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Monday, November 4, 2024

Webinar addresses care system for individuals with intellectual disabilities in Vermont

State Supreme Court
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Chief Justice Honorable Paul L. Reiber | Vermont Judiciary Website

The Vermont Judiciary Commission on Mental Health and the Courts is organizing a webinar titled "Intellectual Disabilities 101" scheduled for November 19, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. This session aims to educate judges, lawyers, law enforcement officers, Department of Corrections staff, and clinicians about the care system in Vermont for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Presenters will cover essential terminology and provide an overview of Act 248. This act allows a state criminal court to civilly commit individuals with intellectual disabilities who pose a continuous risk of significant harm to others into the custody of the Commissioner of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living (DAIL). The webinar will also address guardianship processes and services available for people with developmental disabilities.

A significant part of the session will focus on challenges faced by individuals with disabilities. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, people with disabilities are nearly four times more likely to experience violent crimes than those without. These statistics underscore that service providers often encounter victims with disabilities, even if unrecognized initially. The presenters aim to dispel common misunderstandings about intellectual disabilities and discuss necessary accommodations during investigations and legal proceedings. This effort ensures effective communication for individuals with intellectual disabilities as compared to those without.

The webinar will feature presentations from Stuart Schurr, DAIL’s General Counsel; Benjamin Chater, Assistant Attorney General; staff from DAIL’s Developmental Disabilities Services Division; Lindsey Owen, Executive Director of Disability Rights Vermont; and Max Barrows, Outreach Director for Green Mountain Self-Advocates.

Further information about the VT Judiciary Commission on Mental Health and the Courts can be found at https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/mentalhealth. For inquiries regarding the webinar, contact kelly.j.smith@vtcourts.gov.

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