On August 28, 2024, CPR Staff Attorney Megan Rusciano presented alongside Judge Paula Carey, retired Chief Judge of the Massachusetts Trial Court, and Elizabeth Moran, Executive Director of The Arc of Colorado, at a plenary session of the National Association of Presiding Judges and Court Executive Officers (NAPCO) conference in Denver, Colorado. The presentation topic was “Breaking Barriers: Ensuring Effective Communication for Individuals with Disabilities in Court.”
While effective communication is fundamental to ensuring that people with disabilities can meaningfully engage in every aspect of the judicial process, many courts still do not have the skills needed to address communication barriers and ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in court services, programs, and activities. The presentation aimed to educate judges and court staff on people with disabilities’ right to effective communication under the Americans with Disabilities Act. It provided practical tips and strategies courts could use, including recognizing the role of Supported Decision-Making, to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to the court system. Over 120 judges and court staff attended the presentation.
The presentation followed from a webinar that Rusciano and Moran held earlier this year for the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) on “Ensuring Effective Communication for People with Disabilities”.