April is Autism Acceptance Month
#AutismAcceptance
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8 Minutes and 46 Seconds; In Need of Justice for George Floyd
“We’re not asking for anything extraordinary. We’re asking for equal justice under the law,” said attorney Ben Crump, representing the George Floyd family as they head into court this week. The family and attorneys kneeled down for eight minutes and forty-six seconds, the length of time that a former officer pressed his knee into Mr. Floyd’s neck.
George Floyd is one of the many people who have been killed at the hands of police officers acting violently. People with disabilities are often at risk of experiencing violence when interacting with law enforcement, but due to racial bias, People of Color with disabilities face an even greater threat of deadly harm.
Disability Rights Connecticut, through our mission to advance and protect the civil rights of individuals with disabilities, is dedicated to fighting inequity that impacts people with disabilities, including police violence against People of Color with disabilities.
We must collectively work together to remove all types of discrimination and undue bias. George Floyd and his family are owed Justice.
In Connecticut, Public Act No. 19-90 established a task force to study police transparency and accountability. Daryl McGraw, chair of the task force shared his personal experience. “I was in a fetal position and he Tased me five times and laughed while I screamed. It would be wrong of me to sit here and not try and fix that stuff.”
If you want to share your thoughts or experiences, the subcommittee on Improving Police Interactions with the Disability Community, you can find out more here:
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In solidarity with AAPI communities in light of last week's killings.
Disability Rights Connecticut serves people with disabilities in Connecticut including people from marginalized and/or underserved communities. The recent events in Atlanta, GA that have directly impacted the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community highlights the need for us to reflect on the unfair laws and policies that leave marginalized individuals in harm’s way.
As the state’s designated Protection & Advocacy agency, we perform the work that our federal government has determined to be critical for the nation - the full inclusion and safety of persons with disabilities, including AAPI individuals with disabilities.
We must combat AAPI hate, which has ballooned during the times of the COVID-19 pandemic. We stand with the AAPI community against racism and misogyny and reaffirm our mission to advance and protect the civil rights of individuals with disabilities to participate equally and fully in all facets of community life in Connecticut and in our country.
The following message released by Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta expresses our passion for the rights of AAPI individuals with disabilities and for solidarity in the midst of multiple national crises.
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“ ‘We are heartbroken by these acts of violence. Six Asian women lost their lives. Now is the time to hold the victims and their families in our hearts and in our light. We’re calling on our allies across communities of color to stand with us in grief and solidarity against racist violence in all its forms. When our most vulnerable community members are targeted, we all need to band together,’ shared Stephanie Cho, Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta.
While the details of the shootings are still emerging, the broader context cannot be ignored. The shootings happened under the trauma of increasing violence against Asian Americans nationwide, fueled by white supremacy and systemic racism. While anti-Asian violence is woven throughout our nation’s history, the Trump administration’s relentless scapegoating of Asians for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has increased the incidences of hate and violence against Asian Americans around the country. According to the most recent data, hate incidents targeting Asian Americans rose by nearly 150% in 2020, with Asian American women twice as likely to be targeted. Stop AAPI Hate received 3,800 reports of anti-Asian hate since March 2020 to February 2021, with 35% of discriminatory acts happening at businesses and with women reporting hate incidents twice as men.
‘That the Asian women murdered [last week] were working highly vulnerable and low-wage jobs during an ongoing pandemic speaks directly to the compounding impacts of misogyny, structural violence, and white supremacy,’ said Phi Nguyen, Litigation Director at Asian American Advancing Justice - Atlanta.
In Georgia, as in many states across the country, systemic disinvestment from and criminalization of communities of color means that we do not have the infrastructure or resources in place for effective community safety, a robust social service safety net, and in-language support. In addition, white supremacy devalues the lives and experiences of immigrant communities, Black communities, and other communities of color while heightening xenophobia and divisions among us. At a time where we could be building bridges of understanding and support, white supremacy continues to diminish our already fractured society.
During this time of crisis for our AAPI community, we call on our local and state government to provide robust and responsive crisis intervention resources, including in-language support for mental health, legal, employment, and immigration services. It is time for Georgia to invest in transformative justice that begins with cross-racial dialogue and community-building that address the root causes of violence and hate."
Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta
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DRCT Provides Advocacy Services for Forced Medication Meetings |
Disability Rights Connecticut (DRCT) is sending an advocate or attorney to help patients at forced medication hearings held under Connecticut General Statue § 17a-543(d).
DRCT cannot promise an advocate or attorney will be available to help every person who asks for one. If you want to ask for DRCT’s help at a forced medication hearing call DRCT’s Intake at (860) 297-4300 ext. 118 or toll-free at (800) 842-7303. If we have the resources to attend the involuntary medication hearing, we will need your permission to access your medical files.
