Disability Deep Dive

In this special episode of You First, we recognize the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Disability Rights Florida staff members Barb Page, Juli Pack, Curtis Filaroski, Ann Robinson, Andrea Jenkins, and Olivia Babis discuss the impact the ADA has had on them, how things might be different without the ADA, and what still needs to be accomplished even 30 years later.

In the second part of this episode of You First, we conclude our conversation with Disability Rights Florida's Olivia Babis and Tony DePalma as they discuss the 2019 Florida Legislative Session. Olivia and Tony explore several key bills that were presented to the legislature, the outcome of those bills, and their impact on Floridians with disabilities.

For more information about the 2019 Legislative Session, visit www.disabilityrightsflorida.org/legislation.

In this episode of You First, we talk to Disability Rights Florida's Olivia Babis and Tony DePalma to discuss the 2019 Florida Legislative Session. Olivia and Tony explore several key bills that were presented to the legislature, the outcome of those bills, and their impact on Floridians with disabilities.

For more information about the 2019 Legislative Session, visit www.disabilityrightsflorida.org/legislation.

In this episode of You First, our panel discusses the ins and outs of transitioning from one facility to another. First, we hear from Deborah Linton, Chief Executive Officer of The Arc of Florida, who provides an overview of the process and gives us some helpful resources. Next, Bonnie Carr, who, with her daughter Sara, went through the process of transitioning from one facility to another, tells us her story. Last, Kathy Clinton, who, with her son Tristan, also experienced the process of transitioning to a new facility, shares her story with us.

Provider Search websites referenced in the podcast:

• Waiver Providers: https://flddresources.qlarant.com/ProviderSearch.aspx
• ICF/DD Providers: http://www.floridahealthfinder.gov/facilitylocator/ListFacilities.aspx

In this episode of You First, we talk to Disability Rights Florida staff members Nately Alvarez and Lauren Eversole. Nately and Lauren explain what Extended School Year (ESY) is, who is eligible, and strategies to help parents of children in Special Education acquire appropriate ESY services.

In this episode of You First, we talk to David Boyer, Director of Investigations at Disability Rights Florida, and Molly Paris, Assistant Director at Florida Lawyers Assistance. David and Molly discuss how prisoners with disabilities were not receiving the same access to programs and services that other prisoners were receiving, and what Disability Rights Florida did to remedy those oversights.

In this episode of You First, we talk to Barb Page and Lisa Kinser, two Senior Advocates at Disability Rights Florida that provide assistance for clients with service animal issues. Lisa and Barb discuss the different types of assistance a service animal can provide, what the laws are regarding housing and places of business, and taking your service animal on airlines and other forms of public transportation.

In this episode of You First, we talk to Selina O'Shannon and Nately Alvarez, two Advocates at Disability Rights Florida who specialize in Special Education cases. Selina and Nately provide a wonderful overview of special education in Florida, explain the differences between IEP Plans and 504 Plans, and offer a wide array of tips and tricks to help make parents' lives a little bit easier.

In this episode of You First, we talk to Judy Silverstein, Regional Special Needs Consultant at the Florida Department of Health, and Carol Stachurski, Program Operations Manager at Disability Rights Florida. Judy and Carol explain how Floridians with disabilities can best prepare for emergencies, including signing up with the Special Needs Registry, how Special Needs Shelters are different from conventional shelters, and more.

In this episode of You First, we talk to Crystal Lilly, Director of Education and Training at Federation of Families of Central Florida, and Cameron Wood, Executive Director of the Peer Support Coalition of Florida. Crystal and Cameron discuss peer support programs, a natural extension of the recovery-oriented systems of care we discussed in Episode 7: The Right to Recovery. They also discuss the roles of Certified Recovery Peer Specialists, how you could become one, and be a part of the peer support movement.