8/31  Virtual Cooking Party Fall Fundraiser
Transition to Fall and learn how to cook some fresh new recipes in our virtual cooking party. Our chef Lidey Heuck is happy to share her passion for cooking right in your home!  Lidey has been featured in Food & Wine, in Food Network Magazine, on Delish.com, on TheKitchn.com, and has appeared on “Barefoot Contessa” on Food Network. This class will be fun, entertaining, educational, and of course, delicious! Our menu for the evening will be Roasted Chicken with Braised White Beans and Kale.  Sign up here!  

   8/14  AARP interviews Morgan Whitlatch on Supported Decision Making
Our Legal Director, Morgan Whitlatch, was interviewed by Brittany Kitt of AARP about supported decision-making and requesting accommodations to no-visitor policies during the COVID-19. She also shares crisis resources available to caregivers of people with developmental disabilities during Covid-19. This is a must-listen conversation for caregivers and advocates!  AARP Quality Trust interview.mp4Our own Brittany Kitt talks with Morgan Whitlach of Quality Trust about the resources available to caregivers of people with developmental disabilities during Covid-19. This is a must-listen conversation for caregivers and advocates! Stay tuned for Part 2, focused on caregiving as you age. Coming soon!Posted by AARP DC on Tuesday, August 11, 2020

   8/6  Staff attorney employment opportunity
Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities is seeking to fill the position of Full-time Staff Attorney.  QT Staff Attorney Position Announcement 08.2020 Applicants should submit a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for three references to Morgan K. Whitlatch, Legal Director, at mwhitlatch@dcqualitytrust.org with “QT Staff Attorney Application” in the subject line. QT is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, marital status, genetic status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other factor protected by law.  

   8/3  The Basics of Supported Decision-Making Webinar
Find out what you need to know to help someone with a developmental disability (DD) plan and live a full and self-determined life. Come learn about a 2018 DC Law that formally recognizes the right of people with disabilities to use Supported Decision-Making in health care, independent living, and other areas of life. These concepts are among the most critical elements of quality in human services today. This virtual session is designed to help service providers explore the key elements of community integration and decision-making. The goal is to help participants identify strategies to support positive outcomes for people with DD in directing their own lives. Supported Decision-Making is now recognized as the key to assisting people to achieve self-determination in their lives. Applying these principles in action requires a working knowledge of the law and understanding how people make decisions. The agenda of this workshop will cover: • Essential components of Supported Decision-Making • Best practices and specific examples of how Supported Decision-Making works • Discussing how to overcome potential barriers to implementing Supported Decision-Making Support professionals will gain a deeper knowledge of Supported Decision-Making, why it is The Basics of Supported Decision Making Webinar 072020 important, and how it can be effective in your organization and with the people you support.

   4/8  Collaborative Advocacy
QT continues to do systemic advocacy during this time of telework.  For example, QT joined Disability Rights DC and other advocacy organizations in writing Mayor Bowser, Deputy Mayor Turnage, and Councilmembers Bonds, Gray and Nadeau to urge the District to ensure that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the District will not engage in disability-related discrimination when making decisions about the allocation of medical treatment.  In addition, as part of our work with the DC Special Education Advocates Coalition, we wrote a letter to the Office of State Superintendent of Education with recommendations for how to ensure that students who are approaching graduation are not penalized by the global pandemic that is outside of their control.

   9/9  Upcoming Parent Support Workshops

Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities is partnering with SchoolTalk for the Voices of Change (Virtual) Conference to provide the below opportunities to parents of students with disabilities and transition-age youth.

“Youth Reaching Age 18: Guardianship and Supported Decision Making”

Monday, September 14th 1:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m.

Presenters:  Morgan Whitlatch and Rhonda White

Reaching the age of 18 can be an exciting time for youth with disabilities and their families. It also is a time when many questions arise around their legal responsibilities and the need for continuing support. We will discuss the variety of legal options available to support young adults in making critical life decisions around issues such as health care, finances, education, and school-to-adult transition. Come learn about adult guardianship and less-restrictive strategies for providing decision-making support, including Supported Decision-Making and Powers of Attorneys, among others.  We also will debunk some of the myths surrounding these options, with the goal of fully informing families of the many ways to support youth with disabilities with decision-making in D.C.

Click here to register for this webinar on September 14th.

“Decision-Making Supports in Healthcare for the Youth in Transition”

Thursday, September 17th 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

Presenters:  Morgan Whitlatch and Rhonda White

For transition-age youth with disabilities, questions can arise about how they can be supported with health care decisions when they turn 18 and become legal adults.  We will discuss how to plan ahead of time for that transition, what legal options are available in the health care context, and how to support young adults with medical choices.  Come learn about new, innovative tools to support your family in this process, including those that advance Supported Decision-Making.

Click here to register for this webinar on September 17th.

Advocating for your Youth’s Education During Distance Learning”

Monday, September 21^st, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

Presenters: Jonathan Martinis and Rhonda White

Distance learning is new and has been challenging; but, your youth in transition still has the same rights to an appropriate education and supports during distance learning.  We will discuss the rights of your youth in transition and strategic tips on how to advocate for services and supports that may be lacking in the transition process. Also, there will be an opportunity for you to share your experience in the transition process during distance learning and discuss what kind advocacy is needed for youth with disabilities in the transition process.

Click here to register for this webinar on September 21st.

   8/14  AARP interviews Morgan Whitlatch on Supported Decision Making

Our Legal Director, Morgan Whitlatch, was interviewed by Brittany Kitt of AARP about supported decision-making and requesting accommodations to no-visitor policies during the COVID-19. She also shares crisis resources available to caregivers of people with developmental disabilities during Covid-19. This is a must-listen conversation for caregivers and advocates! 

   8/3  The Basics of Supported Decision-Making Webinar

Find out what you need to know to help someone with a developmental disability (DD) plan and live a full and self-determined life. Come learn about a 2018 DC Law that formally recognizes the right of people with disabilities to use Supported Decision-Making in health care, independent living, and other areas of life. These concepts are among the most critical elements of quality in human services today.

This virtual session is designed to help service providers explore the key elements of community integration and decision-making. The goal is to help participants identify strategies to support positive outcomes for people with DD in directing their own lives.

Supported Decision-Making is now recognized as the key to assisting people to achieve self-determination in their lives. Applying these principles in action requires a working knowledge of the law and understanding how people make decisions. The agenda of this workshop will cover:
• Essential components of Supported Decision-Making
• Best practices and specific examples of how Supported Decision-Making works
• Discussing how to overcome potential barriers to implementing Supported Decision-Making
Support professionals will gain a deeper knowledge of Supported Decision-Making, why it is The Basics of Supported Decision Making Webinar 072020 important, and how it can be effective in your organization and with the people you support.