Please call as soon as possible after you’ve been told of your proceeding.
If we can not be there in person, DRCT will make best efforts to attend by video or phone.
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Disability Rights: Accommodations/Modifications in Housing Webinar
April 29, 2021 11-12:30 p.m.
Registration is open for this free webinar to the community. This webinar is great for:
- People with Disabilities
- Disability Advocates
- Landlords
- Attorneys
- Social Workers
- Housing professionals
- Condo Associations
- Town Councils
American Sign Language interpreters will be provides, as well as captioning.
This collaborative workshop will be presented by Jessica Labrencis, Staff attorney from Connecticut Fair Housing and Stephen Byers, Staff attorney from Disability Rights Connecticut.
We'll discuss:
- the Fair Housing Act
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- How to write an a Disability Accommodation and or modification request letter.
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DRCT Welcomes
Interim Legal Director
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DRCT is pleased to welcome Stan Eichner as our Interim Legal Director.
As a public interest lawyer for more than 45 years, Stan has specialized in safeguarding and expanding the legal rights of individuals with disabilities. Having held a variety of positions during his 17 years at the Disability Law Center in Massachusetts, Stan has focused on special education, public accommodations and employment discrimination cases. His successful efforts include: securing agreements from the three largest banks in Massachusetts to ensure full access to banking services for their customers who are blind or have visual impairments, successfully challenging in federal court the isolated location of accessible seating at Lowell’s newly constructed minor league ballpark and most recently coordinating the Law Center’s investigation of excessive restraint and seclusion at Bridgewater State Hospital, which led to a far-reaching settlement. He co-edited and authored several chapters in the first and second editions of the well-received MCLE book, The Legal Rights of Individuals with Disabilities. Over the course of his career, Stan has litigated cases across almost all areas of civil rights law and at every level of state and federal courts, including Hensley v. Eckerhart in the United States Supreme Court, and Commonwealth v. Adams in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
Stan left full-time employment in April 2019 but is now excited to share his background in disability rights law with the staff of Disability Rights Connecticut.
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Accessible Voting is a Right |
Voting by mail should be accessible for all voters with disabilities. DRCT created an informational handout that explains your rights when filling out an absentee ballot.
If you are a person with a disability, and interested in getting registered to vote, contact DRCT today!
Lastly, if you experienced any accessibility issues in trying to vote during the 2020 election, please give us a call at 800-842-7303, or email us at info@DisRightsCT.org.
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COVID-19 Vaccine in Connecticut |
Long-Term Care Facility Residents and people 55+ years old are eligible to receive the vaccine now.
Find out if you're eligible and access support to help you get vaccinated against COVID-19.
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Want Text Message Alerts on COVID-19 in CT? |
Residents can also subscribe to text message alerts from the state by texting the keyword COVIDCT to 888-777.
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UPDATES
CHECK OUT OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
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The Legal Director provides leadership to help DRCT achieve its overall vision of a society in which persons with disabilities have equality of opportunity, full participation, and the ability to exercise meaningful choice. The Legal Director is responsible for the quality and delivery of DRCT’s legal services.
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Disability Rights Connecticut (DRCT) seeks an attorney with proven federal civil rights litigation experience to pursue justice and systemic change on behalf of individuals with disabilities in Connecticut. The position will work with DRCT attorneys, staff and community co-counsel to enforce the legal rights of DRCT’s client community.
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Disability Rights Connecticut (DRCT) seeks an enthusiastic, self-motivated attorney to join DRCT in protecting and promoting the civil rights of people with disabilities. Attorneys with more than four years civil and/or criminal litigation experience are encouraged to apply.
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Attention Amtrak travelers! |
Have you traveled, or wanted to travel, to or from the Amtrak stations in either Old Saybrook, Windsor, or Windsor Locks? If so, you might be eligible for monetary compensation.
Amtrak has begun accepting claims by people with mobility disabilities who encountered accessibility issues at 78 stations around the country – including 3 in Connecticut - after the U.S. Department of Justice found violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
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Know Your Rights: Training & Outreach |
DRCT provides education and training on a variety of topics related to disability rights. For more information about how we can help your organization or community group, or to request a training, please contact Jennifer Jenkins at (860) 297-4300 ext. 114 or Jennifer.Jenkins@DisRightsCT.org
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Deborah Dorfman,
Executive Director
Disability Rights Connecticut
860-297-4300
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Open and Affirming Statement:
Disability Rights Connecticut
is open and affirming and welcomes all people regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, nationality,
or any disability.
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Disability Rights Connecticut
846 Wethersfield Ave.
Hartford, CT 06114
(800) 842-7303 (toll-free in CT)
(860) 297-4300 (voice)
(860) 509-4992 (videophone)
(860) 296-0055 (fax)
An Affiliate of the National
Disability Rights Network.
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