions with the 25 year statistic in mind. To register, or for more information, call 860-5291970. October 19, 6:00 – 7:30 pm, "Community & Natural Supports for Brain Injury Survivors," Connecticut Valley Hospital, Page Hall (1st floor), hosted by the Middletown Support Group of the Brain Injury Association of Connecticut (BIAC). The presenter will be Carrie Kramer, M.A., CRC, Director of Brain Injury Services at BIAC, who will discuss "Community & Natural Supports for Brain Injury Survivors." Her presentation will address redefining one's self after a brain injury, as well as the community resources that exist to help individuals live and participate more actively in their communities. To RSVP call BIAC at 860-721-8111. Tuesday, October 20, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm, 28th Annual Connecticut Lobbying Conference – at The Lyceum, 227 Lawrence Street in Hartford. If you want to be a lobbyist, a better lobbyist, improve your advocacy skills, work at the Capitol or in state government, learn more about how our state government operates, or simply network with legislative leaders and influential lobbyists, you should attend this conference. To view the program, see the attachment or to register online, go to: www.bettygallo.com. A discount rate to groups sending 5 or more participants is available. For further information, contact Kate Robinson at: [email protected], or call 860-247-4322.

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Tuesday, October 20, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, “Hearing Loss Open House” – at the Disability Resource Center of Fairfield County (DRCFC), 80 Ferry Blvd., Suite 210 in Stratford. There is no charge to attend. Vendors include the DRCFC, New England Assistive Technology (NEAT) Marketplace, the Hearing Loss Association of America/SW CT Chapter, CapTel, Precision Hearing, and the Commission on the Deaf and Hearing Impaired. Please RSVP, as seating is limited - call Fran or Stephanie at 203378-6977, 203-378-3248 (TDD) or e-mail [email protected], Wednesday, October 21, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, 3rd Annual Disability Advocacy Seminar at the Norwalk Inn and Conference Center, 99 East Avenue, Norwalk - Cost: $15 (includes lunch) – the seminar is presented by the Southwest Advocacy Network, an affiliate of the Disability Advocacy Collaborative . There will be presentations by Carol Kana, Leader of the SW Advocacy Network; Scott MacDonald, Veterans Outreach Coordinator for Congressman Jim Himes Office; and Stan Kosloski, Project Director for CT Disability Advocacy Collaborative. Topics include: Self-Advocacy, Legislative and Veterans Issues, and the ADA Amendments Act. To register, send a check to Carol Kana, 42 Wescott St., Riverside, CT. 06878, made out to Connecticut Disability Advocacy Collaborative. For further info contact Carol at 203-637-4304, or email [email protected]. Payment must be received by October 12. Please advise if an accommodation is needed, or an alternate format is required for written materials. Wednesday, October 21, Disability Mentoring Day - one of many activities commemorating Disability Employment Awareness month sponsored by the CT Business Leadership Network (BLN). People with disabilities throughout Connecticut will have an opportunity to job shadow at a local business. The BLN will be coordinating an effort to match people with disabilities with participating companies. Who should participate? People with disabilities of working age - including college students, high school seniors, and jobseekers of all ages - are welcomed. Although the event includes companies from Wallingford, Trumbull, Stamford, Wilton, Windsor and New London, there is a concentration of employer participants in the Hartford area. Those who would like to participate should contact Melissa Marshall at [email protected] or 860-561-1232. Wednesday October 21, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, Deaf Focus Group, at the Disabilities Network of Eastern Connecticut (DNEC), 238 West Town Street, Norwich. Come learn more about better ways to interact using SVRS and the other services available with Sorenson. James Tourangeau, Outreach Manager-New England States will present. The Focus Group is open to individuals who are deaf, ASL students, and interpreters. For more information contact Linda Fafard at 860-823-1898 ext 12(V), via Videophone 860237-3445 (VP), by e-mail at [email protected] or text 860-639-0897(T). Wednesday, October 21, 6:00 pm, a Community Forum on Direct Care Workforce Shortage - at the Waterford Community Center, 24 Rope Ferry Rd, Waterford. The forums (there is one more, on November 11in Norwich) are a follow up to the recent white paper “When No One Cares”. Each will feature a panel of local experts fielding audience questions involving the direct care workforce challenges of recruitment,

