August 28, 2025
Contact: kkb@berlinrosen.com
Children transitioning into early adulthood with disabilities across the state are denied social services
BRIDGEPORT, CT – Law firm Koskoff, Koskoff and Bieder, along with the Center for Children’s Advocacy, announced today that they are representing Cathrine Mayo and Catherine Grant in their lawsuit challenging the State of Connecticut’s method for determining whether disabled children and youth are eligible for critical services provided through the Department of Developmental Services (DDS). They join Attorney Andrew Feinstein as co-counsel for the plaintiffs.
In 2024, Catherine Grant and her granddaughter, Cathrine Mayo, filed this complaint against the Department of Developmental Services, and its Commissioner, Jordan A. Scheff after Mayo was deemed not “eligible for DDS services based upon intellectual disability” despite a long documented history of limitations in her intellectual functioning.
The lawsuit argues that Connecticut’s current eligibility framework unlawfully denies essential support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The complaint, filed in Superior Court, highlights the experiences of families like Mayo and Grant who are unable to access the programs and resources necessary for their children to live with dignity, independence, and safety.
“This lawsuit is about fairness and humanity,” said Chris Mattei, attorney at Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder. “The state’s current system forces families of young people with disabilities to fight for basic services that should be guaranteed. It leaves vulnerable children and young adults at risk by denying them the very supports they need to thrive in their communities. Connecticut can and must do better.”
Joining Attorney Mattei from the Koskoff team is Attorney Luke Reynolds.
In their suit, Mayo and Grant allege that the Department of Developmental Services has implemented a flawed and discriminatory methodology that results in children with disabilities being abruptly excluded from state programs once they reach adulthood. According to the complaint, this statewide approach violates federal and state laws designed to protect individuals with disabilities from discrimination and to ensure equal access to necessary care.
“Too often, families are left in isolation and despair when systems fail their children,” said Sarah Eagan, Executive Director for the Center for Children’s Advocacy. “Our role is to ensure that the voices of young people with disabilities—and their families—are heard loud and clear. This case is about making sure Connecticut lives up to its responsibility to protect the most vulnerable members of our community.”
“I’m very pleased that Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder and the Center for Children’s Advocacy are standing with us in this fight,” said Andrew Feinstein, long-time disability rights advocate and special education attorney. “Together, we will insist that the State of Connecticut meets its basic constitutional obligations to the most vulnerable children and young adults in our state.”
The lawsuit seeks to compel Connecticut to revise its eligibility methodology, eliminate unlawful barriers to services, and ensure that all individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have meaningful access to the supports they need.
Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder has a long history of representing vulnerable individuals and families in precedent-setting cases that advance justice and equity. The firm is proud to stand with the Center for Children’s Advocacy and the Mayo and Grant family in this critical fight.
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About Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder PC
Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder, based in Connecticut, is a nationally recognized law firm that has achieved landmark legal victories on behalf of victims of gun violence, civil rights violations, medical malpractice, and governmental abuse. The firm is committed to holding powerful institutions accountable and securing justice for individuals and communities harmed by negligence and injustice.
About The Center for Children’s Advocacy
The Center for Children’s Advocacy is New England’s largest children’s legal rights organization. It was founded in 1997 on a $2,000 budget, in loaned office space over the boiler room at UConn Law School. In the 28 years since, CCA has grown to an organization with 25 staff and a $3 million operating budget. CCA now has offices in Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport, and also serves children in Waterbury, Stamford and Norwalk.
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