NARPA 2022 -- Workshop and Keynote Presentations:

Click links below for course descriptions, presenter bios and additional information.

Workshops:

• “People with Lived Experience as First Responders: Successes and Challenges” – Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law – Jalyn Radziminski, Vania Mendoza; E.V. Yost, J.D., and Lewis Bossing, J.D.

• NARPA Chat – Bill Stewart, Kwamena Blankson & Tom Behrendt

• “When State Courts Fail: The Use of Habeas Corpus to Vindicate Constitutional Rights” – Dennis Feld, J.D., and Arthur Baer, J.D.

• “Investigations into Serious Incidents (Seclusion and Restraint)” – Aaryce Hayes, L.C.S.W. This presentation has Part I and Part II, and encompasses two workshop time slots.

• “Mental health epidemic or normal response to abnormal circumstances: Mental pain in context” – Noël Hunter, Psy.D.

• “Is There A Role for Supported Decision-Making for People with Mental Health Histories?” – Nina Loewenstein, J.D., and Lisa Volpe, J.D.

• Advocacy, Activism, & Peer Support through an Anti-Oppression Lens” – Ebony Flint

• Disability Rights Priorities of the U.S. Department of Justice -- Jennifer Mathis

• “The Impact of Contributing the Client Voice North of the Border : 20 years of Unprecedented Intervention by Psych Survivors in Precedent Setting Cases in Canada’s Top Court” – Anita Szigeti, J.D., Anita Szigeti Advocates

• “Providing Effective Legal Representation to Individuals Facing Involuntary Hospitalization” – Bill Brooks, J.D., Center for Justice, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties

• “The Airing of Grievances of Discrimination in Public School Settings” – Martin Cirkiel, J.D., L.M.S.W.-AP; Robin Petty, L.M.S.W.

• “Private Equity Investment in Behavioral Health Facilities: What It Means and How We Combat It” – Cory Bernstein, J.D., Disability Rights New Jersey; Eileen O’Grady, Research & Campaign Manager, Private Equity Stakeholder Project

• “Round Up the Usual Suspects: The Use of Involuntary Out Patient Treatment to “Fight Crime” and the Rights of Patients To Challenge such Treatment” -- Dennis Feld, J.D., and Arthur Baer, J.D.

• “Alternatives to Guardianship” -- Brandon Booth, Disability Rights South Dakota

• Coercion Not Care: California’s New and Misguided Attempt To Address Mental Illness Through Coerced Treatment -- Brian Dimmick, J.D.

• “Accessible Yoga – Yoga for All (Including Attorneys)” – Virginia Knowlton-Marcus, J.D., Disability Rights North Carolina

• “Should Danger to Self Statutes be Repealed and Replaced by Capacity Evaluations? A Discusison between a Psychiatrist and a Person with Lived Experience” – Paul Acker, The Housing Collective, and Leigh Nathan, M.D.

• “Policing Mental Health in Our Schools and On Our Streets” – Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee -- Sarah Yousuf, J.D., Phillip Kassel, J.D., Ivy Moody, J.D., and Matt Cregor, J.D.

• "Non-coercive approaches to difficult situations- drawing on our own experiences and resources- through the lens of Intentional Peer Support" -- Chris Hansen

• “Compassionate Activism Training” – Mitzi Sky, Advocacy Unlimited

• “The Expansion of the Suicide Prevention Hotline to Crisis Intervention Services: What People with Disabilities Should Know about 988” – National Disability Rights Network, Claire Stanley

• Stop the Shock—The Judge Rotenberg Center and Aversive Interventions -- Robyn Linscott

• “Digital and Technology Rights in Psychiatric Care” – Ann Kasper, M.A., P.S.S.

• “Providing Effective Legal Representation to Individuals Facing Involuntary Hospitalization” – Bill Brooks, J.D., Center for Justice, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties

• ”The Culture of Commoditization” – Kristina Kapp and Shawn Terrell

• “A Discussion of Recent Efforts to Remove Police from Mental Health Emergency Calls through Litigation, as well As On-Going Legislative and Community Advocacy for Establishment of Peer-Led Crisis Response Systems” – Ruth Lowenkron, Esq., and Marinda van Dalen, Esq., of the Disability Justice Program at the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest; an organizational plaintiff in the litigation (TBD); and a Peer Advocate (TBD)

• Coerced Treatment, New Challenges, New Responses: NARPA’s Treatment Over Objection Working Group --- A public meeting to discuss NARPA’s Treatment Over Objection Committee and its activities, including a recent national survey regarding forced treatment -- Arthur Baer, J.D.

• “For Life” – Film presentation of this mini-opera. Composer Dawn Sonntag, D.M.A., and Kermit Cole, filmmaker, co-founding editor, Mad In America

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Note: Presentations, presenters, and scheduled times are subject to change. Please check www.narpa.org for updates on the line-up of workshops, keynote talks and special events.

Keynote Presentations:

Rob Wipond
Investigative Journalist; Author of Your Consent Is Not Required: The Rise in Psychiatric Detentions, Forced Treatment, and Abusive Guardianships
“911 and 988: Both Help and Horror on Everyone’s Speed Dial”

Vesper Moore
Indigenous Political Activist, Leader, Author, Trainer and Educator
“Reimagining Crisis Response in a Culture of Surveillance”

Ruth Lowenkron
Director, Disability Justice Program, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
“Mental Health Services vs. Mental Health Crises"

Deborah Dorfman
Executive Director, Disability Rights Connecticut
“Exercising Autonomy, Dignity and Choice: The Role of Supported Decision-Making for People with Psychiatric Diagnoses”

Robert Dinerstein
Professor of Law and Director of the Disability Rights Law Clinic,
American University Washington College of Law
“Significant Developments in Mental Health Law – 2022” -- NARPA’s much anticipated annual update on recent cases affecting disability rights/mental health law.

Note: Upon registration, all registrants attending any face-to-face conference activities agree to show Proof of Vaccination and also agree to abide by posted rules regarding safety protocols, including masking and/or social distancing.