5 retention, and reimbursement. For more information contact Senior Resources at 860887-3561,860-886-4736, or e-mail [email protected] .To read or download the white paper, go to: www.seniorresourcesec.org/news/directcare.shtml. Thursday, October 22, 1:30 - 4:00 pm, Keep the Promise Coalition Training: “Access to Medications and Housing: Current Status and Future Advocacy,” in the Old Judiciary Room at the State Capitol, 210 Capitol Avenue in Hartford. The program will be led by Alicia Woodsby, MSW, Public Policy Director, NAMI-CT and Jan VanTassel, Esq., Executive Director, CT Legal Rights Project. To register, contact Cheri or Maura at 800-215-3021 or at [email protected]. The training is free to the public with limited seating available. It is co-sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness of CT (NAMI-CT) and the CT Legal Rights Project. (See also October 29). Thursday, October 22, 7:00 - 9:00 pm, “Preparing Students for Work” presented by Paul Harvey, ARC of New London County - at the Dime Savings Bank, 290 Salem Turnpike in Norwich. Registration is required. Contact the Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center for more information or to register at 860-739-3089, 1-800-445-2722, or [email protected]. Parents, students and professionals are invited to attend this free workshop and learn how to prepare for success in the future. (See also November 14). Saturday, October 24, Fifth Annual BIAC/United Steel Walk, Great River Park, East Hartford. For more information call 860-721-8111. BIAC (The Brain Injury Association of CT) is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals with brain injury, their families, and caregivers while increasing the community’s understanding of brain injury and its prevention. You can get additional information about BIAC at www.biact.org/about.html. Tuesday, October 27, 10:00 am - 12:30 pm, Keep the Promise Coalition Training: “Access to Medications and Housing: Current Status and Future Advocacy,” at the Fairfield Public Library, 1080 Boston Post Rd in Fairfield. The program will be led by Alicia Woodsby, MSW, Public Policy Director, NAMI-CT and Jan VanTassel, Esq., Executive Director, CT Legal Rights Project. To register, contact Cheri or Maura at 800215-3021 or at [email protected]. The training is free to the public with limited seating available. It is co-sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness of CT (NAMI-CT) & CT Legal Rights Project. (See also October 22). Thursday, October 29, 11:30 am, 16th Annual Meeting, Americans with Disabilities Act Coalition of Connecticut, Inc., Four Points by Sheraton in Meriden. The keynote address is entitled “The Signing of the ADA: Personal Reflections” and will be presented by Linda Wheeler Donahue who witnessed this moment in history. If you need an accommodation (transportation, effective communication, need-based stipend) contact Lisa Caron at 860-297-4383 (V) or e-mail [email protected], or Evelyn Oliver Knight at 860-424-4871 (V), 800-537-2549 (Toll-free in CT), 860-424-4839(TTY), or by e-mail: [email protected].

