in the spotlight

PWDF Asks American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association and American Dental Association to Create Task Force to Address Inequalities in Health Care Access

In our fall e-newsletter, we noted that persons with severe mental illness have a 13-25 year shorter life expectancy than that of the general population. Disparities in health care access and provision of health care services have been shown to be contributing factors to the shortened life span of people with mental disabilities.

As a result, PWDF has asked the American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association and American Dental Association to join us in creating a task force to design protocols and procedures that address health care inequalities in treating people with psychiatric, intellectual, and/or developmental disabilities, with the goal of eliminating the health care disparities that affect such individuals.

See here for our letter: PWDF letter to AMA_12-11-13_ab.sb

PWDF provides services for people with psychiatric and/or developmental disabilities through advocacy, education and public awareness.

Contact:

April Banerjee
Program Manager for Public Awareness and Education
People With Disabilities Foundation
507 Polk St., Ste. 430
San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel (415) 931-3070
Fax (415) 931-2828
abanerjee@pwdf.org
www.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.