NARPA 1999

The 18th annual Rights Conference of the National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy took place at the Hyatt Regency Louisville November 18-21, 1999.

[Click Here for Workshop Offering & Schedule](http://old.narpa.org/conferences/1999/workshops-99)

(Program approved by NASW for Continuing Education Units for Social Workers; Program approved for Continuing Legal Education credit)

A NEW NARPA for a NEW Millennium, the theme of this year's conference, will be reflected in an innovative and impressive line-up of plenary and featured speakers. The opening keynote features Loren Mosher, M.D., renowned psychiatrist who recently resigned from the American Psychiatric Association , paired with Bill Johnson, who created and implemented the country's first in-institution advocacy program (Bill was also a founder and central figure in NARPA for fifteen years). This dynamic duo's title is "Still Crazy After All These Years." Each will speak from a historical perspective on the changes they've seen in the mental health system over the past twenty-five years. Be ready for laugher, fun and a serious challenge to advocates trying to survive in a field now seemingly co-opted by big business, medical-model psychiatrists, and advocates who sometimes just don't get it...

The following day, Susan Stefan, J.D., will present a first look at her upcoming book, Diagnosis: Injustice: Discrimination Against People with Psychiatric Disabilities and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and discuss how the ADA has affected -- or not affected -- the rights of persons with disabilities. A long-time NARPA member and supporter, Susan is a sought-after speaker, presenter, litigator, and teacher, and one of the most respected attorneys in the field of mental disability law.

Friday's luncheon is titled "After Albany -- Now What?" and will spotlight Andrew Imparato, J.D., Public Policy Director for the National Council on Disability. Mr. Imparato will bring with him the findings and recommendations that emerged from last year's hearings by the NCD on issues affecting people with psychiatric disabilities focusing on civil rights issues. The NCD will officially release the report shortly after NARPA, and it is rumored that the findings and will be a pleasant surprise for those who attended and participated in these important hearings held in conjunction with last year's NARPA conference.

Saturday morning, noted experts and authors Peter Breggin, M.D., and David Cohen, Ph.D., who collaborated on the just-published book Your Drug May Be Your Problem will present. The only book to provide an up-to-date uncensored description of the dangers involved in taking every kind of psychiatric drug, Your Drug May Be Your Problem is the first book to expose the shortcomings of psychiatric drugs and to guide patients and doctors through the process of withdrawing from them.

Saturday's luncheon plenary, Confessions of a Psychiatrist, features Douglas Smith, M.D., a psychiatrist from Juneau, Alaska, who will discuss what happened when a psychiatrist in the wild Northland was confronted with some radical ideas and changed his practice and his life. In addition there will be the annual presentation of awards for excellence in advocacy.

Sunday morning will focus on June's landmark White House Conference on Mental Health, and presenters will include participants Sally Zinman, Darby Penney, and Celia Brown, all of whom were participants in the White House event. A lively and enlightening discussion is anticipated, with an opportunity for feedback from the audience.

And many workshops, discussions, and meetings in the hallways with the country's best advocates, attorneys, consumers/survivors, radical professionals, and other friends...

[Workshops for attorneys, law students, legal workers](http://old.narpa.org/narpa98cle.htm) (this CLE program has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board)

[View Workshop Offerings](http://old.narpa.org/workshops99.htm)