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Boy, there surely is little worse than not being believed. Especially when it is details about a crime that was committed against you (or someone you care about)! How can justice ever be served if crimes are not even prosecuted?
A perceived lack of witness credibility is cited by prosecutors as the most common reason they report only 1% of their cases involving victims with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Yet other data show that the rates of victimization can be up to an astonishing 80% in the population of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Talk about a vast difference in numbers -- up to 80% of people with developmental disabilities victimized but only 1% of those cases prosecuted!
So what might help improve access to justice through increased prosecution? We think that a Hearsay Exemption for Persons with Developmental Disabilities would help. Therefore, we have worked to help see that the Colorado legislature has such a proposal to consider. Read the information about this bill in the Policy Profile below. Your support of this legislation may help the perceived credibility of you and/or your loved one if she/he becomes the victim of a crime.
Because surely there is little worse than not being believed. Especially when it is details about a crime that was committed against you (or someone you care about)!
Jean Solis, Editor Director of Marketing and Development |
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Policy Profile: Hearsay Exemption for Persons with Developmental Disabilities
For more than ten years, The Arc of Aurora has been working to impact the victimization of people with developmental disabilities. We coordinate the work of a Collaborative of local organizations on the issue. We educate law enforcement, prosecutorial, and human services' personnel on, for instance, communicating with a victim with developmental disabilities.
We work hard, yet we know that still upwards of 80% of women and 32% of men with developmental disabilities will be victims of sexual violence. We also know that prosecutors report less than 1% of their sexual assault cases as involving victims with developmental disabilities. Too, we know that this unseemly disparity often exists because of the perceived lack of credibility of the victim with developmental disabilities, and that this perceived lack of credibility is most often directly related to how the victim with developmental disabilities communicates.
Enter a Hearsay Exemption for Persons with Developmental Disabilities. In this current Legislative session, Colorado is looking to join seven other states (CA, FL, IL, OH, OR, SD, VT) in offering an exemption to hearsay for victims of crime who have developmental disabilities through passage of HB 12-1085, sponsored by Rep. Rhonda Fields (Aurora).
What difference would such an exemption make? Most simply stated, such an exemption would allow someone the victim told about his/her victimization to also testify. Under this exemption, a victim with developmental disabilities may have a person closely involved in his/her life and care who is familiar with the victim's language and terminology testify. This exemption would allow for the communication between the victim and the person close to him/her that occurs after victimization to be considered as admissible in court. Currently such communication is not allowed as evidence. The ultimate goal of this exemption is increased and successful prosecution of crimes.
Organizations and individuals that have indicated their support for this bill include the Colorado District Attorneys' Council, Representative Gwyn Green (Ex Officio), Dr. Margaret Charleton, Gerri Frohne, Councilwoman Molly Markert, Alliance, Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, Parent to Parent, SungateKids Children Advocacy Center, and The Arcs in Colorado. Learn more about this bill: - Read HB12-1085 - Download and distribute to friends a Fact Sheet on the bill. - Call House Judiciary Committee members and express your support of the bill asking them to do the same. - Contact The Arc of Aurora Executive Director Darla Stuart (dsarcaurora@aol.com or 720.213.1420) with questions about Colorado HB12-1085. Austrian sculptor Paul von Ringelheim said, "Leadership is the ability to do, not the ability to state." Let us know how we can help you DO to support the admission into court of hearsay evidence from a victim with developmental disabilities!
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Hot Topics: Summer Camps and The Arc of Aurora Scholarships
Last winter, The Arc of Aurora compiled and published information about summer camps. While we have not updated that list this year, we are including a link to it here in case you are looking to begin gathering information on possible camp options for your child this year.
The January issue of News You Need to Know included information about and links to the Glen Talladay and Sibling Scholarships' applications. Since applications are due in The Arc of Aurora office by 3PM on February 29 AND since current members are encouraged to apply, we have included links to each of these scholarships above. |
The Rest of the Story  Study Finds No Link Between Prenatal Tobacco Exposure and Autism
A large population-based study in Sweden, reported in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, found that maternal smoking during pregnancy is not associated with increased risk of ASD.
In Case of Emergency for Cell Phones
You can enter your contact in your phone and then put "ICE" (standing for "in case of emergency") after the name. This allows for emergency personnel to be able to pull up your emergency contacts for immediate notification.
New Definition of Autism
A story on an issue that may impact services here in Colorado.
Do you have or know of an infant with Fragile X Syndrome?
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Washington University in St. Louis are currently recruiting for a study of Fragile X and brain development in infants with Fragile X. Researchers are looking for children under the age of 12 months who are suspected of having Fragile X (parents who are expecting may also be eligible.) Researchers need 30 participants in the United States who meet the following criteria:
- Are under 12 months of age (parents who are expecting may also be eligible)
- Have diagnosis of Fragile X (full or premutation) or are suspected of having Fragile X or have an older sibling with Fragile X
If enrolled:
- You may receive up to $100 in compensation for participation for each visit
- You will receive feedback on a comprehensive series of developmental assessments
- Your child will receive a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan which will be completed during his/her natural sleep (un-medicated), where you will have the option to be near your child for the length of the scan (all travel costs are reimbursed, and any services researchers provide are at no charge to you)
- You will receive feedback from the MRI scan
More information about the study is available at www.ibisnetwork.org/fragilex or by contacting ibis@cidd.unc.edu or 1-800-793-5715.
