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Cheers to 20 years!

2002-2022

2022 Monthly Newsletter

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A note from Matt.....

On January 26, 2022, I did a press conference in Orlando with Ben Crump and our other co-counsels and the Walker family. Attorney Crump is the leading civil rights lawyer of our time. At this conference, Ben Crump, stood at the podium, and upheld the humanity and the individuality of Caleb Walker, a young man who was tragically killed by an unlawful restraint in a group home. Ben Crump said:


"Caleb Walker died from the same thing George Floyd died from, Positional

Asphyxiation, but tragically, unlike George [Floyd], who was able to say “I can’t breathe”,

they were on him…his arms and legs were flailing, he could not say “I can’t breathe.” And

so, we’re here today to say that Autistic People Matter -- that Caleb Walker Matters."


Caleb walker is not invisible, he is real, and his life matters. Autistic lives matter.


The time is over when any person with a disability is an anonymous casualty of an underfunded and undertrained system. 


Caleb Walker will not be invisible.

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Work Hard Dream Big

20 years of Impact

Each month we will highlight one of the topics

This month we will discuss voting

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Voting

Over the last twenty years, we have focused on many important elements of community living for persons with disabilities.


Over the next year, I will reflect on each one of these issues and the progress that we have made in the past twenty years.


  • Voting – Ensuring accessible voting as well as outreach into the disability community.


  • Housing – Ensuring accessible multi-family housing and ensuring that accommodations are provided to ensure that persons with disabilities could use and enjoy their homes like anyone else.


  • Safety – Providing communication tools and training to prevent harm to persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities when encountering first responders.


  • Effective Communication – Defining effective and equal communication access for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and ensuring that medical needs are met, and employment opportunities are maintained.


  • Freedom of Choice – Providing the ability to have the right to control one’s future is an issue in which all persons have a right, and is often denied to persons with disabilities. This includes protecting the rights of parents with disabilities to have and raise children throughout the dependency process, in addition to ensuring freedom from guardianship services whenever possible.


  • Institutionalization and Medical services – Forced the closure of nursing homes that serve medically fragile children by ensuring provision of adequate services in homes.


  • Animals for Persons with Disabilities – The choice of what to do to assist a person with a disability is that person’s choice, and animals have been used to assist persons with disabilities for years, and it is only growing.


  • Education access – All persons are entitled to an equal access to an education. This includes a program to ensure an adequate education, or appropriate accommodations that measure each person’s intelligence, instead of disability. 


  • Expanding Disability Inclusion in the Legal Profession – Ensuring that, as a profession, the doors to the courthouse are open to all persons with disabilities, and that persons with disability who want to be lawyers are given a fair opportunity to do so.


  • Public Accommodations – People with disabilities have the right to physical access and freedom from unduly restrictive qualification rules so everyone has the right to equal use and enjoyment of all places of public accommodation. 

Walker v. Attain

By: Matthew Dietz

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We say their names of George Floyd, Eric Garner, Breonna Taylor, and many other victims to remember and memorialize the lives lost to the terror of racism, excessive force, and rank injustice. We say their names to demand justice, changes in policy and for fairness and equality. On January 21, I was proud to be part of a team of lawyers, including Ben Crump, Natalie Jackson and Aaron Karger, who stand for another portion of our human family that is frequently shunted aside and placed in dark corners outside of our communities. Residents with intellectual or developmental disabilities who live in group homes. Caleb Walker was 27 years old his life was smothered out of him by a person who was paid to be his caretaker, by a system that knows of the abuses and the lack of funding but does nothing to fix the problem.  


Caleb, an Autistic young man who lived with an intellectual disability, was killed at Oconee Group Home, a residential group home. Caleb died by asphyxiation when staff from the group home improperly employed a behavioral restraint on him.


Many times, individuals with autism are required to get the services they need at group homes, and frequently these group homes are underfunded and understaffed. Other cases that have involved the death of individuals at group homes have been made barely visible to the public; those individuals of whom many times die a nameless resident. But their lives and Caleb’s life, mattered. Caleb’s family, his mother and father Sara and Tom, and his sisters and brothers, were all very close. Because of Caleb’s disability and his intensive behavioral needs, his parents could no longer care for him in his home with the services that were needed, so they were told that he needed to go to a Florida facility that could adequately meet his needs.


For several years, Caleb lived at Carlton Palms, a large, institutionalized setting in Florida for persons with developmental disabilities. In 2018, when Carlton Palms went into a receivership for many abuses at its facilities, its state-appointed receiver, Dr. Craig Cook, transferred many residents into his own facilities, including Caleb, and along with Caleb, the hundreds of thousands of dollars that the State of Florida paid for the level of care that he required. For each of the four residents of the group home, the State of Florida paid for one resident to one caregiver ratio at night, and more staffing during the day.


Tom and Sara would visit Caleb every Sunday at Defendant Dr. Cooks’ Oconee Group home where Caleb was a resident to see Caleb and bring him food and treats and took him on frequent outings. Beginning in 2020, Sara and Tom began noticing injuries to Caleb, and made complaints to the management of the group home and to the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. This included a black eye and a bruise on his stomach.


On the morning that Caleb was killed -- November 25, 2020, there were only two persons on the overnight shift at the Oconee Group Home that night-- not one for each resident. Caleb died at 5:30 in the morning when a staff member at the group home improperly restrained Caleb in response to his belief that Caleb was being aggressive. Caleb was thrown to the ground by his neck and onto his face and held there for several minutes, at which time extreme pressure was placed on his back by the staff member. After some time, the other staff member came into Caleb’s room where he was being pinned to the ground. Caleb pinned from his back for 15-20 minutes while Caleb screamed; which, because of his disability, he could not say, “I can’t breathe.”


Caleb died when he had the breath and eventually life pushed out of him. Unbelievably, this wasn’t the first time. On November 20, 2020, just five (days before the death of Caleb, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities essentially dismissed their claim against a different group home of Dr. Craig Cook for the use of the same type of restraint on a resident. The resident was Arnaldo Rios-Soto, who’s caretaker was a victim of a shooting in North Miami back in 2016.

Caleb did not have to die; the circumstances that surrounded his death were preventable.


1. Group homes should be adequately staffed with trained professionals so restraints are relied on at a minimum and can be properly done without possibility of death.


2. The Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities must ensure there is full transparency for a family to make a knowledgeable decision when to place a loved one in a group home, which includes publishing investigations and findings against group homes,


3. When a group home relies on the constant use of physical restrain to control behavior, the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities must reevaluate the care plan for all residents to ensure that the group home is adequately staffed with qualified employees.


Caleb’s parents would like justice for their son, as well as to ensure that widespread change is brought to the system. To ensure that the State of Florida cannot funnel money to group homes without accountability, transparency, and constant monitoring to ensure that a human life cannot die a nameless resident at a group home to another tragedy. Abuse of individuals at residential group homes and living facilities is an urgent public health problem that impacts thousands of women and men each year These lives cannot be forgotten, we must remember their names and their stories. We must ensure that appropriate in home or out of home services are provided to our Autistic sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, fathers, and mothers.


This man was not nameless or invisible, he had a name; he had a family and his life mattered.


This man’s name was Caleb Walker, and he was 27 years old when he was killed.

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Miami Inclusion Alliance (MIA)

By: Sharon Langer

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Inspired by the outpouring of love for animals after the passing of Betty White, I want to discuss domestic violence and its effects on pets. We know that domestic violence is an issue that does not discriminate. It can affect all people regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status. It affects children, our friends, and even our pets. People who abuse will use anything they can to gain power or control over their partner, which can include their partner’s beloved pets.


Knowing this, the National Domestic Violence Hotline recently released a joint report with the Urban Resource Institute (URI) on the intersection of domestic violence and pets, including the results of a survey of nearly 2,500. The purpose of this survey was to determine how pet ownership affects victims and survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) in their immediate safety planning, as well as when they are taking steps to leave the abusive relationship.


Their survey showed that:

  • 48% of respondents feared that the abusive partner would harm or kill the pets.
  • 37% reported that the abusive partner had already threatened to harm or kill pets; and
  • 29% said pets had already been harmed or killed.

 

This survey shows that a partner who is abusive will use the love and care that a survivor has for their pets to control their actions. It also highlights the importance of keeping pets safe during an abusive relationship, and how the safety of pets is also a crucial part of a survivor’s safety plan.


Many survivors worry about the well-being of their pets when they are considering leaving their abusive relationship.


The same survey found that:

  • 97% of respondents said that keeping their pets with them is an important factor in deciding whether to seek shelter.
  • 91% indicated that their pets’ emotional support and physical protection are significant in their ability to survive and heal; and
  • 72% of respondents were not aware that some domestic violence shelters accept pets. (Currently, only about 250 shelters in the U.S. are pet-friendly and many others have foster care arrangements for pets.)

 

Pets are an important part of our families, and therefore need to be taken into consideration when someone is planning to leave an abusive relationship. The organizations that assist victims and survivors are beginning to recognize this fact. Shelters are beginning to offer space for pets. The new Miami-Dade County shelter will have pet kennels available.


I suggest that if the animal advocacy community and the domestic violence community were to work together, we could assure victims, that both they and their pet can seek shelter together and be safe. 

