Community Currents

 

No doubt in large part to media reports that reinforce stereotypes about mental illness, college students with psychiatric disabilities are often regarded as likely to be violent. The stereotypes go as follows: not only is the perpetrator of such violence himself mentally ill, but also the mental illness itself causes and explains the violence. The association of violence and mental illness persists despite overwhelming evidence gathered by both social and medical scientists that mentally ill people are no more likely to perpetrate acts of violence than anyone else. (see PWDF Winter 2011 article: Reduce Loughner’s Impact)

 Health care is a very important issue in the mentally and developmentally disabled population. Certain disabilities have associated medical conditions that are imperative to treat both from a longevity and quality of life perspective. While medical care is most often a priority, oral health generally takes a back seat. Many serious infections and disorders can be linked to poor oral health and are ignored due to lack of knowledge about the implications of untreated infections. Along with this lack of knowledge and resources, physical and behavioral issues can further complicate receiving needed dental services. Oral health has become a serious problem amongst the mentally and developmentally disabled community that deserves attention and needs viable solutions.

  In the Legislature

On June 26th 2012, California SB 764, first introduced February 2nd 2011, the Telehealth Systems Programs, which would amend California's Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Act, on July 3rd 2012  bill was approved by the Committee on Human Services and referred to Appropriations Committee. This bill amends the Lanterman Act and will require the State Department of Developmental Services to work towards implementing Telehealth technologies for applied behavioral analysis (ABA) and intensive behavioral intervention (IBI) for persons with developmental disabilities. These types of behavioral methods have been proven effective for the treatment of developmental disabilities, particularly those on the Autism Spectrum.

Autism and Technology:

Resources and opportunities for Transitional Age Youth, an interactive discussion.

Topics include: Independent Living- Education and Employment.

 

Audience: The general public; people with disabilities, their families and friends; veterans, legal community, vocational rehabilitation; mental and social service providers.

100 Larkin St.

San Francisco CA 94102

Laura Shumaker, is a nationally recognized autism advocate and author of A Regular Guy: Growing Up with Autism. Her essays include those published in the New York Times, CNN, NPR, the San Francisco Chronicle and recently in the Thinking Persons Guide to Autism.

 

Andy Aczel, has thirty years’ experience in the high tech industry, including management roles at Nortel, Premisys Communications, Silicon Spice, and Broadcom,. He is the father of an adult with Asperger’s.  Andy co-founded The Specialists Guild, a nonprofit social enterprise focused on helping people with Asperger’s into careers.

 

Dawn Marie Ferrer, M.S., SLP has been working as a speech-language pathologist (SLP) since 1988. She currently provides services in families' homes and at Abilities United in Palo Alto, CA, where she is the private clinic coordinator, and collaborates with OTs, PTs, EI specialists, and Educators.

 

Zoe Gross, is an Autistic adult. She is a student at Vassar College, an activist with the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, and blogs at illusionofcompetence.blogspot.com

 

Derek Zarda, ILRCSF.  Systems Change Advocate

Allison Wang, PWDF Staff Attorney

 

Marie DeLeon, Daminna Stanfield, and Karen Looker - Cal State East Bay University, College Link Program

 

FREE ADMISSION (tax-deductible donations are appreciated)

 

 

PWDF is requesting up to 3 hours of MCLE's from the State Bar of California

Course/Seminar meets the qualifications for 2.75 hours of continuing education credit for MFTs and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (Provider PCE 3221)

Community Outreach

With the settlement of the Davis and Doe Section 504 cases, the advocacy program is now working on redoubling its efforts on individual case representation.

 

We are increasing our efforts in outreach, and are working in concert with the Education Program on putting together a training for other Bay Area advocates on the intricacies of work incentive programs for disabled individuals receiving Social Security supplemental income (SSI) and/or Social Security disability insurance (SSDI). More details about this seminar will be provided in the near future.

 

The advocacy program has also added a third PWDF attorney to the San Francisco Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service Panel, in order to increase the number of referrals we receive from the bar association. Referred cases typically involve individuals who need help with SSI/SSDI issues, or other issues involving compliance with the American With Disabilities Act (ADA), such as employment, health care, education, and housing.

 

Finally, the Advocacy Program has a new fall legal intern who will be working with us two days per week starting in August 2012. He has just completed his first year of law school at University of San Francisco.

 

EDUCATION UPDATE