PWDF Update

Education Program Update

PWDF’s Public Awareness and Education Program held its 17th free public awareness seminar on June 4, 2018 at the Koret Auditorium in the San Francisco Public Library. The 3-hour seminar included a diverse panel of experts who discussed employment support frameworks for people with psychiatric, intellectual, and/or developmental disabilities (P/IDD), with an emphasis on transitional age youth (TAY). Speakers included former U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) senior investigator Patricia Finnegan, the State of California Department of Rehabilitation’s San Francisco District Administrator Theresa Woo, psychiatrist Janice E. Cohen, MD, Director of Caminar Jobs Plus Program Michael Schocket, licensed marriage and family therapist at a TAY program, Aiko Matsumura, PWDF Legal Director Steven Bruce, and others with personal experience with these issues. PWDF also live-streamed this event to make it available to a greater audience. The seminar is available for on-demand viewing on our YouTube Channel. More information is available on our website. Additionally, PWDF’s 3-hour seminar videos from the last 17 years are available through our website.

On May 17, 2018, PWDF held a workshop on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Benefits at Support for Families of Children with Disabilities in San Francisco. PWDF’s Legal Director and Board President Steven Bruce provided information on eligibility and maintaining benefits for children on SSI, age 18 redeterminations, and disabled adult children receiving SSDI under someone else’s account (i.e., deceased, disabled, or retired parent).

PWDF’s Public Awareness and Education Program took part in a number of informational events, including staffing a table at Alameda County Transition Faire on March 24, 2018 and Support for Families of Children with Disabilities’ Information & Resource Conference on April 7, 2018. We also provided information about PWDF and our services to the San Francisco Mayor’s Disability Council on May 18, 2018, which was broadcast on local channel 26.

Members of the PWDF staff attended the Project Homeless Connect (PHC 70) event at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium in March. Project Homeless Connect enables nonprofit medical, social service, and other providers to serve homeless San Franciscans with comprehensive services.

PWDF is available for speaking arrangements and training sessions regarding reasonable accommodations, employment, housing and other issues regarding the mentally and/or developmentally disabled population. We have particular expertise in Social Security/SSDI and SSI disability post-entitlement/eligibility issues for beneficiaries with mental and/or developmental disabilities. See our website for event updates and subscribe to our contact list for future event notifications.

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 us 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.