Join the Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights on March 2 from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for Disability Awareness Day at the State House. This public event will be a day of advocacy, fun, workshops, refreshments and much more! The theme this year is Break Barriers; Build Bridges. For more information, Stefanie Monte: smonte@vcil.org or 802-224-1820.

Agenda

7:45 to 9:30 Grab a cup of coffee and a muffin in the cafeteria. Tell a legislator all about DAD!

8:00 to 9:00 Register outside of Room 10.

9:00 to 10:00 Room 11: Gather for opening remarks by Gov. Phil Scott and members of Vermont’s congressional delegation.

10:00 to 10:30 Room 11: Workshop, “The Rules Have Changed: An Introduction to VermontABLE Savings Program.” Join Kirsten Murphy, executive director of the Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council, and Tim Lueders-Dumont, policy director of the Office of the State Treasurer.

10:30 to 11:00 Room 10: Workshop, “Bringing Down the House and the Senate, Too: How to Talk to Your Legislator.” Join Green Mountain Self-Advocates and practice how to pivot and get your message across when advocating with legislators.

11:00 to 11:50 Room 11: "Building Bridges for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind." Join Stuart Soboleski and others for a roundtable discussion about how to improve services for a marginalized community.

11:45 to 1:00 Lunch. Complimentary pizza (regular and gluten free) will be served in Room 10!

1:00 Disability Awareness Day will be announced on the House floor. Advocates can take a bow!

1:45 Press conference in the Cedar Creek Room. Learn about barriers and bridges for Vermonters with disabilities.

2:00 to 2:30 Room 10: Workshop, “Employment Bridges and Barriers.” Presenters: Stirling Peebles and Sam Liss. Discuss strategies for addressing employment barriers for individuals with disabilities and learn about access to employment supports and resources.

2:00 to 2:30 Room 11: Workshop, “Mad Lives Matter: From Social Service to Social Justice.” Join Wilda White of Vermont Psychiatric Survivors.

2:30 to 3:00 Room 10: Workshop, “Working Together to Break Barriers.” Join Stephanie Woodward to learn about community organizing and how to make a difference.

3:00 to 4:00 Room 11: Come cheer on graduates of the 2017 Leadership Series! Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman will offer the keynote and Monica Hutt, commissioner of the Department of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living, will present certificates.

4:30 to 5:00 Cafeteria: Evening program. Enjoy appetizers and mingle with legislators and peers. A string and flute ensemble from the Me2/Orchestra will perform until 5:00 p.m.

5:00 to 6:30 Keynote by Stephanie Woodward will be followed by an informal panel presentation with Speaker of the House Mitzi Johnson, Kimberly McSweeney, Senate Majority Leader Becca Balint, Pat Bresnahan, DAIL Commissioner Monica Hutt and Mark Utter.

Throughout the day, DAD attendees will be testifying on a number of important issues before various House and Senate committees.

Special thanks to the Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council, the Vermont Statewide Independent Living Council, VCDR member organizations and the Center on Disability and Community Inclusion, UVM, for their support.