In THE SPOTLIGHT

People With Disabilities Foundation (PWDF) Celebrates 15th Anniversary of Providing Education and Advocacy for People with Psychiatric and/or Developmental Disabilities

By Steven Bruce, Interim Executive Director

People With Disabilities Foundation (PWDF) is proud to celebrate our 15^th anniversary this summer.  In June 2000, PWDF began with the mission “to provide education and advocacy for people with psychiatric and/or developmental disabilities, with or without physical disabilities, so that they can achieve equal opportunities in all aspects of life.”  Since our inception, our goal has been to advocate for this population and destigmatize psychiatric, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.

In these 15 years, PWDF’s Advocacy Program has provided direct legal services to over 1,200 individuals with mental and/or developmental disabilities, the vast majority of whom are very low income.  Even though we are a very small agency with limited resources, we sued the Social Security Administration (SSA) under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 for its unequal treatment of SSA beneficiaries with mental and/or developmental disabilities. ¹  After over five years of litigation, PWDF won a favorable settlement in U.S. District Court, with significant impact.  First, SSA modified form number SSA-821-BK (Work Activity Report) by adding language that addressed individuals with mental as well as physical impairments.  Second, the settlement agreement reached was unprecedented in that the SSA agreed to provide accommodations in the use of alternative communication methods with plaintiffs to comply with Section 504, which requires that all government agencies provide effective communication with disabled individuals for equal, meaningful program access.

As a result of our work, PWDF is one of the foremost experts in the nation when it comes to the intricacies involved in dealing with mental and/or developmental impairments in Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) post-entitlement/eligibility, such as work reviews and income or resource redeterminations. Due to the great need for these legal services, we initiated a monthly legal clinic in 2013, in which we provide consultation and advice to beneficiaries with mental and/or developmental disabilities who are at risk of losing their disability benefits and having a resulting overpayment, which may be a substantial sum of money.

At our 15^th anniversary, PWDF continues to provide direct legal services to a vulnerable population: roughly 85% of our clients are low-income and have mental and/or developmental disabilities. We represent any person with a mental and/or developmental disability whose case has merit, with sliding scale fees down to $0; we never turn away anyone for lack of ability to pay for services.  Also, unlike many other organizations, we continue appealing our clients’ cases to higher courts, not giving up just because the work gets harder.

PWDF’s Public Awareness and Education Program advocates for this population by bringing to the forefront issues related to psychiatric and developmental disabilities as they relate to the right to live independently.  The Program’s goals are to eliminate stigma and discrimination, inform people with mental and/or developmental disabilities about their rights, and educate people about their responsibilities under anti-discrimination laws that affect individuals with psychiatric and/or developmental disabilities.

We accomplish these goals by providing attorneys, psychiatrists, etc., as speakers at conferences and educational workshops; producing videos, audio CDs, and free public seminars on topics related to psychiatric and/or developmental disabilities; advocating for changes to regulations; publishing a quarterly e-newsletter; meeting with professionals from other countries to share ideas; and conducting other activities in support of our mission.  Our second DVD, “Understanding Employees and Job Applicants with Psychiatric Disabilities,” has been recognized by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Resource Center to Promote Acceptance, Dignity and Social Inclusion Associated with Mental Health as an effective national anti-discrimination/anti-stigma campaign.

Please click here to donate to PWDF.

We sincerely thank you for your support of PWDF to make this important work possible.  We thank our clients, their families and support systems, our donors and volunteers, and the many other people and organizations who have worked with us through the years. This especially includes the members of our Advisory Board, who give so generously of their time and expertise. We look forward to working with you to provide these much-needed services and to collaborate to create a world in which people with psychiatric and/or developmental disabilities have equal opportunities in all aspects of life.

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.