Disability Rights New Mexico

TO PROTECT, PROMOTE, AND EXPAND THE LEGAL AND CIVIL RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

PADD - PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES: IN THIS PROGRAM AREA, DRNM PROVIDED LEGAL ADVOCACY TO 126 INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES OR THEIR FAMILIES TO OVERCOME BARRIERS TO ACCESSING THE SERVICES THEY NEEDED; TO INVESTIGATE AND RESOLVE ABUSE OR NEGLECT, OR ADDRESS OTHER VIOLATIONS OF THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS. DRNM PROVIDED 10 TRAININGS AND CONDUCTED OUTREACH AT 6 INFORMATIONAL BOOTHS. OVER 60% OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE FROM MINORITY OR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES DRNM CONTINUES TO WORK ON LEGAL RIGHTS FOR PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT DRNM WORKED ON THIS PERIOD WERE: -- ACCESS TO COMMUNITY SERVICES, SUCH AS MEDICAID -- RESTRICTIVE GUARDIANSHIP/REPRESENTATIVE PAYEES' ISSUES -- RIGHTS-BASED INDIVIDUALS' ADVOCACY -- INVESTIGATIONS OF ABUSE/NEGLECT -- ACCESS TO FAIR AND EQUAL HOUSING -- ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES

DRNM'S ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TEAM WORKED WITH THE NM LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TEAMS WITH BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE AT THE STATE CAPITOL TO ENSURE THAT ALL PUBLIC MEETINGS AND HEARINGS FOR THE REGULAR SESSION WILL BE SET UP TO INCLUDE CLOSED CAPTIONING. DRNM'S ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TEAM CONSULTED WITH THE CITY OF SANTA FE'S ADA COORDINATION TEAM. A NEW SANTA FE ORDINANCE MANDATES THAT ALL TVS IN PUBLIC PLACES HAVE THE "CLOSED CAPTIONING" OPTION TURNED ON. DRNM'S TEAM PROVIDED SOME CONTENT AND EDITING SERVICES FOR THE PRESS RELEASE ANNOUNCING THE ORDINANCE IN AN EFFORT TO ENSURE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE WAS USED IN THE PRESS RELEASE AND TO MAXIMIZE COMPLIANCE. DRNM'S VOTING TEAM WAS INVITED BY THE COORDINATOR FOR THE NATIVE AMERICAN ELECTION INFORMATION PROGRAM LIAISONS TO PRESENT A TRAINING ON DISABILITY AWARENESS AND VOTING ACCESSIBILITY. LIAISONS FROM THE EIGHT NORTHERN PUEBLOS ATTENDED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THE ADA INTERSECTS WITH POLLING SITES LOCATED ON PUEBLOS PROPERTY FOR STATE, COUNTY AND CITY ELECTIONS AND GENERAL DISABILITY AWARENESS. WORKING INTERDISCIPLINARY NETWORK OF GUARDIANSHIP STAKEHOLDERS (WINGS) WAS CREATED BY 2021'S HOUSE BILL 234. DRNM IS A STATUTORILY ASSIGNED MEMBER ON THE WINGS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AS WELL. AS PART OF NEW MEXICO PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT (NMPED) SPECIAL EDUCATION TRANSFORMATION TEAM (SETT) RULE REVISION WORK GROUP PROPOSED IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS TO NEW MEXICO'S SPECIAL EDUCATION RULES. THE GROUP HAS PROPOSED REVISIONS OF RULES GOVERNING TIMELY AND APPROPRIATE EVALUATIONS AND RE-EVALUATIONS OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AND RELATED SERVICES, AND IS WORKING TOWARD PUTTING THE RULE THROUGH NMPED. THIS GROUP, LIKE THE BEHAVIORAL NEEDS WORK GROUP, IS BENEFITING FROM THE ASSISTANCE OF A GROUP FACILITATOR FROM EMPOWER ED.

PAIMI - PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS: IN THIS PROGRAM, DRNM PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO 135 INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. OVER 60% OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE FROM MINORITY COMMUNITIES AND ABOUT TWO-THIRDS WERE IN RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITIES AT THE TIME. PROBLEMS ADDRESSED IN THESE CASES INCLUDED ALLEGED ABUSE, NEGLECT (INCLUDING LACK OF ADEQUATE OR APPROPRIATE TREATMENT SERVICES, AS WELL AS DISCHARGE PLANNING), OR OTHER RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. DRNM CONDUCTED ON FULL BLOWN INVESTIGATION OF A DEATH THAT OCCURRED AT A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL. DRNM CONDUCTED AT LEAST 65 TRAININGS AND OUTREACH SESSIONS IN MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES AROUND THE STATE. DRNM STAFF WORKED ON THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUAL AND SYSTEMIC ISSUES: -- MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY MONITORING -- INVESTIGATIONS OF ABUSE/NEGLECT -- SECLUSION/RESTRAINT -- GUARDIANSHIP AND TREATMENT GUARDIANSHIP ISSUES -- RIGHTS TO HUMANE AND SAFE ENVIRONMENTS -- RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS IN IN-PATIENT MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES -- RIGHTS BASED INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY -- ACCESS TO COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES -- ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE SPECIAL EDUCATION/SCHOOL TO JAIL PIPELINE -- KEVIN S. COURT CASE SETTLEMENT- FOCUSED ON THE STATE'S FAILING CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM AND STATE AGENCIES AGREED TO IMPLEMENT PLANS TO CREATE A MORE ROBUST SYSTEM OF CARE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

PAIR - PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS: THE PAIR PROGRAM AT DRNM SERVES INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES OTHER THAN MENTAL ILLNESS OR A DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY. DRNM ASSISTED 216 INDIVIDUALS IN THIS PROGRAM FISCAL YEAR ADDRESSING ACCESSIBILITY PROBLEMS, BARRIERS IN ACCESSING NEEDED HEALTH CARE AND SUPPORT SERVICES AND ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT. PAIR STAFF ALSO CONDUCTED TRAININGS ON DISABILITY SERVICES, SELF-ADVOCACY, AND THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. DRNM HAD A TOTAL OF 8 TRAININGS ON INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS. DRNM PROVIDED INFORMATION AND TRAINING ON EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES TO ACCESS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: -- INVESTIGATIONS OF ABUSE/NEGLECT -- RIGHTS BASED ADVOCACY -- ACCESS TO COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES -- ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES -- PUBLIC ACCESS UNDER ADA -- APPROPRIATE ACCESS TO MEDICAID SELF-DIRECTED PROGRAMS -- ACCESS TO ACCESSIBLE HOUSING