A Collective Call for ADA Compliance and Disability Rights in Connecticut

2024

Explore our latest blog post on promoting ADA compliance and disability rights in Connecticut. Join the crucial conversation about creating a more inclusive society, enhancing accessibility, and advocating for the needs of individuals with disabilities. Discover how government bodies, advocacy groups, and communities can work together for meaningful change.

In the realm of disability support and advocacy, the power of collaboration cannot be overstated. This post is an invitation to all key figures and organizations involved in Connecticut's disability support system to enhance our joint efforts in upholding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and advocating for disability rights.

The Imperative of ADA Compliance: Ensuring ADA compliance is not just a legal obligation but a moral one. It's about creating an inclusive society where individuals with disabilities have equal access and opportunities to thrive.

Challenges in Disability Advocacy: Navigating the complexities of disability support programs can be daunting. Many individuals face barriers that hinder their full participation in society. It's crucial that these challenges are met with effective solutions and proactive measures.

Role of Government and Legislative Bodies: State departments, legislators, and policymakers hold significant power in shaping the landscape of disability support. Their decisions and actions can pave the way for more accessible and equitable systems.

Advocacy Groups and Media Influence: Organizations dedicated to disability rights and media outlets play a vital role in raising awareness and advocating for change. Their efforts are instrumental in highlighting issues and driving public discourse towards positive action.

A Call to Collaborative Action: This is an appeal for all stakeholders to unite in their efforts. By working together, sharing resources, and aligning goals, we can make substantial progress in addressing the needs of individuals with disabilities.

The journey towards full ADA compliance and robust disability advocacy is ongoing. It requires the commitment and participation of everyone involved in the disability support system. Let's join hands in this endeavor to build a more accessible and just society in Connecticut.

10 pertinent questions that stakeholders in Connecticut's disability support system, including state departments, legislators, and advocacy groups, should be considering to enhance ADA compliance and disability rights:

1. Accessibility Standards: How can we ensure that all public facilities and services in Connecticut are fully compliant with the latest ADA accessibility standards?

2. Disability Representation: Are individuals with disabilities adequately represented in the decision-making processes that affect their lives, and if not, how can we improve this representation?

3. Public Awareness: What strategies can be implemented to increase public awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities?

4. Policy Evaluation: How frequently are disability support policies and programs evaluated for effectiveness, and what metrics are used for this evaluation?

5. Resource Allocation: Are resources being allocated effectively to address the most pressing needs of individuals with disabilities in Connecticut?

6. Community Feedback: What mechanisms are in place to gather and incorporate feedback from the disability community into policy and program development?

7. Employment Opportunities: How can we improve employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, ensuring fair treatment and reasonable accommodations in the workplace?

8. Educational Access: What steps are being taken to ensure that educational institutions are accessible and inclusive for students with disabilities?

9. Healthcare Services: How can healthcare services be made more accessible and responsive to the specific needs of individuals with disabilities?

10. Emergency Preparedness: Are emergency response plans in Connecticut inclusive of the needs of individuals with disabilities, and how can these plans be improved?

Consider how this may be affecting these state managed programs.

·       Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Program

·       Alzheimer's Respite Care Program

·       Autism Spectrum Disorder - ASD

·       Birth to Three

·       Board of Education and Services for the Blind

·       Care4Kids

·       Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics

·       Child Support

·       CHOICES - CT's State Health Insurance Assistance Program for Medicare Beneficiaries

·       Commodity Supplemental Food Program

·       Community First Choice

·       Community Options

·       Connect-Ability

·       Connecticut AIDS Drug Assistance Program (CADAP)

·       Connecticut Behavioral Health Partnership - CTBHP

·       Connecticut Energy Assistance Program

·       Connecticut Home Care Program For Elders

·       Connecticut Housing Engagement and Support Services (CHESS) Initiative

·       Connecticut Integrated Care for Kids

·       Connecticut Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed)

·       CT Medicaid Enterprise Technology System (CT METS)

·       Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

·       Department of Rehabilitation Services

·       Disability Services

·       Durable Medical Equipment

·       Economic Security - Financial Assistance

·       Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP)

·       Electronic Visit Verification

·       Fatherhood Initiative of CT

·       Grandparents As Parents

·       Housing Options for Seniors

·       Human Services Infrastructure

·       HUSKY (Medicaid) Coverage for Breast and Cervical Cancer

·       HUSKY Health (Medicaid & Children’s Health Insurance Program)

·       Jobs First

·       Long-Term Services and Supports - LTSS

·       Med-Connect (Medicaid for Employees with Disabilities)

·       Medicaid Nursing Home Reimbursement

·       Medicare Savings Program

·       Money Follows the Person

·       National Family Caregiver Support Program

·       Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)

·       Nutrition Assistance Programs

·       PCA CERTIFICATION TEST

·       PCMH+ Member Information

·       Refugee Assistance Program

·       School Based Child Health (SBCH)

