Appeals court hears whether DCF made reasonable efforts, ADA accommodations before terminating parental rights

An appellate panel heard argument over whether the Department of Children and Families (DCF) made legally adequate efforts, including disability accommodations, before the termination of a mother's parental rights and whether the trial court erred by finding no bond and denying post-adoption visitation.

Attorney Dana Shuniverse, representing the mother, told the panel that the case centers on whether DCF's efforts were reasonable given the mother's documented mental-health disability and that DCF failed to convene an ADA meeting recommended by its mental-health specialist prior to a child's removal. "We do believe that had DCF leaned in and complied with their own disability policy, the outcome could have been very different," Shuniverse said.

The mother's counsel asked the court to consider the reasonable-efforts claim even if it was not raised at trial, arguing the issue was central to the case because the mother had a long history with DCF and her disability affected her ability to use standard…