Accepting Applications for HSCF's Advocates in Disability Award (ADA)
The HSC Foundation's ADA Award has gone national and is seeking the next generation of disability advocates!! If you are a, or know a, young leader with disabilities, you/they are encouraged to apply for the 2012 Advocates in Disability Award (ADA)! The purpose of the ADA Program is to award and encourage a young individual with a disability between the ages of 14 and 26, who has dedicated himself/herself to positively affecting the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families in the United States. The program also supports an innovative project developed by a young person with a disability that serves and empowers individuals with disabilities. The Advocates in Disability Award (ADA) is a program of The HSC Foundation, funded in part by the Sarah Beth Coyote Foundation. The selected recipient is awarded $3,000 in recognition of his/her past disability advocacy and will receive up to an additional $7,000 in funding support for his/her proposed project that focuses on serving and empowering individuals with disabilities. Applicants must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States at the time of application submission and recipient selection. The Advocates in Disability Award Program is part of The HSC Foundation's National Youth Transitions Initiative (NYTI). Apply online by 5PM EST, February 28, 2012.
National Autism Association & AutismCollege.com Offer Free Online Safety Conference
The National Autism Association and AutismCollege.com are teaming up to offer a free web conference for caregivers of those diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The web conference series, Autism Safety and Crisis Prevention, will feature top autism experts covering sensitive safety topics that include sexual-abuse risk reduction, bullying prevention, suicide ideation, wandering prevention, and prevention of risks associated with restraint and seclusion. The Autism Safety and Crisis Prevention webinar will be available to caregivers February 11, 15 and 18. Registration required. Webinar presenters will offer real-life strategies to address multiple safety topics, followed by a question-and-answer session. Contact Chantal Sicile-Kira (858) 342-9636 or Wendy Fournier (401) 835-5828 for additional information.
PEAK's 2012 Conference on Inclusive Education
... is right around the corner! Registration is required.
Conference runs February 9-11, 2012, at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center. Sessions will address best practice, research-based strategies to help attendees support fully inclusive classrooms.
Adam's Camp Accepting Applications for ALL 2012 programs!
Contact Margaret Froehlke, RN BSN, Assistant Program Director, (303) 563-8290, margaret@adamscamp.org, for more information.
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Members' Corner
 Parents' Group Board member and parent Myrrena Schwegmann is facilitating the next parents' group meeting in The Arc of Aurora's office on Tuesday, February 14, from 9:30 - 11:00AM. Questions and/or RSVP to Myrrena at 303.750.4598 by Monday, February 13. Springfest 2012 Calendar Saturday, March 24, 6:00-8:00PM to join us celebrating spring, catching up with friends after our long winter's hibernations, and silent auction bidding on an abundance of lovely baskets. Many thanks to returning host Tim McCarthy of McCarthy's Sports Bar and Restaurant and our basket committee for working to provide a festive evening for us all! Basket details in next month's issue of News You Can Use. Scholarship Applications Due Feb. 29 Last month's newsletter included links for both the Glen Talladay and Sibling Scholarships. Complete applications are due in The Arc of Aurora office by 3PM, Wednesday, February 29, for consideration of funding. Questions -- call your advocate. |
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Spotlight On ... Carole O'Shea
Carole is the Aurora Police Department's Victim Services' Unit Supervisor. She encourages law enforcement's training on, for instance, communication with victims with developmental disabilities. She encourages her staff to seek appropriate resources for victims with developmental disabilities. She encourages thinking about policies and their impact on access to justice for victims. For the many ways, both visible and behind the scenes, that Carole works to encourage justice and support for all, including victims with developmental disabilities, hats off to her!
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 Did you know that the majority of The Arc of Aurora's annual operating budget comes from a portion of the proceeds from the sale of items donated to the arc Thrift Stores? Call 303.238.5263 to schedule a pickup of your gently used items and also help The Arc of Aurora! |
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The Arc of Aurora
Mission
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The Arc of Aurora is a membership association that provides individual and systems change advocacy through information and referral; community education; and individual, family and class support for and with people with developmental disabilities and their families.
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Honor Your Sweetie on Valentine's Day...
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... with a donation to The Arc of Aurora! If you are looking to give something instead of -- or even in addition to -- flowers or chocolate this Valentine's Day, consider a donation in your Sweetie's honor to The Arc of Aurora. We provide a written acknowledgement of your gift, and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Too, your gift supports the association's on-going advocacy efforts with and on behalf of people with developmental disabilities and their families!
Make checks payable to "The Arc of Aurora" and send them to 1342 S. Chambers Road, Aurora, CO 80017
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