6 Thursday, October 29, 1:30 pm, “What Does IT Have to Do with Customer Service?” at the Greater Hartford Transit District Meeting Room in Union Station, 1 Union Place, in Hartford. Presenters Manish Bhardwaj, Founder and CEO of VISTA IT solutions, and Roberta Yegid, Administrative Officer of Greater Bridgeport Transit, will help you discover the importance of IT (both International Transit and Information Technology) to bus service. For more information contact the CT Association of Community Transportation at 860-844-8594, or e-mail Gloria Mills at [email protected]. Thursday, October 29, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, a presentation on adaptive equipment for children by Lori Potts of Rifton Equipment - at The NEAT Center at Oak Hill, 33 Coventry Street in Hartford. This 3- hour session will explore current use of adaptive equipment for severely-involved children with disabilities in both the school-based and early intervention therapy practice settings. The evidence base regarding the benefits of physical activity and the detrimental outcomes of inactivity and immobility will be discussed. Use of upright positioning equipment for standing and walking, and the use of adaptive seating, tricycles, and toileting equipment will be described. Acquisition of equipment under IDEA will be outlined. For more information call 860-243-2869 or go to [email protected]. Saturday, October 31, 8:15 am – 3:30 pm, NAMI-CT State Conference: “Unmasking Mental Illness” – at the St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield. You may register at www.regonline.com/2009namictconference. CECs available. Conference fees & registration must be received by October 28th. Fees include lunch for each attendee and, where it applies, an additional charge for CECs. Saturday, October 31, CT Assn for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities. (CACLD) 39th Fall Conference — Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficits Through the Lifespan, Marriott Hotel, Stamford. For more information, contact [email protected] or call 203-838-5010.

November Events November is National Family Caregivers Month. For more information, go to http://www.thefamilycaregiver.org/national_family_caregiver_month/. Tuesday, November 3, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, “Fun, Tips and Tricks with JAWS,” at the Disability Resource Center, 80 Ferry Boulevard, Suite 210 in Stratford. Adaptive software can enable users to accomplish a variety of everyday tasks with their computers, from email and the web, to word processing, spreadsheets and more. The fee is $50 per person. To register, call 203-378-6977 or send an email to [email protected]. You may also contact Steven Famiglietti, Blind Services Vocational Manager, NEAT Center at Oak Hill, 120 Holcomb St. in Hartford at 860-286-3100, or e-mail [email protected]. Thursday, November 5, 11:30 am – 3:00 pm, Keep the Promise (KTP) Coalition Awards Ceremony, Saint Thomas Seminary, 467 Bloomfield Ave., Bloomfield. In addition to lunch, there will be an awards ceremony and entertainment. Invitations will be

7 sent out in October. To follow up, contact the Keep the Promise Coalition, 241 Main Street, 5th Floor, Hartford. You may also call 860-882-0236, 1-800-215-3021 (toll free), or e-mail [email protected]. Saturday, November 7, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, CT Down Syndrome Annual Convention, Crowne Plaza, Cromwell. For more information, go to http://www.ctdownsyndrome.org. The Keynote speaker is the Emmy Award winning writer for Sesame Street and author of Welcome to Holland, Emily Perl Kingsley, along with her son, Jason, and friend Mitchell Levitz. There will be vendor booths including “Specs4Us,” Super Duper catalog, Usborne Books at Home, Discovery Toys, Woodbine House, non-profit booths with information about various support organizations and CDSC affiliated booths including The Buddy Walk, The Holland Committee and CT DADS. There will be workshops for birth to three toddlers, school aged youth, adults, and self advocates. There will also be a new/expecting parent round table, a workshop on medical issues in children and infants by Dr. Robert Greenstein, and an update on the PJ education settlement. Wednesday, November 11, 6:00 pm - a Community Forum on Direct Care Workforce Shortage - at Three Rivers Community College, 574 New London Turnpike, Norwich. The forums (there have been three others) are a follow up to the recent white paper “When No One Cares”. Each features a panel of local experts fielding audience questions involving the direct care workforce challenges of recruitment, retention, and reimbursement. For more information contact Senior Resources at 860887-3561,860-886-4736, or e-mail [email protected] .To read or download the white paper, go to: www.seniorresourcesec.org/news/directcare.shtml. Saturday, November 14, 9:30 - 11:30 am, “Helping Students Transition to College” a presentation by Joseph Madaus, Ph.D., from the Center on Postsecondary Education and Disability, Neag School of Education, University of Connecticut - at the Dime Savings Bank, 290 Salem Turnpike in Norwich. Registration is required. Contact the Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center for more information or to register at 860-7393089, 1-800-445-2722, or [email protected]. (See also October 22). Tuesday, November 17, BIAC/Flatbread Company, Canton: “Make a lot of dough by eating a lot of dough … A good meal…a good time…a good cause…a good idea.” For more information call BIAC at 860-721-8111. BIAC (The Brain Injury Association of CT) is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals with brain injury, their families, and caregivers while increasing the community’s understanding of brain injury and its prevention. You can get additional information at www.biact.org/about.html. Wednesday, November 18, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, Deaf Focus Group: Tips on Buying a Computer, at the Disabilities Network of Eastern Connecticut (DNEC), 238 West Town Street, Norwich. Kim Bond from DNEC will share basic items to consider before talking to a computer salesman. Do you only want to be able to get your email? Do you want to play games with the computer? How fast do you need it to be? Will you be using it to

