Wednesday, December 15, 2010
DDRA Public Hearing Witness List
The witness list from the December 13th public hearing on the DDRA is available here.
45+ Witnesses Testify at DDRA Hearing
The DC Council Committee on Human Services held a public hearing on the DDRA and the people first respectful language legislation this past Monday, December 13th. Over 45 witnesses testified, with the large majority expressing their support for the DDRA and urging the Council to move the bill forward.
A full video of the public hearing is available from the DC Office of Cable TV at:
http://octt.dc.gov/services/on_demand_video/channel13/December2010/12_13_10_HUMAN.asx
Thank you to everyone who took the time to testify or attend Monday's hearing. Stay tuned for more updates on next steps.
A full video of the public hearing is available from the DC Office of Cable TV at:
http://octt.dc.gov/services/on_demand_video/channel13/December2010/12_13_10_HUMAN.asx
Thank you to everyone who took the time to testify or attend Monday's hearing. Stay tuned for more updates on next steps.
Friday, November 19, 2010
DDRA Hearing Rescheduled for 12/13, 1PM
The DC Council Committee on Human Services has issued a revised hearing notice that reschedules the public hearing on the DDRA for Monday, December 13th at 1:00 PM.
As noted in the revised hearing notice, the Committee will take comments on the introduced version of the bill.
Finally, if you were scheduled to testify on the hearing's original date of November 24th, your name will be automatically transferred to the witness list for December 13th. Please contact Ms. Vivian McCarter if you are no longer available.
What: Public hearing on Bill 18-501, the Developmental Disabilities Reform Act, and Bill 18-502, the People First Respectful Language Modernization Act
Who: DC Council, Committee on Human Services
Date: Monday, December 13, 2010
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 500
To testify: Contact Vivian McCarter, (202) 724-8191 or vmccarter@dccouncil.us
As noted in the revised hearing notice, the Committee will take comments on the introduced version of the bill.
Finally, if you were scheduled to testify on the hearing's original date of November 24th, your name will be automatically transferred to the witness list for December 13th. Please contact Ms. Vivian McCarter if you are no longer available.
What: Public hearing on Bill 18-501, the Developmental Disabilities Reform Act, and Bill 18-502, the People First Respectful Language Modernization Act
Who: DC Council, Committee on Human Services
Date: Monday, December 13, 2010
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 500
To testify: Contact Vivian McCarter, (202) 724-8191 or vmccarter@dccouncil.us
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
DDRA Hearing Canceled
We've just learned that the Committee on Human Services has canceled the public hearing on the DDRA, originally scheduled for Wednesday, November 24th at 10AM.
Stay tuned for more information on next steps for the legislation!
Stay tuned for more information on next steps for the legislation!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
DC Council Human Services Committee Updates Proposed DDRA Changes
The DC Council Committee on Human Services has shared a revised draft of changes to the DDRA that they are considering.
The revised draft makes one change from the version shared by the Committee on Human Services yesterday. The change is on page 21 in section 112, "Family Supports." The revised draft changes an "or" to an "and," which clarifies that the list of family supports is all-inclusive. The "or" in the draft released yesterday was a typo and not intended by the Committee.
Please note that the changes proposed by the Committee on Human Services were developed by the Committee on Human Services. We do not believe the Committee draft reflects support by community stakeholders.
The revised draft makes one change from the version shared by the Committee on Human Services yesterday. The change is on page 21 in section 112, "Family Supports." The revised draft changes an "or" to an "and," which clarifies that the list of family supports is all-inclusive. The "or" in the draft released yesterday was a typo and not intended by the Committee.
Please note that the changes proposed by the Committee on Human Services were developed by the Committee on Human Services. We do not believe the Committee draft reflects support by community stakeholders.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
DC Council Sets DDRA Hearing & Releases Proposed Changes
The DC Council Committee on Human Services has scheduled a public hearing on the DDRA. The full hearing notice is now available. Key details are:
What: Public hearing on Bill 18-501, the Developmental Disabilities Reform Act, and Bill 18-502, the People First Respectful Language Modernization Amendment Act
Who: DC Council, Committee on Human Services
Date: Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 500
To testify: Contact Vivian McCarter, (202) 724-8191 or vmccarter@dccouncil.us
Additionally, the DC Council has shared a working draft of proposed changes to the DDRA. As stated by Committee on Human Services staff, "The blackline highlights some revisions being considered by the Committee on Human Services. The Committee invites testimony addressing the revisions under consideration."
Questions or concerns regarding the Committee on Human Services proposed changes should be directed to Committee staff China Terrell at (202) 724-8153 or cterrell@dccouncil.us.
Please note that the changes proposed by the Committee on Human Services were developed by the Committee on Human Services. We do not believe these changes reflect support by community stakeholders.
What: Public hearing on Bill 18-501, the Developmental Disabilities Reform Act, and Bill 18-502, the People First Respectful Language Modernization Amendment Act
Who: DC Council, Committee on Human Services
Date: Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 500
To testify: Contact Vivian McCarter, (202) 724-8191 or vmccarter@dccouncil.us
Additionally, the DC Council has shared a working draft of proposed changes to the DDRA. As stated by Committee on Human Services staff, "The blackline highlights some revisions being considered by the Committee on Human Services. The Committee invites testimony addressing the revisions under consideration."
