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"VOCAL's Statement on Media Reports..."
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VOCAL, Virginia's organization of mental health self-advocates stands with ASAN, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network in responding to the media reports regarding the shooting at Sandy Hook elementary.  It has been reported that Adam Lanza may have a mental health and/or autism spectrum diagnosis.    

With heavy hearts, our thoughts go out to the victims of Friday's shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, and their friends and families.  We encourage using any and all resources necessary to assist the victims' recovery in both the short and long-term.  Recent media reports have suggested that the perpetrator of this violence, Adam Lanza, may have been diagnosed with a psychiatric disability or with Asperger's Syndrome, a diagnosis on the autism spectrum.  In either event, it is imperative that as we mourn the victims of this horrific tragedy, that we all avoid drawing inappropriate and unfounded links between psychiatric illnesses, autism or other disabilities and violence.  Individuals with mental illness and autistic Americans are no more likely to commit violent crime than people without disabilities.  In fact, people with disabilities of all kinds, including mental illness and autism, are more likely to be the victims of violent crime than the perpetrators.  Should the shooter in Friday's tragedy prove to have been diagnosed with a psychiatric illness or on the autism spectrum, the millions of Americans with disabilities should be no more implicated in his actions Friday than the non-disabled population is responsible for the violent acts of those without disabilities.

Friday's violence was the act of an individual.  We urge media, government and community leaders to speak out against any effort to spuriously link the mental health or autistic community with violent crime. Americans with disabilities persist in facing discrimination and segregation in school, the workplace and the community.  In this terrible time, our society should not further stigmatize the disability community.  As our great nation has so many times in the past, let us come together both to mourn those killed by these acts of heinous murder and defend all parts of our country from the scourge of stigma and prejudice.

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Dual Recovery Anonymous Meets Weekly in Ashland
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Thomas Hale Education Center (formerly Sunrise House)

203 South Taylor Street, in Ashland, every Friday at 5:30 p.m. 

Dual Recovery Anonymous is for those seeking relief from an emotional or mental disorder and a co-occurring substance abuse problem. The group is peer run, which means that it is run by people with a mental illness and substance abuse history.

For more information see: http://www.draonline.org/

 This group has been solid for over a year with core of members who make attendance a priority.

This group supports people with both mental illness and substance abuse history. Some 12 step groups have not been accommodating for people with dual diagnoses, which makes the DRA group necessary. Please invite any peers looking for additional support. There are no fees, registration forms or advanced notice necessary!

Call with 804.878.2782 questions or email: Shaughman@gmail.com.

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Defining Trauma: SAMHSA Seeks Your Feedback
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SAMHSA is now seeking input from the public on the concept paper, SAMHSA's Working Definition of Trauma and Principles and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach.

For ease of review, the paper is divided into three sections:

1. Definition of Trauma
2. A Trauma-Informed Approach
3. Guidelines for Implementing a Trauma-Informed Approach.

Each section has a separate link and unique forum to provide comments and, if you wish, to vote on comment offered by others. You have up to 10 votes to endorse other comments, and you may revise your votes throughout the comment period.

The feedback forum will be open beginning Monday, December 10, 2012, and ending at midnight eastern time on Friday, December 21, 2012. This forum will provide an open and transparent process for stakeholders to offer their comments about the definitions, principles, and guidelines, and also make suggestions for improvement.

Feedback on the forum is an important part of the public dialogue on this issue. Your feedback will be carefully considered in the shaping of the definitions of trauma and trauma-informed approach, and the principles and guidelines of a trauma-informed approach.

Learn More About How SAMHSA Developed the Working Definition of Trauma

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From Ann Benner, Executive Director of VAULT
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I am writing to invite you to participate in VAULT's first survey of self-advocates'
needs and issues. 
We are seeking input as we develop our advocacy agenda for the 2013 Virginia
Legislative Session.   This survey is designed primarily for individuals who have
disabilities, but we are also taking input from those who work with and support
people with disabilities.  Please share the survey with any number of other people
with disabilities.   We will send a summary of the results to this email list in January.

Please use this SurveyMonkey link:

Thank you for helping us represent you!

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Rally and Advocacy Day! Monday, January 21^st
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10:30 a.m. at the Bell Tower on Capitol Square, located at the corner of 9^th and Banks Street

Hear inspirational speakers, enjoy and sing to live music, meet other advocates from around the Commonwealth, and share your story with your legislator!

DISCLAIMER: This page is offered strictly for informational and support purposes.  We assume no liability whatsoever for any consequences arising out your use of information or connections provided through any of the above organizations. VOCAL does not necessarily agree with information provided by these organizations, their websites, members or other affiliations.