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Persons with Disabilities and the Legal System: Week 2 Video Archive

Persons with disabilities represent one of the nation's largest minority populations. They are overrepresented in the criminal legal system as persons who are accused as well as persons who are victims of crime. In both the criminal legal system and in society generally, persons with disabilities are often denied meaningful access to the processes and protections afforded to the general population. These training materials and resources provide introduction to some of the issues and challenges that exist in our criminal legal system for persons with disabilities. 


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Language Impairments Improving Identification Myths & Misconceptions Resources in Arlington, VA

Understanding Language Impairments (June 10, 2021)

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Professor Michele LaVigne (Emeritus Distinguished Clinical Professor of Law, University of Wisconsin Law School) details the history and present understanding of language impairments and how language impairments impact a person's interactions with the criminal legal system.

Improving Stakeholders' Identification of Persons with Disabilities (June 10, 2021)

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Nancy Mercer (Inclusion Consultants, LLC) explains how criminal legal system stakeholders can improve their identification of persons who may have a disability and details some best practices for interacting with persons with varying types of disabilities. Nancy concludes her presentation by playing A Credo For Support by Norman Kunc.

Myths and Misconceptions about People with Disabilities (June 10, 2021)

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Bonnie Hoffman (Director of Public Defense Reform and Training, NACDL) dispels some of the common myths and misconceptions about persons with disabilities. Bonnie also shares self-advocate video messages containing their insightful advice for stakeholders.

Community Services and Resources for Persons with Disabilities in Arlington County, VA (June 10, 2021)

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Eileen Shaffer (Director of the ALLY Advocacy Center, The Arc of Loudoun) and Morgan Theilacker (Program Manager, Developmental Disabilities Services Bureau, Arlington, VA) present and highlight many of the services available to persons with disabilities in Arlington County.

 

For more Arlington Disability and Justice Coalition Training videos, click the button below:

Week 1 Videos

Week 3 Videos

For more links and information on the intersection of disability rights and the criminal legal system, visit our resources page:

View Resources

 

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Strengthening the Sixth


The Center for Justice Innovation is a training and technical assistance provider to the Bureau of Justice Assistance through the Justice for All program. The Center for Justice Innovation (the Center) and its partner are managing, enhancing, and expanding the Strengthening the Sixth website. For more information about the Center, visit www.innovatingjustice.org. The Strengthening the Sixth Website is supported by Grant No. 15PBJA-22-GK-01567-JAGJ awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office of Victims of Crimes, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions on this website do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website, including, without limitations, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided.