In this second episode of a two-part series, our conversations continue to dive into the lived realities of a system that has shaped, and too often harmed, the people it was meant to serve. Simonne Maline, Judge Dan Wathen, and Vickie McCarty bring decades of experience working within the mental health system and the courts to share what they've seen, what's changed, and what still needs to.

Interviews Recorded: January & March 2026

LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Maine Legislative Website
• Rights of Recipients

Disclaimer: The Consumer Council System of Maine (CCSM) is an independent public instrumentality and provides a nonpartisan or nonbiased perspective on any topic we speak on. Our goal is to represent the voice of people with lived experience with mental health challenges in public policy and legislative matters.

Starting off Season Two we explore this important topic in a two part series. In this first episode of a two-part series, our hosts trace the troubling history of institutionalization and its lasting impact on people with lived experience of mental health challenges.

Community leaders Pat Deegan and Kelly Staples join the conversation to share their experiences and expertise, bearing witness to a harmful system and providing peer-focused alternatives for recovery.

Interviews Recorded: December 2025 & February 2026

LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Hopeful Horizons Blog
• The Politics of Memory
• Out Of the Shadows – Film Series
• In Remembrance of the Magnitude of Human Warehousing
• Intentional Peer Support
• Progressive Treatment Program
  

Disclaimer: The Consumer Council System of Maine (CCSM) is an independent public instrumentality and provides a nonpartisan or nonbiased perspective on any topic we speak on. Our goal is to represent the voice of people with lived experience with mental health challenges in public policy and legislative matters.

In this special episode, we cover question number one on the Maine referendum ballot. We sit down with two community leaders who share the importance of accessible voting and discuss ways we can advocate for voters living with disabilities. Our guests share insight into question one and how it would affect accessible voting if it were to pass. We also hear from a Mainer who speaks about his experiences with voting and the importance of absentee options as someone with a disability.

Important Voting Information: Maine Referendum Election: Tuesday, November 4th, 2025 Absentee ballots can be requested NOW.

Deadline for absentee voting: The deadline to request an absentee ballot or vote in the presence of the clerk is 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 30th

Interviews Recorded: September 2025

LINKS/RESOURCES

Disability Rights Maine

Protecting the Disability Vote

Voting Rights Hotline: 1-800-452-1948

Save Maine Absentee Voting

Absentee Ballot Request
The 2025 Maine Referendum Election Questions

Find where to cast your ballot in Maine

Noah Carver's Op Ed on Question One

Disclaimer: The Consumer Council System of Maine (CCSM) is an independent public instrumentality and provides a nonpartisan or nonbiased perspective on any topic we speak on. Our goal is to represent the voice of people with lived experience with mental health challenges in public policy and legislative matters.