Update

Education Program Update

By: PWDF Staff

PWDF is pleased to announce the addition of Naveen Makhdum to our staff as the new Program Manager (PM) for Public Awareness and Education.

In our Spring 2017 e-newsletter, we said we were going to meet with a group of disability leaders from the country of Georgia. In June 2017, the delegation visited PWDF as part of the US Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). The purpose of the visit was to discuss the integration of those with severe mental illness into the whole of society. PWDF Legal Director, Steven Bruce, and Board of Directors member Janice E. Cohen, MD, exchanged information about legal and medical issues with the Georgia delegation. The group discussed challenges around diagnosis and advocacy for individuals with mental and developmental disabilities.

Photo of Georgia Delegation with PWDF

On November 20, 2017, Steven Bruce and PWDF Board of Directors member Janet Espey, Esq., presented a workshop at UCSF’s Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital and Clinics on “Life Transitions: Onset of Incapacity From a Legal Perspective, Management of the Person and/or Property, and Social Security Disability Benefits.” Topics included caretaker transitions and succession of fiduciaries, planning when circumstances are changing, an overview of Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income programs, and the documents medical professionals may be asked to provide related to succession of fiduciaries, estate planning, and Social Security disability benefits.

On September 18, 2017, Steven Bruce presented a workshop on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) (Title II) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) (Title XVI) post-entitlement and eligibility issues for people with mental and/or developmental disabilities at the NAMI Marin monthly meeting. Topics included medical continuing disability reviews (CDRs), work reviews (SSDI) and eligibility redeterminations (SSI), an overview of SSDI and SSI work incentive rules, and cessations and overpayments.

On July 19, 2017, PWDF attended the City of San Francisco Adult Probation Department’s Mental Health Awareness Day. Clients, case workers from the Probation Department’s Reentry Division, and San Francisco mental health community advocates were present. PWDF distributed brochure and flyers about our services and provided information about our monthly clinics and our Advocacy Program to case workers for their clients.

We also attended several other events: On June 27, PWDF Executive Director, April Banerjee, attended a forum on Banking and Financial Stability for People with Disabilities at Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. On July 21st, she attended the San Francisco Mayor’s Disability Council (MDC) Meeting at San Francisco City Hall, and on August 15, she toured the Pomeroy Center, which serves people with developmental disabilities, to learn about their programs. On September 13, we provided information at the Golden Gate Self-Advocacy Conference.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the latest information and media updates from PWDF. For inquiries about PWDF’s Public Awareness and Education Program, please contact Program Manager, Naveen Makhdum at education@pwdf.org.

PWDF Profile

Who We Are

People With Disabilities Foundation is an operating 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California, which focuses on the rights of the mentally and developmentally disabled.

Services

Advocacy: PWDF advocates for Social Security claimant’s disability benefits in eight Bay Area counties. We also provide services in disability rights, on issues regarding returning to work, and in ADA consultations, including areas of employment, health care, and education, among others. There is representation before all levels of federal court and Administrative Law Judges. No one is declined due to their inability to pay, and we offer a sliding scale for attorney’s fees.

Education/Public Awareness: To help eliminate the stigma against people with mental disabilities in society, PWDF’s educational program organizes workshops and public seminars, provides guest speakers with backgrounds in mental health, and produces educational materials such as videos.

Continuing Education Provider: State Bar of California MCLE and Commission of Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.