8 edit and save photos? All of these factors will determine how much money you will need to spend. Kim will discuss RAM, CPU speed, Processors, Gigabytes, etc. This is open to individuals who are deaf, ASL students and interpreters. For more information contact Linda Fafard at 860-823-1898 ext 12(V), via Videophone 860-237-3445 (VP), [email protected] or text 860-639-0897(T). Wednesday, November 18, 1:00 pm – Meeting of the State Rehabilitation Council for the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services. Location TBA. Please contact Evelyn Oliver Knight at 860-424-4871 (phone) or [email protected] (e-mail) for more details. Thursday, November 19, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, “Working it Out: Assistive Technology for Individuals with Brain Injury”, at the New England Assistive Technology (NEAT) Center, 33 Coventry St. in Hartford. Do you have a brain injury? Do you work, or want to return to work? Do you know what assistive technology options exist? Do you know what it is you need and how to get it? Do you want to be able to test the different products? This program is sponsored by the State Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, the CT Tech Act Project, and the NEAT Center. Space is limited. Please RSVP to Jessica Rival at 860-297-4362 or 1-800-842-7303 (Toll free Voice or TTY) or by e-mail at [email protected]. Provide at least two weeks notice if you need an accommodation, including sign language interpretation.

December Events Tuesday, December 1, 10:00 am, Board of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB) Deaf-Blind Advisory Committee. All meetings are held at the BESB offices, 184 Windsor Ave., Windsor. Call 860-602-4000 for more information. Thursday, December 3 and Thursday, December 10, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm, “KTP Annual Legislative Advocacy Trainings: Essentials of Legislative Advocacy,” Legislative Office Building, 300 Capitol Avenue, Hartford. A box lunch will be provided. There is a $10 fee to help cover the cost of a book and lunch. Scholarships and preapproved travel/family care stipends are available. Please call Cheri or Maura with any questions at 860-882-0236 or 1-800-215-3021 or e-mail [email protected]. Click here for a registration form. (See also Oct. 1 and 8.) Thursday, December 3, 10:00 am, Board Meeting, Board of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB), BESB offices, 184 Windsor Ave, Windsor. Call 860-602-4000 for more information. Wednesday, December 16, 9:30 am, Board of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB) State Rehab Council meeting, BESB offices, 184 Windsor Ave., Windsor. Call 860-602-4000 for more information.

2010

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2010 Gubernatorial and Congressional mid-term races! July 26, 2010 — 20 year Anniversary of the ADA! Fairfield County Disability Events You will find a comprehensive listing of upcoming events and announcements relevant to children with disabilities and families in lower Fairfield County by going to www.spednet.org. *********************************************************************** An independent advocacy organization, the Collaborative has received federal recognition as a 501(c)3 organization. Communitas, Inc. has served as our fiscal agent since the inception of the Collaborative four years ago, and we deeply appreciate the support that they have provided us. Tax deductible contributions may now be made directly to the Collaborative. DISCLAIMER: Inclusion of an event, article, fund raising activity or legislative initiative doesn’t imply endorsement by CDAC, nor can CDAC guarantee that all info provided is accurate or current.