Details

02.02.2014

"STOP CRIMINALIZING PEOPLE WITH

SPECIAL NEEDS"

Today is the day! Join Advocating Parents of Nova 

Scotia around the Nova Scotia ! We 

encourage media to attend as well as concerned 

citizens.  Please browse the information below and 

attend one of the 7 locations across Nova Scotia.

 Demonstrations are for Nichele Benn, Amanda

Murphy, Richard Rector and others like them.  Their 

parents are seeking a meeting with Justice Minister

Peter MacKay.

AMHERST
1:10 pm Meet at Bridge Adult Service Centre, 16 Station Street
Parking lot next to Moore's Recreation
1:25 pm Walking procession to Amherst Justice Centre, 16 Church Street
1:30 -2pm Demonstration of Support

HALIFAX
1pm Meet at the Superstore
1075 Barrington Street - park at the farthest end of the parking lot. Look for red demonstration posters
1:15 pm Walking procession to Halifax Provincial Court 
5250 Spring Garden Road
1:30 -2 pm Demonstration of Support

NEW MINAS
1:30 pm Meet at the old Civic Centre, (across from Canadian Tire at the lights) 
1:30-2 pm Walking procession to the RCMP detachment on Jones Road.

NORTH SYDNEY, CAPE BRETON
1pm Meet at Superstore –park at farthest end of parking lot, away from store
125 King Street - Look for red demonstration posters
1:15 pm Proceed to Cape Breton Regional Police Dept.
412 Purvis St
1:30 -2 pm Demonstration of Support

TRURO
1 pm Meet at Superstore (where garden centre is located during summer months)
46 Elm Street
1:15 pm walk to Truro Justice Centre
540 Prince Street
1:30 -2pm Demonstration of Support

WINDSOR
1pm Meet at Hants County War Memorial Community Centre
78 Thomas Street
1:15 pm Procession to RCMP Station
140 Morrison Drive
1:30 - 2pm Demonstration of support

YARMOUTH
1:00 pm Meet at Yarmouth Library
1405 Main Street
1:15 pm Procession to Yarmouth Justice Centre
164 Main Street
1:30 - 2pm Demonstration of support

Curve Ball

When Life Throws You a Curve Ball…..

It's an odd thing when you become a public advocate for your child.  All of a sudden you're in the lime light with the media, bending the ear of politicians you would likely never meet and people recognize you when you're out doing your errands.  That's exactly what happened to Brenda Hardiman when it became evident that she needed to dig her heels in the ground and protect her adult child, Nichele's, rights.

Brenda and Nichele

Sometimes a fight like this can seem like it's you against the system, then you go public, and other parents start stepping forward asking you for help.  One after another  people start calling, desperate to find someone to listen to their story, someone to stand up for them, to tell them what to do next.  

What is their fight?

"stop criminalizing people with special needs"

In Nova Scotia, if you live in a small options home, or just about any other setting supported by the Department of Community Services, and you have an outburst that may involve hitting, shoe throwing, biting etc. the police are called.  You are charged and put on probation or face jail.  Often times when you have special need such as a brain injury, intellectual disability or any other of the many issues that require you to live in care, behaviour is a part of the picture.  The real question for Nova Scotians is - Do we want to treat our most vulnerable people like this or do we want to protect them?  This is Amanda's story - 

Amanda is a beautiful young woman of 34 years. She is diagnosed with bipolar, epilepsy and is at a cognitive level of a five to eight year old child. She experiences periodic episodes of aggressive behavior which has resulted in numerous police interventions, criminal charges and convictions and probation. Amanda has an intellectual disability and health issues; she is not a criminal and should not be treated as one.

Brenda Hardiman, after answering calls from parents that have no where else to go, has founded Advocating Parents of Nova Scotia (APNS). 

This Sunday  02.02.2014 APNS is spearheading a Peaceful Demonstration  in support of Amanda Murphy.  On February 6th, 2014 Amanda, with cognitive function of a 5-8 year old, will be sentenced for acting out in her small option home.  She could go to jail.  Would we put an 8 year old in jail?  Citizens of Nova Scotia should not stand for this.  Let our leaders, the leaders we hired in the last election, know that this is not acceptable.  Our leaders are some of the best innovative thinkers out there.  They can come up with compassionate and acceptable ways to serve this population.

**UPDATED LOCATIONS!**

ADDED JANUARY 28. 2014

AMHERST
1:10 pm Meet at Bridge Adult Service Centre
16 Station Street, Amherst, NS
Parking lot next to Moore's Recreation
1:25 pm Walking procession to Amherst Justice Centre, 16 Church Street, Amherst,
1:30 -2pm Demonstration of Support


NEW MINAS
1:30 pm Meet at the old Civic Centre, (across from Canadian Tire at the lights) 
1:30-2 pm Walking procession to the RCMP detatchment on Jones Road.

ATTEND A DEMONSTRATION NEAR YOU

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT

Share this with your friends on Facebook or tweet it to the world.

Let's let our leaders know that criminalizing people with special needs is not what Nova Scotians stand for.

02.02.2014

Save The Date

AMANDA MURPHY

#savethedate

PROVINCIAL DEMONSTRATIONS OF SUPPORT

02.02.2014

#savethedate

#amandamurphy

Amanda is a beautiful young woman of 34 years. She is diagnosed with bipolar, epilepsy and is at a cognitive level of a five to eight year old child. She experiences periodic episodes of aggressive behavior which has resulted in numerous police interventions, criminal charges and convictions and probation. Amanda has an intellectual disability and health issues; she is not a criminal and should not be treated as one.

