Laying the Foundation: The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Legal System
Ann Deschamps (Vice President of TransCen Inc. and Co-Director of the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center), Broderick Lindsey (Assistant Director of Professional Compliance and Captain, Arlington County Sheriff’s Office), and J.P. McMichael (Assistant Director of Inmate Services and Captain, Arlington County Sheriff’s Office) overview legal requirements including the ADA, Constitution, and other relevant federal and state laws.
Gaining Understanding: An Introduction to Developmental Disabilities
Lucy Beadnell (Director of Advocacy, The Arc of Northern Virginia) and Melissa Heifetz, Esq. (Advocacy Partners, LLC) provide an introduction to common developmental disabilities and discuss developing a language of inclusion.
Understanding Language Impairments
Professor Michele LaVigne (Emeritus Distinguished Clinical Professor of Law, University of Wisconsin Law School) details the history and present understanding of language impairments and how language impairments impact a person's interactions with the criminal legal system.
Improving Stakeholders' Identification of Persons with Disabilities
Nancy Mercer (Inclusion Consultants, LLC) explains how criminal legal system stakeholders can improve their identification of persons who may have a disability and details some best practices for interacting with persons with varying types of disabilities. Nancy concludes her presentation by playing A Credo For Support by Norman Kunc.
Myths and Misconceptions about People with Disabilities
Bonnie Hoffman (Director of Public Defense Reform and Training, NACDL) dispels some of the common myths and misconceptions about persons with disabilities. Bonnie also shares self-advocate video messages containing their insightful advice for stakeholders.
Introduction to Supported Decision Making
Jonathan Martinis, Esq., J.D. (Senior Director for Law and Policy, the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University) explains Supported-Decision Making (SDM). SDM is where persons with disabilities work with trusted friends, family members, and professionals to help them understand the situations and choices they face, so they may make their own decisions – rather than be subjected to a unnecessary permanent, plenary or full guardianship.
Supported Decision-Making in Practice
Jonathan Martinis, Esq., J.D. (Senior Director for Law and Policy, the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University) explains how and why Supported-Decision Making (SDM) serves as a practical framework for improving outcomes and accessibility within the criminal legal system. SDM is where persons with disabilities work with trusted friends, family members, and professionals to help them understand the situations and choices they face, so they may make their own decisions – rather than be subjected to a unnecessary permanent, plenary or full guardianship.
Introduction to Advanced Directives
Laurie Hallmark, Esq. (Special Project Director for Mental Health Programs, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid) explains and details Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs). PADs are a self-determination-based rights document, and the foundation for holistic advocacy. Through PADs, people with mental illness provide information regarding treatment preferences and personalized de-escalation techniques for law enforcement, crisis workers, medical and criminal justice personnel, and family and friends. In addition, PADs provide critical information regarding effective communication, enabling lawyers, courts, jail staff, probation and others to provide the necessary accommodations.
Application of Psychiatric Advance Directives
Laurie Hallmark, Esq. (Special Project Director for Mental Health Programs, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid) explores cases studies in the use of Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs). PADs are a self-determination-based rights document, and the foundation for holistic advocacy. Through PADs, people with mental illness provide information regarding treatment preferences and personalized de-escalation techniques for law enforcement, crisis workers, medical and criminal justice personnel, and family and friends. In addition, PADs provide critical information regarding effective communication, enabling lawyers, courts, jail staff, probation and others to provide the necessary accommodations.
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