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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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:

• 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.

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:

• Robert L. Burgdorf, Jr., Professor, UDC David A. Clarke School of Law
• Tina Campanella, Executive Director, Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilties
• Bernard Crawford

Air Times:
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

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.

Migrating Larger Files to Google Docs

We've been having problems with both Rapidshare and Scribd for hosting larger documents, such as the full DDRA and various longer reports. For these reasons, we're going to be migrating larger files to Google Docs over the next few days. Shorter documents (fact sheets etc.) will remain on Scribd.

If you're having problems downloading any document, please don't hesitate to email tjsutcliffe[at]arcdc[dot]net and I can email you the document directly.

Thanks to everyone for your patience!

Updated Section-by-Section Analysis of DDRA Now Available

The section-by-section analysis of the DDRA has been updated and is now available:

• DDRA Section-by-Section Analysis - 12 point font
• DDRA Section-by-Section Analysis - LARGE PRINT
  

DC Council Public Hearing on DDRA & People 1st Language Bill

The DC Council Committee on Human Services has rescheduled the public hearing on the DDRA.

WHAT: Public hearing on Bill 18-501, Developmental Disabilities Reform Act of 2009, and Bill 18-502, People First Respectful Language Modernization Amendment Act of 2009.

• Official Hearing Notice: 12 point font / LARGE PRINT

DATE: Monday, January 11, 2010
TIME: 11:00 a.m.
LOCATION: John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 412

To testify: Contact Vivian McCarter at vmccarter [at] dccouncil [dot] us or (202) 724-8191 by January 8, 2010.

To request a reasonable accommodation: Contact Vivian McCarter at vmccarter [at] dccouncil [dot] us or (202) 724-8191 by January 8, 2010.

If you signed up for the original hearing date, you do not need to sign up again. According to the Committee on Human Services, you will automatically be transferred to the witness list for January 11. Please contact Ms. McCarter if you signed up before but are unable to testify on the new hearing date.

More Local News & Notes

Thanks to Washington CityPaper's LL Daily for covering the DDRA Blog in today's post!

Also check out Will Sommer of the Georgetown Voice on the need to strike outdated terms like "mental retardation" from District government use ("D.C., are you PC?" posted Oct. 8th, before the Oct. 20th introduction of the People First Respectful Language Modernization Act of 2009).

DDRA "Clean Copy" Available through RapidShare

The version of the DDRA on the DC Council web site has some scanning errors that erased most of page 31 and also rendered some text on other pages difficult to read. Their webmaster is working to correct the problem.

In the meantime, you can download a "clean," full copy of the DDRA as introduced by the DC Council through RapidShare here:

• DDRA "Clean Copy" through RapidShare

Not sure how to use RapidShare? See "Using RapidShare to Get DDRA Documents."

Thanks to everyone for you patience. We'll let you know when the version on the DC Council web site has been corrected.

People 1st Language Bill - Links Update; FAQs

The DC Council has now posted the full text of Bill 18-502, the "People First Respectful Language Modernization Amendment Act of 2009," on its web site. You can view the bill here. All of the links on this blog have also been updated.

A couple of quick FAQs:

1. What is Bill 18-502? Bill 18-502 is a companion bill to the DDRA. Section 402 of the DDRA (page 64 of the DDRA) requires the District government to use "intellectual disability" instead of "mental retardation" in all District laws, regulations and official government publications. Bill 18-502 identifies all the places in current DC law that use "mental retardation" and changes each reference to "intellectual disability."
2. Why "intellectual disability?" As noted by AAIDD in a recent press release, "Society’s labels have consequences... But no label damages more than being called “mentally retarded.” To set aside pejorative labels, after many years' deliberation professionals in the field have formally adopted the term "intellectual disability."
   
3. What is "intellectual disability?" As defined in the 11th edition of AAIDD's official diagnostic manual: "Intellectual disability is characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social, and practical skills. This disability originates before age 18."
4. What does the change mean? People who were formerly diagnosed with "mental retardation" now have a diagnosis of "intellectual disability." The term is being used for health insurance, public benefits, and by health professionals. In the District, updating our laws and official documents will bring the District government in line with modern usage.
5. Does Bill 18-502 affect private speech? No! The U.S. Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of speech. Bill 18-502 does not affect District residents or private companies. Bill 18-502 only affects written laws, regulations and official government documents of the District of Columbia government.
6. How can I learn more? Check out AAIDD's web site for information on intellectual disability, and read this article from Disability is Natural for general information on the national movement of using "people first," respectful language to talk about people with disabilities.
   

Fact Sheets on Bill 18-501 Now Available

We've updated our popular fact sheets on key topics in the DDRA, to reflect the bill as introduced by the D.C. Council (Bill 18-501):

• DDRA Overview (2 pages) - 12 point font / LARGE PRINT
• How to Get Involved with the DDRA (flier) - 12 point font / LARGE PRINT
  
• Comparison with D.C. Law 2-137 - 12 point font / LARGE PRINT
• Rights - 12 point font / LARGE PRINT
  
• Who Gets Services? - 12 point font / LARGE PRINT
• Support & Service Planning - 12 point font / LARGE PRINT
• Supports & Services - 12 point font / LARGE PRINT
• Family Supports - 12 point font / LARGE PRINT
• Problem Resolution - 12 point font / LARGE PRINT
• Accessing the Court - 12 point font / LARGE PRINT
• Quality Standards - 12 point font / LARGE PRINT
  

DDRA on a Roll!

Response to the introduction of Bill 18-501, the Developmental Disabilities Reform Act of 2009, has been tremendous! So many people have taken the time to email in their words of encouragement, and the DDRA is getting attention at the Council and in the press:

• Press releases by DDRA co-introducers DC Council Chair Vincent C. Gray and Councilmember Tommy Wells are now available.

• Check out yesterday's NewsChannel8 story on the bill.

Thanks to everyone for your support!

DC Council Introduces the DDRA!

We're delighted that on Tuesday, October 20th DC Council Chair Vincent C. Gray and Councilmember Tommy Wells (Ward 6) co-introduced the "Developmental Disabilities Reform Act of 2009." Joining them as co-sponsors are Councilmembers Bowser, Mendelson, Thomas, Cheh, Catania, Evans, Graham, Michael Brown, and Kwame Brown. Councilmembers Alexander and Barry were not in attendance at Tuesday's Council meeting.

Bill 18-501 is now available on the DC Council's web site.

Also co-introduced by Chairman Gray and Councilmember Wells was a companion bill to formally remove the term "mental retardation" from all District laws, regulations and official documents and replace it with the more modern and respectful term "intellectual disability."

Both bills were referred to the Committee on Human Services. Like all legislation, both bills will need to have a public hearing, Committee approval, and two votes by the full DC Council in order to become law.

Thank you to everyone who has shared their ideas and support for the DDRA! Stay tuned for updates on next steps at the DC Council.