Police intervention, criminal charges and convictions must cease. There are other methods of handling aggressive behavior rather than criminalizing our most vulnerable group of citizens.

Provincial demonstrations of support are planned for Amanda Murphy as she faces sentencing for an assault charge from an employee in a residential setting.

This is Amanda's dad Victor speaking with the media, trying to hold back his emotion.

Please join us and show support for Amanda and her family of February 2nd 2014 as Advocating Parents of Nova Scotia hold demonstrations of support across the province.  Locations available soon. #savethedate

For further information please contact:
Cindy Carruthers, People First Nova Scotia – 902-305-0423

Help Amanda Murphy
Have We Learned Nothing From Ashley Smith

Stop Criminalizing People With Special Needs

PRESS RELEASE

Help Amanda Murphy

 Have We Learned Nothing From Ashley Smith

Stop Criminalizing People With Special Needs

Advocating Parents of Nova Scotia and People First Nova Scotia is holding a press conference:

Date:        Monday, 20 January 2014

Time:        1:30 pm

Location:  SCRI Society The Club, St. James Anglican Church, 2668 Joseph Howe

Drive, Halifax…Armdale Rotary, between Joseph Howe Drive and

St Margaret’s Bay Road.

The Club can be seen from the rotary. Go to the white doorway next to the 

painted power box.

Amanda is a beautiful young woman of 34 years.  She is diagnosed with bipolar, epilepsy and is at a cognitive level of a five to eight year old child.  She experiences periodic episodes of aggressive behavior which has resulted in numerous police interventions, criminal charges and convictions and probation.  Amanda has an intellectual disability and health issues; she is not a criminal and should not be treated as one.  

Police intervention, criminal charges and convictions must cease.  There are other methods of handling aggressive behavior rather than criminalizing our most vulnerable group of citizens.  

Provincial demonstrations of support are planned for Amanda Murphy as she faces sentencing for an assault charge from an employee in a residential setting.

For further information please contact:

Cindy Carruthers, People First Nova Scotia – 902-305-0423

Solidarity

In support of Nichele a peaceful demonstration was held at 5 locations in Nova Scotia while she was being fingerprinted on January 5, 2014.  It was successful too! A few links to browse….

CBC

Halifax Media Co-op


The ministers have even briefed the Premier.

Chronicle Herald



What's next?  Nichele is appearing in court on January 15th, 2014 to enter a plea.  To show support for Nichele we are asking people to change their facebook picture and twitter picture to one of the following until her court date.

"like" Nichele's facebook page http://on.fb.me/1d0Kf2Z  or follow on twitter @helpnichele #NicheleBenn #HelpNichele

You Can Help From Home!

PLEASE COPY AND PASTE this letter to the Minister of Community Services, the Minister of Justice and to the Premier. Their contact information is listed at the end of this letter.

As a concerned citizen, I draw your attention to the critical situation Nichele Benn is facing. I feel immediate intervention is needed on Nichele’s behalf and ask that the Ministers of Justice and Community Services meet with Nichele’s mother Brenda Hardiman as soon as possible. A meaningful discussion must take place to change the protocol for police intervention and to talk about how we can improve the treatment of our most vulnerable group when they find themselves in the midst of our legal system.

Nichele is a 25 year old woman who has intellectual and physical disabilities including cerebral palsy, epilepsy and an organic brain disorder resulting in periodic episodes of physical aggression. She was doing well living in the community, with supports, and then in May of 2012, the Department of Community Services moved Nichele to an institution in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia. The family was strongly opposed to this move.

Approximately five years ago, the Department of Community Services changed their protocol for Nichele. The use of a therapeutic quiet room was discontinued and police intervention was mandated. Over the last five years, there have been approximately 17 police interventions, 7 incarcerations, several assault charges and convictions. She has been arrested, handcuffed and jailed on numerous occasions. The latest conviction resulted in Nichele being placed on probation for 18 months, being sentenced to 24 hours of community service, and having to submit a DNA sample.

Nichele participated in the mental health court system. Unfortunately, the system did not benefit her and she was directed back to main stream court. What changes must be made to ensure this system helps those it was designed to help? Nichele is a young woman with the mental capacity of a 12 year old child. I ask you, if not her, who is the mental health court system designed to help?

I ask that the police intervention cease immediately, as a part of the Department of Community Services’ protocol for managing Nichele’s behaviour. The reinstatement of the use of other supports must be a priority for her.

The imposition of probation is a troubling development in this situation. Nichele’s history supports her family’s growing concerns that she will not be episode free for the probation period which could result in incarceration.

There are frightening similarities between this case and that of another young woman, Ashley Smith whose entry into our penal system resulted in tragedy. We are all aware of the consequences for Ashley and her family. Nichele’s pending collision course with that same penal system is the direct result of a decision made by the Department of Community Services to amend the protocol for dealing with Nichele’s behaviour. This is not acceptable for any intellectually challenged individual in this country, not in Nova Scotia and not in this young woman’s life.

I call on you to meet with Nichele’s mother and work collaboratively to ensure that police intervention ceases, and that positive changes are made to the mental health court system.

FB - Help Nichele Benn…Have we learned nothing from Ashley Smith?

Premier McNeil

premier@gov.ns.ca

Minister of Community Services

Joanne Bernard

DCSMIN@gov.ns.ca

Minister of Health and Wellness

Leo Glavine

health.minister@gov.ns.ca

Minister of Justice

Lena Diab

justmin@gov.ns.ca

~ Help Nichele