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The Connecting Point
Volume: 3 Issue: 23 Date: April 26, 2006
In This ISSUE:
1) Finding the Path -- A Handbook for Persons with Mental Retardation and
their Families
2) Finding Help When You're In trouble with the Law. A Handbook for
Persons with Mental Illness and their Families
3) National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center
4) SSA Commissioner Barnhart Announces New Disability Determination
Process
_____
1) Finding the Path -- A Handbook for Persons with Mental Retardation and
their Families Texas Appleseed's has conducted extensive fair defense
research on the challenges facing individuals with development
disabilities in the criminal justice system Individuals with these
disabilities are often unable to understand their legal situation or to
know what to do to ensure that their best interests are represented. They
and their families may not recognize the importance of hiring or requesting
a court-appointed attorney with experience in working with persons with
mental disabilities. To encourage their better legal representation,
Texas Appleseed has produced English- and Spanish-language handbooks for
persons with DD and their families to help them navigate the criminal
justice process, from arrest and Miranda warnings, to what they should
know about hiring a lawyer and disclosing their disability during the
legal process. Texas Appleseed has also produced handbooks for attorneys
who represent these special needs clients. -.To order copies, contact
Deborah Fowler at: Deborah Fowler, Legal Director, 512-804-1633 x105,
http://www.texasappleseed.net/pdf/handbook_FindingPath.pdf
2) Finding Help When You’re In trouble with the Law. A Handbook for
Persons with Mental Illness and their Families - Texas Appleseed has just
released the Third Edition of the Handbook who provides assistance to
individuals with Mental Health legal/criminal
issues. http://www.texasappleseed.net/pdf/handbook_FindingHelp.pdf
dfowler@texasappleseed.net Or see their web site for more information.
3) National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center - The
National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center (NSTTAC) is
directed and staffed by the Special Education Program at the University of
North Carolina at Charlotte, in partnership with the Special Education
Programs at Western Michigan University and Appalachian State University.
In order to ensure full implementation of IDEA and help youth with
disabilities and their families achieve desired post-school outcomes,
NSTTAC will help states build capacity to support and improve transition
planning, services, and outcomes for youth with disabilities and
disseminate information and provide technical assistance on
scientifically-based research practices with an emphasis on building and
sustaining state-level infrastructures of support and district-level
demonstrations of effective transition methods for youth with
disabilities. The NSTTAC will provide efficient and effective large-scale
implementation and sustainability of research-based secondary transition.
NSTTAC Newsletter
"NSTTAC" will begin producing a monthly electronic newsletter in August,
2006. If you’d like to receive this newsletter, please provide us with
your e-mail address in an message titled "news registration" to
chfowler@email.uncc.edu.
The news will include information for students, parents, practitioners,
and policy makers on the legal and policy updates, resource materials,
evidence based strategies, success stories, and other good information on
secondary transition issues. We look forward to being in touch with you
each month!
The website includes links to transition resources for students, parents
and professionals. http://www.nsttac.org/
4) SSA Commissioner Barnhart Announces New Disability Determination
Process On March 28, Commissioner Jo Anne B. Barnhart announced that the
final rule establishing a new disability determination process is now on
public display at the Office of the Federal Register. The new process,
built upon Social Security's electronic claims process, will shorten
decision times and pay benefits to people who are obviously disabled much
earlier in the process. To learn more, please visit
www.socialsecurity.gov/disability-new-approach . To view the press release
visit www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/DSI-pr.htm.
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