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November 29, 2022Advocacy Matters

U.S. Senate Hearing

U.S. Senate Hearing

Disability Matters with Joyce Bender

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

 #AdvocacyMatters Segment

U.S. Senate Hearing

Caring for Our Kids: Supporting Mental Health in the Transition from High School to College

On Wednesday, November 30, 2022, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee on Children and Families is holding an important hearing on mental health. The title of the hearing is “Caring for our Kids: Supporting Mental Health in the Transition from High School to College.”

Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is Chair of the Subcommittee.

The hearing will feature four witnesses, including Brooklyn Williams from Baldwin High School in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Ms. Williams started a Chill Club at Baldwin High School with support from the Allegheny Health Network.

A survey by the American College Health Association in 2021 found that of 100,000 students surveyed, 16% of college men and 33% of college women had been diagnosed with anxiety. The study also found that 14% of college men and 25% of college women were diagnosed with depression.

Students with disabilities transitioning from high school to college will not have an individualized education plan (IEP) or a Section 504 plan in college. Instead, it is the student’s responsibility to seek an accommodation for mental illness.

#AdvocacyMatters

We hope your listeners will tune into the U.S. Senate hearing on Wednesday to learn more about transitioning from high school to college for students with mental illness. Visit disabilityrightspa.org for links to the hearing other information mentioned on today’s segment.

Links

Link to the Subcommittee Hearing

https://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/caring-for-our-kids-supporting-mental-health-in-the-transition-from-high-school-to-college

Pittsburgh City Paper Article on Brooklyn Williams

https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/teen-helps-start-school-mental-health-club-after-her-own-loss-depression/Content?oid=20868310

American College Health Association Spring 2021 Survey

https://www.acha.org/documents/ncha/NCHA-III_SPRING-2021_REFERENCE_GROUP_EXECUTIVE_SUMMARY_updated.pdf