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Spectrum E-News, the editorial and news division of Spectrum Institute, uses print and broadcast journalism to promote greater public support for equal rights and justice for people with cognitive and developmental disabilities. We conduct research and investigative reporting on systemic problems with conservatorship and guardianship systems and the need for reform. Our research and reporting also focuses on the duty of governmental agenies to respect the freedom all adults, including those who have cognitive challenges, to make important life choices on matters such as residence, health care, finances, education, work, marital status, social contacts, sexual relationships, and recreational activities. Our reporting also focuses on the right of people with developmental disabilities to have access to a full range of mental health therapies and the duty of guardians, conservators, and other care providers to ensure that such access occurs in a timely manner. Our work products are shared with the public through periodic website updates about the activities and projects of Spectrum Institute, publishing legal and other commentaries, releasing video blogs on matters of public interest, and publishing a monthly newsletter. Our staff collaborates with The Freedom Files -- a Pursuit of Justice Podcast -- by helping produce podcast episodes. Spectrum E-News publishes feature stories associated with these podcasts. |
What's New Commentaries Monthly Newsletter Feature Stories Video Blog |
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Attorney Thomas F.
Coleman is the executive editor of
Spectrum E-News. He has 47 years of experience in civil rights education and
advocacy on issues such as personal privacy, sexual civil liberties,
family diversity, freedom from violence and abuse, and discrimination on
the basis of sexual orientation and marital status. For the past decade, his activities have
focused on
conservatorship and guardianship reform and protecting the rights of people with cognitive disabilities
in these proceedings under
the Americans with Disabilities Act. Coleman is the founding
executive director and the current legal director of Spectrum Institute. He
is the author of many policy reports and legal commentaries on the
rights of people with disabilities.
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Emmi
Deckard is a feature story writer as well as the editor of the monthly
newsletter of Spectrum Institute. A third-year student at
UCLA, Emmi is
majoring in bioengineering and minoring in disability studies. She
is involved with a campus organization known as
Alternative Breaks. Two years ago, she traveled with the
group to New Orleans for week to learn about the widespread impact that
Hurricane Katrina had on the area and how they have been rebuilding
their community and reforming policy ever since. Emmi is a
journalist with the Daily Bruin, the main campus newspaper for
students and faculty. She will use her journalism skills to
develop stories for the podcast which will help guide the interviews.
Her articles will be published online along with the release of an
episode. |
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Trinity
Pierce is a feature story writer as well as a distribution advisor.
She is a third-year student at Washington State University.
Trinity is majoring in multimedia journalism as well as Japanese.
She has experience working as a journalist with The Daily Evergreen,
a student newspaper distributed at 200 campus locations and which has
70,000 online readers each month. Trinity describes herself as a
"diligent college student with a passion for storytelling." That
passion will guide her as she develops stories for the podcast which
will be published online with the release of an episode. Upon
graduating, Trinity plans to teach English aboad for a year or two and
then find work at a newspaper or news desk at a radio or television
station. |
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Tanner
Coe is a contributor on mental health issues. A third-year student
at UCLA., he is working under the supervision of Tina Baldwin,
chairperson of Spectrum Institute, to develop the organization's Mental
Health Project. Tanner is a Regents Scholar who is pursuing a Bachelor
of Arts degree in public affairs with a minor in disability studies.
He will share abstracts of scholarly articles, reviews of books, and
relevant commentaries regarding mental health issues affecting people
with intellectual and developmental disbilities. He will also
provide periodic updates about progress in developing the Mental Health
Project, including the addition of organizations endoring the principles
underlying the legal right of people with developmental diabilities to
receive prompt and appropriate mental health therapy when it is needed. |
Spectrum E-News a division of Spectrum Institute 1717 E. Vista Chino A7-384, Palm Springs, CA 92262 tomcoleman@spectruminstitute.org / (818) 230-5156 |