SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — Brie Abate's effort to close gaps in disability and mental health services brought families together for the first Lexi's Law Community Day on Sept. 26 — and brought state recognition to the organization she founded.
State Rep. Tom Delnicki attended the South Windsor event and presented Lexi's Law Family Advocacy Network with an official State of Connecticut citation, Abate told Patch in an Oct. 5 email.
"Our first Lexi's Law Community Day was held on September 26 in South Windsor, and it was a very meaningful day for us," she wrote.
The gathering followed Patch's September report on Abate's advocacy and plans for Community Day. The event was organized around disability and mental health awareness, family resources and connections among people facing similar challenges.
Abate founded the network after struggling to secure services for her daughter, Lexi, who has autism, an intellectual disability and significant mental health needs.
As Patch previously reported, her proposed "Lexi's Law" is intended to prevent young adults with developmental disabilities from losing critical support while waiting for adult services to begin.
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Since Community Day, Abate said she has continued communicating with legislators and state agencies, building relationships with other organizations and expanding the network's work.
For Abate, the goal remains helping families beyond her own.
"What began because of my daughter Lexi's experience continues to grow into something I hope will make a difference for many Connecticut families," she wrote.
For more Northern Connecticut news, follow Patch editor Jay Kenney.
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