·       Self Direction Personal Protection Equipment Request Form Submission

·       Social Work Services

·       State Supplement for the Aged, Blind and Disabled

·       Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - SNAP

·       Temporary Family Assistance - TFA

·       The Personal Care Attendant Program

·       Welfare to Work (Department of Labor)

·       Women Infants and Children – WIC

A plea to our elected officials

•     Connecticut Department of Social Services Commissioner Andrea Barton Reeves

•     U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy

•     U.S. House Representatives John Larson, Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLauro, Jim Himes, and Jahana Hayes

•     Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont

•     Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz

•     Secretary of State Denise Merrill

•     Attorney General William Tong

•     State Treasurer Shawn Wooden

•     State Comptroller Kevin Lembo

•     State Auditors John Geragosian and Rob Kane

•     U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra

•     Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure

•     U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Attorney General Merrick Garland

•     U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Chair Charlotte A. Burrows

•     Office of Special Counsel (OSC) Special Counsel Henry J. Kerner

•     Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at HHS Acting Director Melanie Fontes Rainer

•     The Department of Labor DOL

•     Government Accountability Office GAO

•     Connecticut General Assembly CGA

Connecticut State Senate

•            John Fonfara - District 1,  

•            Douglas McCrory - District 2,  

•            Saud Anwar - District 3,  

•            MD Rahman - District 4,  

•            Derek Slap - District 5,  

•            Rick Lopes - District 6,  

•            John Kissel - District 7,  

•            Lisa Seminara - District 8,  

•            Matthew L. Lesser - District 9,  

•            Gary Winfield - District 10,  

•            Martin Looney - District 11,  

•            Christine Cohen - District 12,  

•            Jan Hochadel - District 13,  

•            James Maroney - District 14,  

•            Joan Hartley - District 15,  

•            Robert C. Sampson - District 16,  

•            Jorge Cabrera - District 17,  

•            Heather Somers - District 18,  

•            Catherine Osten - District 19,  

•            Martha Marx - District 20,  

•            Kevin C. Kelly - District 21,  

•            Marilyn Moore - District 22,  

•            Herron Gaston - District 23,  

•            Julie Kushner - District 24,  

•            Bob Duff - District 25,  

•            Ceci Maher - District 26,  

•            Patricia Miller - District 27,  

•            Tony Hwang - District 28,  

•            Mae Flexer - District 29,  

•            Stephen Harding, Jr. - District 30,  

•            Henri Martin - District 31,  

•            Eric Berthel - District 32,  

•            Norm Needleman - District 33,  

•            Paul Cicarella, Jr. - District 34,  

•            Jeff Gordon - District 35,  

•            Ryan Fazio - District 36,  【23†source】.

