Disability Rights Florida Blog (public_input_survey_results_and_2020_2021_goals_priorities_and_objectives)
Collaboration and Creativity Are the Keys to Getting Your Child Back to School
Wednesday, July 28, 2021
As the new school year is quickly approaching, we all start to think about what the new school year will look like for students as the pandemic continues. All parents are faced with a tough decision of whether to send their children back to the traditional classroom. This can be daunting for parents with students who have disabilities, especially those with challenging behaviors that may become exacerbated by changes in their school environment.
The ADA 31 Years Later: Are We There Yet?
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
In 1990, President Bush pulled the equality and inclusion bus up to the White House and invited People with Disabilities to climb onboard. He compared the act of signing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to the destruction of the Berlin Wall, a powerful symbol of Communist oppression that many of us feared, fought, and cheered when it finally fell. It was such a pivotal moment for that generation; how could we not cheer and applaud the fall of another wall of oppression a year later?
2021 Florida Legislative Outcomes
Wednesday, July 07, 2021
Legislative and policy education is one of the authorized protection and advocacy tools utilized by Disability Rights Florida. Each year during the state’s legislative session, our organization closely monitors, reviews, analyzes, and seeks to provide input to policymakers and the public across a wide range of bills that impact the interests, rights, and opportunities of Floridians with all disabilities. Read about the bills that successfully passed during the recently concluded Regular Session of the 2021 Florida Legislature and have been signed into law by the Governor.
Spotlight on Men’s Mental Health
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
In observation of Men’s Health Month this June, Disability Rights Florida would like to bring awareness to common barriers that many men must overcome to access appropriate care for their mental health needs. Of the many barriers that men deal with, gender roles, accessibility, and cultural influences are among the most common.
35 Years Protecting and Advocating for Individuals with Mental Illness
Friday, May 28, 2021
Since 1986, the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System in every state has worked through the PAIMI program to protect the rights of individuals with mental health conditions. PAIMI authorizes P&As to investigate abuse and neglect and rights violations in public and private facilities and community settings, oversee the entities that regulate these programs, and ensure access to community-based services and supports.
The Power of the Fair Housing Act: Assisting People with Mental Illness
Tuesday, May 18, 2021
A woman has just been mugged and it has caused her to experience symptoms of her PTSD. She shouts at her apartment manager - “I’m going to burn the office down!” Every room in a woman’s apartment is full to the ceiling with clothes, crafts, and magazines. Only a narrow path remains for walking. A man is wandering around his apartment complex, shouting at people nobody else can see. Each of these people faced eviction and homelessness as the result of symptoms of their mental illness.
Mental Health Awareness Month and Tardive Dyskinesia
Tuesday, May 04, 2021
This May Disability Rights Florida is observing our nation’s 72nd Mental Health Awareness Month. This year’s observation is especially important as we recognize how COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted individuals living with mental illness, as well as the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of millions of individuals worldwide. We begin with a week of special awareness for Tardive Dyskinesia (TD), one of the most serious and stigmatizing side effects of antipsychotic medications used to treat mental illness.
The Tail of Two Animals: Service Animals vs Emotional Support Animals
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Guide dogs are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), along with all service animals who perform other vital tasks. Let's talk about the difference between a service animal and an emotional support animal, your legal rights when you own a service animal, and what to do when your rights are violated.
Making My Own Decisions Is Important to Me
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
I have a disability in which I have low vision and I only can see centrally from my left eye. My disability not only has to do with my vision, but also in my way of perceiving and making decisions. I use a system called Supported Decision-Making (SDM). How I define Supported Decision-Making is when you have family or friends who help you decide. They can give you perspective on the pros and cons, but the idea is still to ultimately make the decision on your own.
DRF Focusing on Priority Disability Issues During 2021 Legislative Session
Tuesday, March 02, 2021
As the 2021 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature begins today, Florida lawmakers will gather for the first time since the full scope and magnitude of the COVID-19 public health crisis came into focus a year ago. Each year, Disability Rights Florida publishes its legislative priorities to guide its policy education and advocacy efforts. We strive to cover a broad range of issues important to people with disabilities in our state.
Highlighting Black Floridians with Disabilities
Thursday, February 18, 2021
We are highlighting Black Floridians with disabilities during Black History Month. Our first two are Robert E. Streater III and Malcolm Harris-Gowdie.
The Impact of Weight Stigma on Mental Health
Tuesday, February 09, 2021
Our society’s judgments and prejudices about body size can play a major role in our relationships with food and body. Worrying about weight and body size is a main element of many eating disorders, including Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder. Many people engage in disordered eating behaviors to attempt to alter the size of their body to conform to societal ideals.
Deck the calls: Seek creative connections this holiday season
Monday, December 14, 2020
Many of us look forward to the last few months of the year in anticipation of warm family gatherings, festive celebrations and cherished religious traditions. Unfortunately, this year has been anything but a typical year.
The 45th Anniversary of the IDEA: Meaningful Educational Progress, Not Just Entry to School
Sunday, November 29, 2020
As this is the 45th Anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), I have been thinking about how this law has impacted the lives of the students with disabilities I have advocated for over the past 20+ years. I have had the pleasure of watching students who previously struggled receive the appropriate supports and services they need to progress, graduate, and move on to college, vocational training, and employment. But even with this law there is still one major barrier to overcome.
An IDEA about a Firm Foundation for your Future
Friday, November 20, 2020
When President Ford signed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142), later known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), in 1975, all children were given access to the public school system to receive a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. From that time forward, students with disabilities had the right to receive an education with their non-disabled peers with all the same resources, teachers, and classrooms.