On 9/12, I was asked to testify at the last minute in a parental termination
cases on the state's responsibility under the ADA to provide services to
address a parents cognitive disability, so that she could benefit from
Children & Family Services "reasonable efforts". Basically only standard
services were provided to a mom with an IQ of 75.

I did not expect this mom's PD would prevail because it was at the
termination phase.

Although the judge agreed with the termination, she was quite stident in the
written opinion that DCFS needed to provide specialized services to disabled
parents from the beginning of the case & was quite critical of the
department for not doing so! Basically, the judge agreed with my testimony!
The termination may be appealed. This may is also facing another termination
on her youngest child, so any info would be helpful.

I have sat on an team for 5 yrs telling DCFS this, but finally today they
are seeking out services for this mom, however, reluctantly.

Progress comes one step at a time, especially considering I had to testify
via cell phone while taking my foster child to the doctor.
Renee Hintz
Adept Disability Consultants, Spokane
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