Disability Rights Vermont

02/10/2026

Our offices will be closed on Monday, February 16th, in observance of Presidents' Day. We will reopen for normal business hours on Tuesday, February 17th.

02/10/2026

Disability Advocacy Day — Write Disability Rights into Every Bill!

Disability rights are civil rights, and they belong in every policy conversation.

Join advocates from across Vermont at the Statehouse on February 11 to speak directly with legislators about why disability rights must be written into every bill, not just those labeled disability-related.

-No prior advocacy experience needed
-Support available for meeting with legislators
-Accessibility information available

Register + learn more at www.vcdr.org/dad

Please share to help spread the word!

02/09/2026

Film Screening: Forgotten Promises

Join Disability Rights Vermont and others for a documentary screening followed by a panel discussion during Disability Advocacy Day. The film focuses on the crisis Vermonters with disabilities are facing due to the lack of home-and community-based services and the urgent need for legislative action.

Where: Vermont Statehouse, Pavilion Building
When: Wednesday, February 11 at 5:30 PM

In collaboration with Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights (VCDR), MadFreedom Advocates, Vermont Center for Independent Living, End Homelessness Vermont, ACLU-Vermont, Another Way, and Vermont Legal Aid.

This is a free, accessible community event. All are welcome.

🔗 Learn more and RSVP:
www.disabilityrightsvt.org/screenings

02/07/2026

❄️ Dangerous cold temperatures are expected this weekend! ❄️ 🥶

Here are the known Cold Weather Emergency Shelters and Warming Centers scheduled for Barre City and Montpelier as of 2/5/2026. Please share, and contact 211 if you need to locate a shelter.

BARRE CITY

❄️Saturday, February 7, 2026
• Breakfast at Barre Congregational Church at 8 AM
• Special Warming Center, and dinner at Church of the Good Shepherd from 2 PM to 9 PM.
• Emergency Overnight Cold Weather Shelter at Barre Congregational Church 9 PM to 7 AM

❄️Sunday, February 8, 2026
• Special Warming Center at Church of the Good Shepherd from 12 Noon – 7 PM
• Emergency Overnight Cold Weather Shelter at Barre Congregational Church 7PM to 7 AM

❄️Monday, February 9, 2026
• Warming Center and breakfast at Church of the Good Shepherd 7AM to 10 AM
• Emergency Overnight Cold Weather Shelter at Barre Congregational Church 7 PM to 7 AM

❄️ Tuesday, February 10, 2026
• Warming Center open at Church of the Good Shepherd 7 AM to 10 AM

➡️ How to find these locations in BARRE CITY:
Church of the Good Shepherd - 39 Washington St
Barre Congregational Church - 35 Church St
Hedding Methodist Church - 40 Washington St.
Enough Ministries – 24 Washington St

Questions? Contact Tess Taylor at 802.522.7818

MONTPELIER:

🛌 Overnight Shelter: Open on Thursday, February 5th from 8 PM to 8 AM at the City Hall location.

🌟 Warming Shelters:

❄️ Mondays through Thursdays
• 8 AM to 1 PM at Trinity Church
• 1 PM to 4 PM at Christ Church
• 6 PM to 8 PM at Trinity Church

❄️ Fridays
• 8 AM to 11:30 AM at Christ Church
• 11:30 AM to 1 PM at St Augustine’s Church
• 1 PM to 4 PM at Christ Church
• 6 PM to 8 PM at Trinity Church

❄️ Saturdays
8 AM to 8 PM at Christ Church

❄️ Sundays
1 PM to 8 PM at Christ Church

➡️ How to find these locations in Montpelier:
• Trinity Church – 137 Main Street
• St. Augustine’s Church – 16 Barre Street
• Christ Church – 64 State Street

✅ Learn regular updates for Montpelier by visiting https://montpeliercold.org/

02/07/2026

https://montpeliercold.org/

Capstone shelter also open.

02/04/2026

Film Screening: Forgotten Promises

Join Disability Rights Vermont for a documentary screening followed by a panel discussion on the crisis facing Vermonters with disabilities due to the lack of home- and community-based services.

In collaboration with MadFreedom Advocates, Vermont Center for Independent Living End Homelessness Vermont, ACLU-Vermont, Another Way, and Vermont Legal Aid.

Where: South Burlington Public Library (180 Market Street, South Burlington, VT 05403)
When: Thursday, February 5 at 5:30 PM

Learn more and RSVP here: www.disabilityrightsvt.org/screenings

This is a free, accessible community event. All are welcome.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1FfQdYfXnz/

02/02/2026

Register + learn more at www.vcdr.org/dad

Disability Advocacy Day — Write Disability Rights into Every Bill!

Disability rights are civil rights, and they belong in every policy conversation.

Join advocates from across Vermont at the Statehouse on February 11 to speak directly with legislators about why disability rights must be written into every bill, not just those labeled disability-related.

-No prior advocacy experience needed
-Support available for meeting with legislators
-Accessibility information available

Register + learn more at www.vcdr.org/dad

Please share to help spread the word!

01/31/2026

Back by popular demand! VCIL is excited to announce our next round of Civil Writes, a paid disability pride internship for disabled Vermont youth ages 12-20.

Find your power, your people, and your story. Join VCIL's 10-week internship!

Meet weekly on Zoom with peers to learn about disability civil rights through stories, current events, and personal experiences.

Earn $600 while learning and making friends.

Learn more and apply: https://tinyurl.com/CivilWrites2026

Thanks to the statewide Vermont Pathways to Partnerships program for making this possible!

01/31/2026

🎬 Film Screening & Community Panel Discussion This Saturday, January 31st 🎤

Join us at the St. Johnsbury Community Hub on January 31st from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. for a film screening of “Forgotten Promises: Vermonters Call for Investment in Community Living.”

Right after the movie, we’ll have a one-hour panel discussion with passionate advocates who have personal experience and are actively working on the front lines of housing justice and disability rights here in Vermont.

Following the film, our panel will explore:
• The harms of forced institutionalization
• Enforcement of the Olmstead Act
• Funding for community-based care
• Hopes and priorities for the current legislative session

Panelists include:
⭐ Sarah Launderville – Vermont Center for Independent Living
⭐ Kirsten Murphy – Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council
⭐ Brenda Siegel – End Homelessness Vermont

All three panelists are featured in the film and bring both professional expertise and lived experience to this conversation.

🗣️ The panel will include prepared questions, followed by ~20 minutes of in-person audience Q&A, giving community members the opportunity to engage directly with the issues and the people shaping this work.

We hope you’ll join us for the film — and stay for the conversation.

01/30/2026

*Not all shelters and warming centers will be listed here; only those reported to VEM. You can call your town to ask about local warming centers, or call 2-1-1 to find a facility. Overnight Shelter Barre Barre Congregational Church, 35 Church Street Thursday, January 29, 7 pm - 7 am Bennington St. P...