The ConnSENSE Report is dedicated to bringing you practical resources on assistive technology that will assist professionals, individuals with disabilities and their families in learning about and accessing the assistive technology they need.

 

This webinar will provide the basic information on the Supported Decision Making framework for parents, professionals, and students.

Jonathan Martinis will provide an introduction to Supportive Decision Making. Sign language interpreters will be provided.

Jonathan Martinis, Esq., J.D., is the Senior Director for Law and Policy in the Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University. He is based at BBI’s Washington, D.C. office and leads the institute’s national and international efforts.

Martinis has over 20 years of experience representing and advocating for people with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Most notably, in 2013, Martinis represented Jenny Hatch in the nationally acclaimed “Justice for Jenny” case. Martinis helped Ms. Hatch secure her right to live where and how she wants, to make her own decisions, and direct her own life. Jenny’s case was the first trial to hold that a person with disabilities has a right to engage in “Supported-Decision Making,” where people 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 an unnecessary permanent, plenary or full guardianship.

To Register 

 

The CT State Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education and The University of Connecticut Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) are accepting applications for the academy.

This academy is designed to assist in the preparation of future local special education leaders. The academy will prepare educators interested in special education leadership roles through a competency-based program as illustrated by state and national speakers, learning activities, and a capstone project. Expert and peer mentoring will also be available to participants. There is no cost to join this academy.

If you are interested in participating, please complete the application (link below), which requires including a recommendation from your special education director. If you have question, please contact Paula DeMichiel at demichiel@uchc.edu

The application link

 

Congratulations to our LEND 2022 – 2023 Graduates!

We are proud of you and best of luck in your next path. 

A Proclamation on Autism Awareness

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/04/01/a-proclamation-on-world-autism-awareness-day-2022/

On Saturday April 1^st Cohort 1 of the CT Aspiring Leaders in Special Education Academy completed their yearlong competency based curriculum with capstone presentations. Rud Turnbull, John Eisenberg and Brian Klimkiewicz provided remarks on leadership qualities to the graduates.

 

Autism rates across the country continue to climb, but for the first time, the demographics of children diagnosed with the developmental disability are starting to shift in a big way, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A report out on March 23rd  the federal agency’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report shows that 1 in 36 children, or 2.8%, have autism.

On March 21 we celebrate World Down Syndrome Day! This is a day to come together to celebrate Down syndrome and raise awareness. There are many ways to get involved with the National Down syndrome Society (NDSS) on World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD)

The odd socks campaign was conceived as the 3 strands of Chromosome 21 just happen to look like socks.

Use #WorldDownSyndromeDay to post on social media

The World mourns the passing of Judy Heumann, Disability Rights Activists

Judith “Judy” Heumann—widely regarded as “the mother” of the disability rights movement—passed away in Washington, D.C. on the afternoon of March 4, 2023. Judy was at the forefront of major disability rights demonstrations, helped spearhead the passage of disability rights legislation, founded national and international disability advocacy organizations, held senior federal government positions, co-authored her memoir, Being Heumann, and its Young Adult version, Rolling Warrior, and was featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary film, Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution.

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month