Please Join Us: Rally at State Capitol 6-23

HELP KEEP CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS HEALTHY AND INDEPENDENT!

Please join the Keep the Promise Coalition for a Rally at the State Capitol to support vital services that help Connecticut's older adults, children, parents, pregnant women, people with disabilities, immigrants and others stay healthy and live independently in the community.

Keep the Promise is partnering with several disability and older adult advocacy groups to rally against the multitude of proposed budget cuts to vital services.

WHAT: STATE BUDGET RALLY TO SUPPORT PEOPLE IN NEED

WHEN: TUESDAY, JUNE 23 AT 11:30 AM (PLAN TO ARRIVE BY 11AM)

WHERE: SOUTH LAWN OF THE STATE CAPITOL (Capitol Avenue side)

(rain location: Old Judiciary Room, 3rd floor, State Capitol)

*** Free Bag Lunch will be Provided Courtesy of AARP***

To RSVP or get directions, please call Cheri or Maura at (800) 215-3021 or (860) 882-0236 or email at mail:keepthepromise@namict.org.

PLEASE INVITE YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS TO THIS EVENT!

LET THEM KNOW HOW THE PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS WILL IMPACT YOU!

You can reach your legislators by calling:

House Democrats (800) 842-8267

House Republicans (800) 842-1423

Senate Democrats (800) 842-1420

Senate Republicans (800) 842-1421

or go to http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/CGAFindLeg.asp

Save the Date: 4th Annual Recovery Transformation Celebration

Food! Fun! Music! Networking! Karaoke! Giveaways!
4th Annual Transformation Celebration Cookout
*co-sponsored by FOR-U and AU*

Where: Camp Harkness: 301 Great Neck Rd., Waterford, CT
When: Friday, August 28th, 2009, from 1:00 pm–3:00 pm
Who: ALL ARE WELCOME!
Cost: $5 per person (includes food, t-shirt, activities and door prizes)

Please register the number of individuals and their shirt sizes and send with cash or check payable to “FOR-U” to:

Focus On Recovery-United, Inc.
100 Riverview Center, Suite 272,
Middletown, CT 06457

by Wednesday, AUGUST 12th

Pre-registration is not required, but only those who register by August 12th are guaranteed a free Celebration T-shirt.

In order to make this the biggest and best yet, WE NEED YOU!

Any questions? Please contact FOR-U at (860)704-0556 or by email at focusonrecovery@gmail.com

*partial funding for this event provided by DMHAS*

Commemorating Olmstead: Past, Present and Future

On Thursday, June 18, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, Connecticut's disability advocacy groups will come together to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Olmstead v. L.C. and E.W.

The Olmstead case was brought on behalf of two residents in a Georgia psychiatric institution whom the state refused to release into the community. In Olmstead v. L.C. and E.W. , the United States Supreme Court held that the unnecessary segregation of individuals with disabilities in institutions may constitute discrimination based on disability. The court ruled that the Americans with Disabilities Act requires states to provide community-based services rather than institutional placements for individuals with disabilities.

This historic pronouncement made attainable a goal long-sought by people with disabilities and advocates: the Supreme Court said that, under the ADA, state agencies are required to provide services "in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities."

Meet Lois Curtis, one of the original plaintiffs in Olmstead, who will be at this event!



The commemoration will begin at 10:00 am (rain or shine!) with a march to the State Capitol. Marchers will meet at 9:00 am on the West side of the Capitol for shuttle to the start of the march. The march will be followed by a rally and lunch at 12:00 noon in the Old Judiciary Room.

The afternoon events, which end at 3:00 pm, will include presentations by persons with disabilities about their experiences transitioning from living in a psychiatric institution to living in a community; an update on progress toward the Olmstead goals and an agenda for future actions; and recognition of individuals who demonstrate a personal commitment to Olmstead's goals.

Lunch and the afternoon events are open to everyone, marchers and non-marchers alike.

Share your story!

If you formerly lived in a psychiatric institution and you are now living in the community, and you would be willing to make a brief (3-minute) statement about your experiences as part of this commemoration, please contact Amy Beer at abeer@mindlink.org or at (860) 667-0460.

To RSVP for the event, please contact Amy O'Connor, Policy Assistant, at NAMI-CT by email at policyassistant@namict.org or by phone at 800-215-3021.

AU Named Official Charity for ING Marathon

AU is pleased to announce that we have been named an Official Charity in the 2009 ING Hartford Marathon to be held October 10, 2009. For more info about the race, see 2009 ING Hartford Marathon.

You can help support this event and raise money for AU by donating safely and securely using your credit or debit card. Please visit AU's Personal Fundraising Page. MasterCard, Visa, and American Express accepted. 100% of every donation, whether it's a little or a lot, will go directly into helping us continue our work for persons with, or in recovery from, psychiatric disabilities or co-occurring disorders.

For questions or more info, contact Linda Lentini by email or (860) 667-0460.