Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities - Eastern CT Focus Group

You're Invited...

Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities
5 Year 2012-2016 State Plan
Eastern CT Focus Group
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Disability Network of Eastern CT
238 West Town Street, Norwich

The Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities would like your help. The mission of the Council is to promote the full inclusion of all people with disabilities in community life. We do this by working to improve services and supports for people with developmental disabilities and their families through advocacy, building the capacity of systems, and changing the system.

We would like to hear from you about what you think the Council’s priorities should be. You can tell us about anything you like but here are some questions to think about.

Community: Have you been able to join clubs and organizations, participate in community associations and events, go to recreation and social programs, and go to religious services? If not, why not?

School: Have you been going to the same school as other students in your neighborhood? If not, why not? Have you been in the same classroom with people your age who do not have disabilities? If not, why not? Have you been given enough help in the classroom to keep up with everyone else? If not, why not?

Work: Do you have a job? If not, why not? Do you work for a real business or company? Is the pay good? Do you get health benefits and paid vacations? If you don’t work, what kind of work would you like to do? Are you being trained to get the kind of job you would like to do? If not, what kind of training are you getting?

Home: Is your house or apartment wheelchair accessible? If not, why not? Do people who do not have disabilities live in your neighborhood? Are you living with people you chose to live with and want to live with? If not, why not?

Advocacy: Do you belong to a self-advocacy group? If not, why not? Do your parents belong to a parents group? If not, why not? Have you ever gone to a meeting or written a letter to complain about something or to try to get something changed? If not, why not? Do you want to be a leader in the filed of disabilities? If not, why not? What would help you become a leader?

Transportation: Do you need transportation? If you need transportation, do you have wheelchair accessible public transportation in your community? If not, why not? Are your city buses wheelchair accessible? Are the accessible city buses available when you want them? Can you afford the city bus fare? Is there other wheelchair accessible transportation like dial-a-ride and taxis available in your community? Can you use this transportation? If not, why not? Can you afford this transportation?

Help In Your Home: Do you need help in your home or apartment? If you need help, do you or your family use in-home support like personal assistants, homemaker home health aides, visiting nurses or respite care? If not, why not? Do you get the help you need? If not, why not? Are the workers who come into your home or apartment properly trained?

Technology: What kind of technology do you use to help you with day to day activities? A wheelchair? Computer and computer programs? What else?

Day Care: Do you use day care? If you need to use day care, but do not use day care, why not?

Health: Do you have a doctor? How about a dentist? If you don’t, why not? Have you ever been to the emergency room? What was your experience like? If you are older, or care for someone who is older, have you prepared papers to tell people how you want to be treated if you become very sick? Do you have a “do not resuscitate” order? What do you think about physician assisted suicide?

Safety: Are you afraid of being abused? Are you afraid of being forgotten? Are you afraid someone might try to take advantage of you? Are you afraid of being assaulted?

Protection: Have you, or has your child, ever been sprayed with ammonia or shocked with electricity or a taser? Have you, or your child, ever been tied down or held down by staff people? Have you, or your child, ever been locked in a room? Have you ever heard of family focused positive behavioral interventions and supports?

Respect: Have you, or your child, ever experienced discrimination or prejudice? Do you feel that people who do not have disabilities believe that you belong in the community, in school, and that you can work and contribute to the community?