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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Drummond, Denise <Denise.Drummond@cga.ct.gov> <br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, January 14, 2024 10:46 PM<br><b>Subject:</b> Disability Justice: Film Screening (“Being Michelle”) & Panel Discussion<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Hello Friends,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The legal system is intricate, and insufficient access can lead to numerous injustices. Deaf individuals within the criminal justice system often face the denial of crucial accommodations throughout the legal process. Similarly, autistic individuals lack essential support during law enforcement interactions and court. The overall marginalization of people with disabilities in the criminal justice system is worsened by a shortage of qualified advocates. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Join the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity and the CT State Independent Living Council on Friday, January 26, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 2C of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford for an in-person screening of the documentary "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxFaXDDefec"><b><i><span style='color:blue'>Being Michelle</span></i></b></a>". Immediately following the film will be a panel discussion moderated by</span> <span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Steven Hernández, Esq., Executive Director, CWCSEO and Molly Cole, Executive Director, SILC. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Panel Includes: Colleen Gallagher, <i>CT Department of Corrections</i>, Trina Sexton, <i>York Correctional Institution</i>, Cheryl Sharp, Esq., <i>Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities</i>, Dr. Lisa Kuntz, <i>University of Saint Joseph</i>, Susan Shatney, <i>CT Department of Aging and Disability Services</i>, Dr. Gabriel Lomas, <i>Gallaudet University</i>, Luisa Soboleski, <i>CT Association of the Deaf</i>.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Mae Thornton Mehra, “Being Michelle” Producer & Executive Director, Thriving Roots Initiative</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“<b>Being Michelle</b>” follows the astonishing journey of a deaf and disabled woman who survived incarceration and abuse under unimaginable circumstances by a system that refused to accommodate her needs as a deaf person with autism.</span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend. For information and details contact Denise Drummond, CWCSEO Legislative Policy Analyst: <span style='color:blue'><a href="mailto:denise.drummond@cga.ct.gov"><span style='color:blue'>denise.drummond@cga.ct.gov</span></a></span>. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><img border=0 width=491 height=305 style='width:5.1166in;height:3.175in' id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image009.jpg@01DA3EA1.4BCCA310"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#2F5496'>Denise Drummond<br>African American Legislative Policy Analyst<br><img border=0 width=275 height=100 style='width:2.8666in;height:1.0416in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.png@01DA3E95.15809B10"></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#2F5496'>Connecticut General Assembly<br><a href="https://wp.cga.ct.gov/cwcseo/"><span style='color:#2F5496;text-decoration:none'>Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity</span></a> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#2F5496'>165 Capitol Avenue – Suite G1095, Hartford, CT 06106<br>(959) 900-5802 (Direct)<br>(959) 900-5800 (Main)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#2F5496'>(860) 970-3613 (Cell)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CWCSEO"><span style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=48 height=48 style='width:.5in;height:.5in' id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image004.jpg@01DA3E95.15809B10" alt="Facebook Icon"></span></a><a href="https://twitter.com/CWCSEO"><span style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=48 height=48 style='width:.5in;height:.5in' id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image005.jpg@01DA3E95.15809B10" alt="Twitter Icon"></span></a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/cwcseo/"><span style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=48 height=48 style='width:.5in;height:.5in' id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image006.jpg@01DA3E95.15809B10" alt="Instagram Icon"></span></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFckWJ4N8-XZrL4HIs0UVIQ"><span style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=48 height=48 style='width:.5in;height:.5in' id="Picture_x0020_5" src="cid:image007.jpg@01DA3E95.15809B10" alt="YouTube Icon"></span></a><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ct-state-commission-cwcseo-43a4a5201/"><span style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=48 height=48 style='width:.5in;height:.5in' id="Picture_x0020_6" src="cid:image008.jpg@01DA3E95.15809B10" alt="YouTube Icon"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>