Questions or concerns regarding the Committee on Human Services proposed changes should be directed to Committee staff China Terrell at (202) 724-8153 or cterrell@dccouncil.us.
Please note that the changes proposed by the Committee on Human Services were developed by the Committee on Human Services. We do not believe these changes reflect support by community stakeholders.
Friday, October 15, 2010
UDC Law Review Article Highlights Need for DDRA
From the summer, 2010 edition of the University of the District of Columbia Law Review, Professor Robert L. Burgdorf Jr., Esq. has published an article looking at the origins and significance of developmental disabilities laws, D.C.'s legislative and service history, and the pending DDRA.
The article, titled "Long-Overdue Reform of D.C.'s Antediluvian Developmental Disabilities Law: From Forest Haven to the 21st Century," can be purchased online from LexisNexis at http://www.lexisnexis.com or http://bit.ly/9U7IEp.
The article, titled "Long-Overdue Reform of D.C.'s Antediluvian Developmental Disabilities Law: From Forest Haven to the 21st Century," can be purchased online from LexisNexis at http://www.lexisnexis.com or http://bit.ly/9U7IEp.
Friday, February 19, 2010
UDC Law Symposium to Feature DDRA Panel
The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) Annual Law Review Symposium will feature a panel on "Developmental Disability Law & Rights: Why D.C. Needs New Legislation Now." The symposium will also feature panels on child welfare in D.C. and the District's FOIA law.
UDC Annual Law Review Symposium
Friday, February 26, 2010, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
http://www.law.udc.edu/?page=Symposium
Building 44-A03 - Directly above the main garage
University of the District of Columbia, 4200 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
Metro Stop: Van Ness-UDC on the Red Line
RSVP: With name, organization, & panel of interest to UDC2010Symposium@gmail.com
Panel - Developmental Disability Law & Rights: Why D.C. Needs New Legislation Now
9:30 - 10:45 AM
Moderator: Joseph B. Tulman - UDC David A. Clarke School of Law, Professor of Law
Panelists: Sandy Bernstein - University Legal Services for the District of Columbia, Legal Director; Robert L. Burgdorf Jr. - UDC David A. Clarke School of Law, Professor of Law; and Thelma Greene - Self-Advocate
UDC Annual Law Review Symposium
Friday, February 26, 2010, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
http://www.law.udc.edu/?page=Symposium
Building 44-A03 - Directly above the main garage
University of the District of Columbia, 4200 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
Metro Stop: Van Ness-UDC on the Red Line
RSVP: With name, organization, & panel of interest to UDC2010Symposium@gmail.com
Panel - Developmental Disability Law & Rights: Why D.C. Needs New Legislation Now
9:30 - 10:45 AM
Moderator: Joseph B. Tulman - UDC David A. Clarke School of Law, Professor of Law
Panelists: Sandy Bernstein - University Legal Services for the District of Columbia, Legal Director; Robert L. Burgdorf Jr. - UDC David A. Clarke School of Law, Professor of Law; and Thelma Greene - Self-Advocate
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
New Language in the News
Section 401 of the DDRA makes "intellectual disability" the official term to be used in all District government laws, regulations, policies and government publications to describe a disability characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior. A companion bill removes the "R Word" from all District laws.
See this post for more on the DDRA's proposal, which is part of a national respectful language movement that's lately been in the news a great deal:
See this post for more on the DDRA's proposal, which is part of a national respectful language movement that's lately been in the news a great deal:
- In January Rahm Emanuel used the "R Word" and then apologized.
- In early February Michael Alison Chandler wrote an excellent WaPo article on developments in the Metro region and Michael Gerson signed the pledge to end the "R Word" at www.r-word.org.
- This Sunday WaPo's Outlook section featured an argument against banning the "R Word," and on Monday Timothy Shriver of Special Olympics responded.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Tune in to "Sound Advice"!
This month Sound Advice, a weekly DC Cable show sponsored by the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law and the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia, features the DDRA! Tune in for this exciting discussion:
Sound Advice - UDC-TV Channel 98 (DC Cable)
Host: Katherine "Shelly" Broderick, Dean, UDC David A. Clarke School of Law
Guests:
Monday/Wednesday/Friday - 1:00 pm, 8:00 pm
Tuesday/Thursday - 10:00 am, 12:30 am, 3:00 pm, 10:00 pm
Sunday - 9:30 am, 7:30 pm
Sound Advice - UDC-TV Channel 98 (DC Cable)
Host: Katherine "Shelly" Broderick, Dean, UDC David A. Clarke School of Law
Guests:
- Robert L. Burgdorf, Jr., Professor, UDC David A. Clarke School of Law
- Tina Campanella, Executive Director, Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilties
- Bernard Crawford
Monday/Wednesday/Friday - 1:00 pm, 8:00 pm
Tuesday/Thursday - 10:00 am, 12:30 am, 3:00 pm, 10:00 pm
Sunday - 9:30 am, 7:30 pm
Monday, January 11, 2010
DDRA Hearing Cancelled for Jan. 11th
The Committee on Human Services (Chair: Tommy Wells, Ward 6) has canceled the public hearing on the Developmental Disabilities Reform Act (DDRA), previously scheduled for Monday, January 11th. We’ll keep everyone posted on a new date and time. Please share this with anyone who may be interested.
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