The National Disability Rights Network is focused on public service because we work to support state protection and advocacy centers that are federally mandated for individuals with disabilities. State Protection and Advocacy Centers (P&As) assist individuals in state facilities, in the community, and veterans in issues that require advocacy. They also do a lot of work to educate the public, organizations, and public policy makers. One issue we have been tracking and advocating heavily on is the proposed bill HR 2646, otherwise known as the Murphy Bill. This bill is specific to individuals with mental health issues.
With all of the mass shootings in schools and other public places around our country, mental health issues have taken center stage. While we at NDRN agree that services have been lacking for individuals with disabilities, HR 2646 would take big steps backwards when it comes to the rights of individuals with disabilities and mental illness. To understand our objections to this legislation, read this document, http://ndrn.org/images/Documents/Advocacy/Legislation/PAIMI_Program_Concerns.pdf. I have done a lot of work at NDRN in regards to this legislation. I have tracked the bill daily on congress.gov. I let the policy team know if there are new Co-sponsors or not and what the total number of Co-Sponsors is. I have gone through all of the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Program case reports to put together cases from each state represented on the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee. With this information, I constructed fact sheets for each state that could be distributed to each member of the committee. I also attended the recent mark up of the bill. It was truly interesting to watch the process of this legislation and amendments put forward live and in person. While we all want solutions that work to enhance mental healthcare accessibility to prevent violence across the country, we cannot do so by taking away individual rights of individuals with disabilities and mental illness. For those interested in learning more on this legislation, please consider reading these resources. http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/33557-mental-health-bill-caters-to-big-pharma-and-would-expand-coercive-treatments http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20151104/NEWS/151109940 http://ndrn.org/images/PAIMI/15_11_4_ACLU_Letter_to_Health_Subcmte_of_House_Energy_and_Commerce_Committee_Opposing_H_R__2646_FINAL.pdf http://ndrn.org/images/PAIMI/NCIL_Letter_of_Opposition_for_Helping_Families_in_Mental_Health_Crisis_H_R__2646.pdf
2 Comments
Lauren
11/10/2015 05:59:27 pm
Daphne,
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Bob Bourke
11/10/2015 07:34:43 pm
Just noticed you have your internship blog....Thank you for your updating us...the part that you play is one of the building blocks so necessary to pass legislation that protects us all. Keep warm the next month or so, The learning experience will be so valuable to you in the future.
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Daphne ThompsonPursuing a Bachelor Degree in Public Services and Policy, Daphne is starting her senior year this fall. Archives
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