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Disability Rights Today Podcast


New Episode! Karantsalis v. City of Miami Springs, Florida


This episode of Disability Rights Today welcomes the Plaintiff-Appellate in this case, Theodore D. Karantsalis, and his attorney, Matthew Dietz.


The host is Dr. Peter Blanck, University Professor and Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University.


The guests will discuss the arguments of the case, the case findings, and what this case means for people with disabilities and the ADA.




  • Web: soundcloud.com/adalive/disability-rights-today-episode-6-karantsalis-v-city-of-miami-springs-florida






Listen to the Podcast

Benefits Information

By: Lesly Lopez

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Ticket to work and WIPA what that means?

Many working aged individuals with disabilities (ages 18-64) are not working. The reasons vary, but for some it’s a fear of “If I start working, will my benefits be taken away from me?” The truth is: No. People with disabilities can work without losing their financial security or health care benefits. There are many programs available that make it possible to still collect benefits while working. Here is a brief overview of a few programs available.


Ticket to Work

Ticket to Work is a program that assists individuals, ages 18 to 64, currently receiving Social Security disability benefits who want to work. Through Ticket to Work, people can receive assistance with finding employment, getting job training, and receiving other support services.

Through the Ticket to Work program, individuals are referred to an Employment Network or Vocational Rehabilitation agency, which are agencies that will accept the “ticket” and assist the person with the job search and training.

 

Work Incentives Planning and Assistance? What WIPA can do for you?

WIPA projects are community-based organizations that receive grants from SSA to provide all Social Security and SSI disability beneficiaries (including transition-to-work aged youth) with free access to work incentives planning and assistance. Each WIPA project has counselors called Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWIC) who:

Provide work incentives planning and assistance to our beneficiaries with disabilities to assist them in achieving financial independence;

Conduct outreach efforts to those beneficiaries (and their families) who are potentially eligible to participate in Federal or state employment support programs; and

Work in cooperation with Federal, state, private agencies and nonprofit organizations that serve beneficiaries with disabilities.

The goal of the program is to teach about the work incentives from SSA, enhance self-sufficiency, ensure informed choices, and get rid of fear.


Working with a WIPA can help you:

  • Understand the rules of specific Work Incentives and how they apply to you/benefit analysis and advisement.
  • Decide whether the Ticket to Work program is right for you
  • Understand the potential benefits of employment as a person who receives disability benefits from Social Security while dispelling the myths about working
  • Analyze how work and earnings may impact your Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), health care, and other public benefits
  • Understand the services provided by a State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency or an Employment Network (EN), and how they might fit best with your needs
  • Problem solving and advocacy
  • Benefits support and planning/benefits management
  • Information and referral

 

Once you begin working, WIPA projects can also provide information and support to help you make a successful transition to work and financial independence. Working with a WIPA project is often a first step for beneficiaries who want to go to work. 


WIPA project from South Florida is serving SSA beneficiaries from Palm Beach, Broward, Miami Dade, and Monroe counties. 


For WIPA services please call the Ticket To Work Helpline 1-886-833-2987 or TTY 1-866-833-2967 Monday- Friday 8:00AM-8:00PM.

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The wallet card is a tool to be used by a teenager or an adult with a disability.


Currently, we have developed cards for persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or intellectual disabilities. 


We are planning to release a new version of the wallet card for caregivers by the end of January 2022.

Order a Wallet Card Here

The Wallet Card Project – In Action with

Franklin Heights High School

Hello! We had an awesome Wallet Card Day on November 16 at Franklin Heights High School. We had visitors from the Franklin County Sheriff and Franklin Township Fire Department. The students gave the presentation by reading the slides then we moved to the cafeteria to practice using the wallet cards. I heard a lot of positive feedback from everyone.

– Lauren Tadlock (speech language pathologist)

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Access The Vote Florida (ATVFL) is a state chapter of AAPD’s REVUP Campaign. REV UP stands for: Register! Educate! Vote! Use your Power!


The chapter is a statewide coalition of organizations and self- advocates that are working to raise awareness about issues that impact persons with disabilities, encourage people with disabilities to participate in the voting process, and educate elected officials on issues important to persons with disabilities.


The video below was created as a virtual presentation for the 2021 Family Cafe.


The video will explain who ATVFL is, what we have done so far, and what we plan to do in the future.


The presentation will encourage self-advocates to join and become involved.


ATVFL Website
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This event is on hold until it is safe to meeting in person again.

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Your Upward Journey


In a nutshell, Your Upward Journey:


It is Easier Than You Think!, a three-part project (book, self-help seminars and merchandise sale).


Click Here for More Information

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