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People With Disabilities Foundation THE PARITY IN ADVOCACY PEOPLE We Provide Equal Access to Advocacy for Those with Psychiatric Disabilities

In support of our mission to provide education and advocacy for people with psychiatric and/or developmental disabilities so that they can achieve equal opportunities in all aspects of life, PWDF is actively working to provide equal access to advocacy for those with psychiatric disabilities. We continue to consider the best ways to advocate for those whose disabilities cannot be measured through psychometric testing.

A plaintiff with a psychiatric and/or developmental disability may have more difficulties pursuing discrimination litigation. This may be due to a vulnerable mental state or because of the difficulty in establishing the medical evidence to be a qualified individual with a disability (QID) and therefore afforded the protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Nevertheless, we do not accept this as a rationale for neglecting discrimination claims.

We call on our colleagues in the advocacy community to join us in finding solutions to this issue and look forward to working together towards parity in advocacy. If you are interested in this topic, please send your contact information to April Banerjee 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, California Board of Behavioral Sciences Continuing Education, and Commission of Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.