Disability Rights Connecticut (DRCT) is pleased to announce that it will launch its new Special Education Clinic (starting date of September 6, 2022).

The clinic will be open to students and families of students with special education needs and provide an opportunity for callers to talk with advocates, law students, and attorneys. In a one-hour virtual meeting, clinic attendees will receive counsel and advice and short-term service related to their child’s special education needs. DRCT will offer daytime and evening hours and free of charge. Request appointment at: Ed.Clinic@DisRightsCR.org, or 860.310.1993

See attached fliers for details: English and Spanish

From the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA), 9/1/21. Students With Disabilities Aren't Faring Well During The Pandemic | Connecticut Public

Several months ago, the OCA began requesting data from the State Department of Education regarding chronic absenteeism for children with disabilities across the state. The data, shared with the OCA, demonstrated that in many districts, 40 to 80 percent of children with certain disabilities, were chronically absent, a sharp worsening of a trend that pre-existed the pandemic (children with disabilities were and remain the cohort of students most likely to be chronically absent from school). The state has several initiatives currently focused on supporting community efforts to engage with high need learners and their families. OCA has been urging state education officials to include a specific, action-oriented focus on students with disabilities, with regularly published dashboards and results. For more on this topic and the experience of families, click on the link above to see this new report from WNPR's Accountability Project, with reporter Jackie Rabe.
 

New York Times article by Nicole Chung

Public schools are obligated to teach millions of students with disabilities. But as learning moves online, many services that parents fought for are at risk.

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"It took years for us to learn the unique push-pull of parental advocacy, the necessity of highlighting her strengths and asking for what she needs. Now we never walk into a meeting without a narrative of our own, a list of every concern and request and tiny victory we want to enter into the record."

On July 10, 2020, judgment entered in the case of A.R. v. Connecticut State Board of Education. This means the new law in Connecticut is special education eligibility continues until a student turns 22.

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What did the Court decide?

• The Court decided that the State of Connecticut is obligated to extend eligibility for a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with disabilities until they turn 22 and stops the state from terminating FAPE before a student with a disability turns 22.

• The Court also decided that students whose special education was ended because they turned 21 years old are entitled to compensatory education.

This organization is devoted to advocacy for all people with disabilities.

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The Arc is the largest national community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. We encompass all ages and more than 100 different diagnoses including autism, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, and various other developmental disabilities.

Event from the Center for Children's Advocacy

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Children with developmental, medical or physical disabilities often encounter exclusion from camp programs, day care or after care activities.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) says no child with a disability can be excluded from a camp, daycare or after-school program because of that disability.

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Protecting Children with Disabilities, Presentations by:
Bonnie Roswig, JD, Senior Staff Attorney, Medical-Legal Partnership, Center for Children’s Advocacy

Ndidi Moses, JD, Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney’s Office, Civil Division

Ten months after the tragic death of Hartford teenager Matthew Tirado — a look at what's being done to safeguard the lives of children with disabilities.

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In this podcast we hear about a recent Office of the Child Advocate investigation into the case of 17-year-old Tirado. The report recommends improvements that apply to school districts statewide.