•            Connecticut House of Representatives

•            Matthew Ritter - District 1,  

•            Raghib Allie-Brennan - District 2,  

•            Minnie Gonzalez - District 3,  

•            Julio Concepcion - District 4,  

•            Maryam Khan - District 5,  

•            James B. Sánchez - District 6,  

•            Joshua Malik Hall - District 7,  

•            Tim Ackert - District 8,  

•            Jason Rojas - District 9,  

•            Henry Genga - District 10,  

•            Jeffrey Currey - District 11,  

•            Geoff Luxenberg - District 12,  

•            Jason Doucette - District 13,  

•            Tom Delnicki - District 14,  

•            Bobby Gibson - District 15,  

•            Melissa E. Osborne - District 16,  

•            Eleni Kavros DeGraw - District 17,  

•            Jillian Gilchrest - District 18,  

•            Tammy Exum - District 19,  

•            Kate Farrar - District 20,  

•            Mike Demicco - District 21,  

•            Francis Rexford Cooley - District 22,  

•            Devin Carney - District 23,  

•            Manny Sanchez - District 24,  

•            Bobby Sanchez - District 25,  

•            Peter Tercyak - District 26,  

•            Gary Turco - District 27,  

•            Amy Morrin Bello - District 28,  

•            Kerry Szeps Wood - District 29,  

•            Donna Veach - District 30,  

•            Jill Barry - District 31,  

•            Christie Carpino - District 32,  

•            Brandon Chafee - District 33,  

•            Irene Haines - District 34,  

•            Chris Aniskovich - District 35,  

•            Christine Palm - District 36,  

•            Holly Cheeseman - District 37,  

•            Kathleen McCarty - District 38,  

•            Anthony Nolan - District 39,  

•            Christine Conley - District 40,  

•            Aundré Bumgardner - District 41,  

•            Keith Denning - District 42,  

•            Greg Howard - District 43,  

•            Anne Dauphinais - District 44,  

•            Brian Lanoue - District 45,  

•            Derell Wilson - District 46,  

•            Doug Dubitsky - District 47,  

•            Mark DeCaprio - District 48,  

•            Susan Johnson - District 49,  

•            Pat Boyd - District 50,  

•            Ricky Hayes - District 51,  

•            Kurt Vail - District 52,  

•            Tammy Nuccio - District 53,  

•            Gregory Haddad - District 54,  

•            Steve Weir - District 55,  

•            Kevin Brown - District 56,  

•            Jaime Foster - District 57,  

•            Tom Arnone - District 58,  

•            Carol Hall - District 59,  

•            Jane Garibay - District 60,  

•            Tami Zawistowski - District 61,  

•            Mark Anderson - District 62,  

•            Jay Case - District 63,  

•            Maria Horn - District 64,  

•            Michelle Cook - District 65,  

•            Karen Reddington-Hughes - District 66,  

•            William Buckbee - District 67,  

•            Joe Polletta - District 68,  

•            Cindy Harrison - District 69,  

•            Seth Bronko - District 70,  

•            William Pizzuto - District 71,  

•            Larry Butler - District 72,  

•            Ronald Napoli Jr. - District 73,  

•            Michael DiGiovancarlo - District 74,  

•            Geraldo Reyes - District 75,  

•            John Piscopo - District 76,  

•            Cara Pavalock-D'Amato - District 77,  

•            Joe Hoxha - District 78,  

•            Mary Fortier - District 79,  

•            Gale Mastrofrancesco - District 80,  

•            Christopher Poulos - District 81,  

•            Michael Quinn - District 82,  

•            Jonathan Fazzino - District 83,  

•            Hilda Santiago - District 84,  

•            Mary Mushinsky - District 85,  

•            Vincent Candelora - District 86,  

•            Dave Yaccarino Sr. - District 87,  

•            Joshua Elliott - District 88,  

•            Lezlye Zupkus - District 89,  

•            Craig Fishbein - District 90,  

•            Michael D'Agostino - District 91,  

•            Patricia Dillon - District 92,  

•            Toni Walker - District 93,  

•            Robyn Porter - District 94,  

•            Juan Candelaria - District 95,  

•            Roland J. Lemar - District 96,  

•            Alphonse Paolillo - District 97,  

•            Moira Rader - District 98,  

•            Joseph Zullo - District 99,  

•            Kai Juanna Belton - District 100,  

•            John-Michael Parker - District 101,  

•            Robin Comey - District 102,  

•            Liz Linehan - District 103,  

•            Kara Rochelle - District 104,  

•            Nicole Klarides-Ditria - District 105,  

•            Mitch Bolinsky - District 106,  

•            Marty Foncello - District 107,  

•            Pat Callahan - District 108,  

•            Farley Santos - District 109,  

•            Bob Godfrey - District 110,  

•            Aimee Berger-Girvalo - District 111,  

•            Tony Scott - District 112,  

•            Jason Perillo - District 113,  

•            Mary Welander - District 114,  

•            Vacant - District 115

•            Treneé McGee - District 116,  

•            Charles Ferraro - District 117,  

•            Frank Smith - District 118,  

•            Kathy Kennedy - District 119,  

•            Laura Dancho - District 120,  

•            Joe Gresko - District 121,  

•            Ben McGorty - District 122,  

•            David Rutigliano - District 123,  

•            Andre Baker - District 124,  

•            Tom O'Dea - District 125,  

•            Fred Gee Jr. - District 126,  

•            Marcus Brown - District 127,  

•            Christopher Rosario - District 128,  

•            Steven Stafstrom - District 129,  

•            Antonio Felipe - District 130,  

•            David Labriola - District 131,  

•            Jennifer Leeper - District 132,  

•            Cristin Vahey - District 133,  

•            Sarah Keitt - District 134,  

•            Anne Hughes - District 135,  

•            Jonathan Steinberg - District 136,  

•            Kadeem Roberts - District 137,  

•            Rachel Chaleski - District 138,  

•            Kevin Ryan - District 139,  

•            Travis Simms - District 140,  

•            Tracy Marra - District 141,  

•            Lucy Dathan - District 142,  

•            Dominique Johnson - District 143,  

•            Hubert Delany - District 144,  

•            Corey Paris - District 145,  

•            David Michel - District 146,  

•            Matt Blumenthal - District 147,  

•            Anabel Figueroa - District 148,  

•            Rachel Khanna - District 149,  

•            Steve Meskers - District 150,  

•            Hector Arzeno - District 151,  

As well as communication with recognized esteemed organizations.

National and International Organizations:

•     American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)

•     The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD)

•     Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)

•     Disabled in Action (DIA)

•     Equip for Equality

•     National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)

•     National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)

•     Disability Rights Advocates (DRA)

National Whistleblower / Retaliation Advocates

•     Government Accountability Project (GAP)

•     The Whistleblower Project

•     ExposeFacts

•     Freedom of the Press Foundation

•     National Whistleblower Center

•     Project On Government Oversight (POGO)

•     Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER)

•     Whistleblower Aid

News Media Outlets and Journalists:

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, The New York Times, The Washington Post The Associated Press (AP), ProPublica, The Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio (NPR) Reuters, CNN, BuzzFeed News, VICE News, Fox News, NBC, MSNBC etc.