Upcoming Events
National Mental Health Awareness Month Event: Assistive Animals and Mental Health
May 10, 2023
Many individuals with disabilities rely on animals that are trained to do work or perform tasks relating to physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disabilities. Some animals by their mere presence provide emotional support for persons with disabilities. Other animals are considered pets. The categories can be confusing. What’s the difference between a therapy dog, HUD assistance animal that works, perform tasks, assists, and/or provides therapeutic emotional support, an animal in training, guide dog, service animal, psychiatric service animal, etc. Attend the session and find answers to these and other questions.
The panelists will focus on Americans with Disabilities Act “service animals” that assist people with mental health conditions. They will explain what types of animals are covered and where they or their handler can go in public places, on public and private transportation, on campus, on-the-job, in the home, and in other places. Audience members will be provided with an overview of ADA definitions, requirements for service animals, rights and responsibilities of handlers, and an overview of the mental health benefits of having a service animal.
Past Events
National Mental Health Awareness Event with Keynote Speaker Dior Vargas
- May 10, 2022
- This event will take place in Des Moines, IA with in person satellite locations in Sioux City, Mason City, Dubuque, Davenport, Fairfield, and Council Bluffs. This event will also be Livestreamed.
- Dior will share with us her personal journey of growing up at the intersection of being a Queer Latina Feminist experiencing mental health symptoms without fully understanding her symptoms, and navigating her symptoms in her community that did not understand or accept her mental health symptoms. Dior will speak about the impact not being accepted or including in her community had on her mental health and her life. Dior will share what she learn through her personal experiences regarding her rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act as a person with mental health diagnosis. Dior will also talk about learning that her mental health diagnosis is considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act ADA, changed and empowered her life, her work, and her mental health advocacy.
Town Hall
December 8, 2021
- Disability Rights Iowa will be hosting our second of our Town Halls dedicated to introducing our new Executive Director, Catherine Johnson, to communities across Iowa to learn about the Disability Rights Issues facing all communities.
Long COVID in Employment: Access, Rights, and Experiences
National Disability Employment Awareness Month Celebration Event
October 29, 2021
- Panelists will discuss lived experiences with long-COVID, working during COVID, rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and how COVID impacts the disability community.
