Family First Coalition
Equal access. Accommodations. Fair participation.
The Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted so people with disabilities have equal access to public services, programs, and proceedings — including many court processes. That includes PTSD, trauma, and English as a second language.
Many people navigating family court, guardianship, child welfare, and other legal matters do not know the accommodations and protections that may already be available to them.
The ADA Advocate Program educates citizens who want to help families understand accommodations, accessibility rights, communication supports, and available resources. Parents, grandparents, caregivers, retirees, veterans, students, and volunteers all belong here.
Training led by Melinda Sherwyn
A veteran court watcher and advocate with more than three decades of experience monitoring proceedings and helping people navigate complex legal systems.
Why it matters
- Physical disabilities
- Cognitive disabilities
- Communication barriers
- Hearing or vision impairments
- Language access challenges
- Trauma-related conditions
- Other circumstances that may require reasonable accommodations
What you will learn
- ADA fundamentals and accessibility rights
- Court accommodations and accessibility procedures
- Communication access and language considerations
- Documentation and accommodation requests
- Supporting families navigating court systems
- Advocacy best practices
- Ethical and professional responsibilities
- Available resources and referral pathways
Live class
Thursday evenings
7:00 p.m. Pacific
If you cannot attend live, recorded sessions are kept in the Education Center.
Become an ADA advocate
This note goes to melinda.ffc@gmail.com. Do not include private medical details of another person. Nothing is stored on this website.