In my last post I was very hopeful about prospects for Bill
22-0154, the Disability Services Reform Amendment Act of 2017 (formerly
CIDCRRA), which aims to roll back the paternalistic system of court commitment
for people with intellectual disabilities in D.C. WE ARE THE ONLY JURISDICTION IN THE NATION
WHERE LAWYERS AND JUDGES HAVE FINAL SAY ABOUT WHAT SERVICES PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES WHO HAVE COMMITTED NO CRIME WILL RECEIVE. To those of you receiving services in this
way now, I have the following message:
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I get it, it’s what you know. Nothing in the
bill prevents your family member from continuing the way things are. Nothing.
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Have you thought about why the lawyers who have
a stake in keeping the system as it is are the ones leading the
opposition? They may be well
intentioned, but they are not objective.
-
Please
don’t oppose the bill. Keep what you
have but let the rest of us move forward.
To the rest of you:
-
There is expected to be a second vote in the
Council, probably on February 6.
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Opposition is mobilizing. See https://tinyurl.com/y77pomvj for an
article co-written by a DC lawyer who currently represents people under
commitment in D.C.
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Those leading the opposition to the bill argue
that the D.C. government has consistently exploited its residents with
disabilities for 40 years. This ignores
the very significant reforms that have taken place, especially over the past
ten years. (See https://tinyurl.com/yblwlq6z, and https://ddc.dc.gov/page/needs-assessment-2016
to understand where things really stand.)
-
Please do not rely on Project ACTION! and
Quality Trust to do all the heavy lifting on this. If you live in D.C., it’s especially
important to write to council members who are not on the Human Services
Committee (see page to the right). These
are (council member email followed by key staff member):
If you live in D.C., please write, even if you don’t
consider disability issues to be your highest priority. Tell the council members that you favor bill
B22-0154 because it’s time for people with disabilities and those who support
them to decide what type of support they need without a lawyer and judge saying
so. (If you have more questions, have a
look at https://tinyurl.com/y8zq3pnw.)
GET THE COURTS OUT OF OUR SUPPORTS. We can do this, it’s time to do this. Please pitch in.
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