Microconference Keynote Speaker

President, TRA, Inc.

 

How To File an Office of Civil Rights Complaint

Biographical Sketch:  Tony Records - President, TRA, Inc.

 

Since 1992 Tony Records has been the President of Tony Records and Associates, Inc. (TRA), a human services consulting firm in Bethesda, Maryland.  Mr. Records has 36 years of experience and has consulted in 22 states with regard to services and supports for people with disabilities. 

 

Mr. Records is involved in several projects of national and statewide significance, including the following:

q  Served as Independent Consultant to parties in Arc Connecticut v. O’Meara, a Settlement Agreement regarding people with developmental disabilities who are on waiting lists for community services.

q  Appointed as Independent Monitor and Consultant for the state-operated Rosewood Residential Center in Maryland to help coordinate community transition and its ultimate closure in 2009.

q  Provides training for states on Best Practices in Protection from Harm for people with disabilities in residential settings.

q  Administers a grant with the Illinois Council on developmental disabilities to establish individual Microboards and Human Services Cooperatives.

q  Serves as an expert evaluator and witness in individual litigation that involves alleged abuse and/or neglect of people with developmental disabilities.

q  Consults with numerous service providers in various states on quality improvement, community inclusion, monitoring and protection from harm.

q  Through a contract with the state of Tennessee, administers an individual advocacy program for people who were previously institutionalized.

q  On a voluntary basis, Mr. Records provides individual advocacy assistance to several individuals with disabilities and their families.

q  In 2006-2007 served as a consultant with the US Department of Health and Human Services in establishing best practices for states for people with disabilities on waiting lists for community services

q  Consultant to the state of Nevada regarding the assessment and transition to the community of people with disabilities who currently live in nursing homes and other institutions.

 

As a nationally recognized expert, Mr. Records speaks on a regular basis at national, state and local conferences of organizations serving people with disabilities.

 

Past projects and accomplishments of Mr. Records include the following:

q  Served from 2000-2004 as the court-appointed Independent Expert in the Embreeville case in eastern Pennsylvania that includes 175 people with developmental disabilities and evaluates the quality of community supports and services provided to class members and assists the parties in shaping corrective action plans.

q  From 2000 to 2002, Mr. Records was a consultant with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the US Department of Human Services to provide technical assistance to OCR staff in evaluating states’ planning documents regarding Olmstead compliance.

q  Served as an Expert Consultant for the Key Bridge Foundation assisting in mediation of complaints regarding compliance with the Olmstead US Supreme Court decision, which requires states to ensure that people with disabilities receive services in the most integrated settings.

q  Appointed in 1994 by the US Court to serve as the Special Master in the landmark Pennhurst case and supervised the parties toward a successful ending of court oversight in the 26 year-old litigation.

q  Served as an expert consultant for the Special Master in the Petties case in the District of Columbia, which involves more than 3,000 students receiving special education and related services.

q  Chairperson of the Association of Court Monitors and Special Masters who administer cases involving people with disabilities.

q  Served as an expert consultant to the US Justice Department in class-action litigation in Tennessee and the District of Columbia.

q  Conducted performance and program audits in New York, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, New Jersey and Delaware.

 

Contact Information, Tony Records, 7109 Exeter Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.  301-652-4040 x22

traconsult@mindspring.com.