Willowbrook: Fulfilling the Promise
INFORMATION
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF OUR SPONSORS
CEREBRAL PALSY ASSOCIATIONS OF NEW YORK STATE
COMMISSION ON QUALITY OF CARE AND ADVOCACY FOR PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES
NYSARC, INC.
NEW YORK STATE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
NEW YORK STATE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PLANNING COUNCIL
SELF ADVOCACY ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK STATE
THE RESOURCE CENTER
UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY OF NEW YORK CITY
Willowbrook:
Fulfilling the Promise
ACCREDITATION
Albany Law School Institute of Legal Studies has been certified by the New York
State Continuing Legal Education Board as an Accredited Provider of Continuing
Legal Education in the State of New York. This conference has been accredited as a
source of continuing legal education credits for all attorneys in New York State. For
financial hardship guidelines, please call the Institute of Legal Studies at (518) 472-5888.
ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION
A limited number of rooms have been reserved for conference participants at the
Hilton Garden Inn Albany Medical Center. Please mention the “Willowbrook”
group block to receive the special group rate of $119 single occupancy. Contact the
Hilton Garden Inn at 518.396.3500 to book your reservation.
PLEASE SEND REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT
INFORMATION BY OCTOBER 19, 2012 TO:
Government Law Center of Albany Law School
ATTN: D’vora Koelling
80 New Scotland Ave.
Albany, New York 12208-3494
Phone: 518.445.2329
Fax: 518.445.2303
Friday, November 2, 2012
8:30 a.m.—5:00 p.m.
Albany Law School
Dean Alexander Moot Courtroom
presented by
THE GOVERNMENT LAW CENTER
THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND DISABILITY LAW CLINIC
Willowbrook: Fulfilling the Promise
AGENDA—November 2, 2012
8:30 a.m.
Registration
9:00—9:10 a.m.
Opening remarks – Director of the Government Law Center
9:10 —10:00 a.m.
―Lost in the Shadows: Willowbrook and the Era of Institutions‖
Presenter: Clarence Sundram, Special Advisor to the Governor on Vulnerable Persons
10:00—10:15 a.m.
Break
10:15—11:15 a.m.
(1 CLE Hour)
Panel # 1: ―The Early Years of the Willowbrook Litigation‖
Moderator: Patricia Martinelli, former Counsel to Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD,
formerly known as OMRDD)
Chris Hansen, Senior National Staff Counsel to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU); former lead counsel in
Willowbrook case
James Introne, Deputy Secretary to the Governor for Health, former Commissioner of OPWDD
Jerome Isaacs, President of the Benevolent Society, a chapter of NYSARC, Inc.; advocate; parent of a former resident
of Willowbrook Development Center (formerly Willowbrook State School)
Ronald Karben, Consultant; former attorney for the Mental Hygiene Legal Service (MHLS), Appellate Division,
2nd Judicial Department
Murray Schneps, former attorney in Willowbrook case; Vice Chairman of the Willowbrook Review Panel; parent of
former resident of Willowbrook Development Center
Henry Wesley, self advocate; motivational speaker; former resident of Willowbrook Development Center
11:15 am—12:00 p.m. Keynote Address
Introduction by Bernard Carabello, Ombudsperson, Metro New York Developmental Disabilities Service Office
(DDSO); former resident of Willowbrook Development Center
Address by Elin Howe, Commissioner, Massachusetts Health and Human Services; former Commissioner of
OPWDD; former Director of Willowbrook Developmental Center
12:00—1:00 p.m.
Lunch with Roundtable Discussions
1:00—2:00 p.m.
(1 CLE Hour)
Panel # 2: ―State, Federal, and International Impact of Willowbrook‖
Moderator: Marc Brandt, Executive Director of NYSARC, Inc.
Cathy Costanzo, Executive Director of Center for Public Representation
Paul Kietzman, General Counsel to NYSARC, Inc.; former Counsel to OPWDD
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Levy, former lead counsel in Willowbrook case; consultant to Disability Rights
International and Human Rights Watch
Michael Lottman, federal court monitor; former attorney for US Justice Department in Willowbrook case
Sheryl Minter-Brooks, Region 5 State Operations Director at OPWDD
Cliff Zucker, Executive Director of Disability Advocates, Inc.
2:00—2:15 p.m.
Break
2:15—3:15 p.m.
(1 CLE Hour)
Panel # 3: ―Top Three Issues Facing the System Today‖
Moderator: Kathleen Broderick, Associate Executive Director for Programming at AHRC New York City
Kerry Delaney, Counsel to OPWDD
Judith Moiseff, self advocate; guest lecturer; former resident of Willowbrook Development Center
Roberta Mueller, current Willowbrook class counsel; Co-Director of Disability Justice at New York Lawyers for the
Public Interest (NYLPI)
Ann Nehrbauer, Chair of the Consumer Advisory Board for the Willowbrook Class; parent of a former resident of
Willowbrook Development Center
Ida Rios, advocate; parent of a former resident of Willowbrook Development Center
J. David Seay, General Counsel to Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State (CPANYS)
3:20—4:20 p.m.
(1 CLE Hour)
Panel # 4: ―Fulfilling the Promise: Challenges and Opportunities‖
Moderator: Mariette Bates, Academic Director of Disability Studies Program at City University of New York
Roger Bearden, Chair of the Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities
Courtney Burke, Commissioner at OPWDD
Janice Fitzgerald - Executive Director of Parent to Parent of New York State
Beth Haroules, current Willowbrook class counsel; Senior Staff Attorney at New York Civil Liberties Union
(NYCLU)
Gary Lind, Deputy Executive Director at NYSARC, Inc.
Diana McCourt, advocate; parent of a former resident of Willowbrook Development Center
4:20—4:45 p.m.
Audience Remarks
4:45—5:00 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Bridgit Burke, Director of Civil Rights and Disability Law Clinic
Willowbrook: Fulfilling the Promise
REGISTRATION
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN APPROVED IN NEW YORK STATE FOR UP TO 4 CLE HOURS
Please type or print clearly. Register one person per form. This form may be photocopied.
Should you need any special accommodations (i.e. interpreter, alternative format for materials), please inform the Institute
of Legal Studies at 518.472.5888 two weeks prior to the conference.
Name:_______________________________________________________________________________________
Title:________________________________________________________________________________________
Organization:_________________________________________________________________________________
Street Address:________________________________________________________________________________
City:_____________________________________________________ State:_______ Zip:__________________
Phone:____________________________________ Fax: ______________________________________________
Email:_______________________________________________________________________________________
COURSE FEES:
 PRIVATE SECTOR ($50)  NON-PROFITS/GOVERNMENT ($35)  STUDENT ($25)
 PARENT OF WILLOWBROOK CLASS MEMBER (NO CHARGE)
 INDIVIDUAL WITH DISABILITIES (NO CHARGE)
 CLE FEE: $80 PER PERSON (4.0 HOURS OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE)
TOTAL PAYMENT ENCLOSED: $_____________
___ CHECK ENCLOSED PAYABLE TO ALBANY LAW SCHOOL
___ PLEASE CHARGE MY:  Mastercard  Visa
Card Number:________________________________________________________________________________
Exp:_______ Sec. Code:_________
Name on Card (print): _________________________________________________________________________
Signature: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Mail or fax this form by October 19, 2012 to: Government Law Center
80 New Scotland Avenue, Albany New York 12208-3494
Phone: 518.445.2329 Fax: 518.445.2303
(Fax registration will be accepted for credit card payments only.)