Living with a disability should not limit you or your child from reaching full potential. Although not always recognized or followed, laws exist to protect your rights and assist you with your needs.
Adults and children with disabilities can encounter obstacles accessing medical care, education, disability benefits, commercial facilities and employment. As an advocate for persons with disabilities, I can help in the following areas:
Health Law: Depending on the type and level of disability, you or your child may be eligible for a variety of medical services through programs like Medicaid, Children’s Medical Services, or even Vocational Rehabilitation. For persons already receiving Medicaid, recent program changes may have caused a reduction in necessary services, or requests for new services may have been denied. Children receiving Medicaid have special status that entitles them to services beyond those available to adults.
Special Education: Children with disabilities that impact their involvement and progress in education may be entitled to services or accommodations to assure that they receive a free appropriate public education.
Veterans’ or Social Security Disability Benefits: Veterans receive benefits based on disabilities that are service-connected, with the level of benefit directly related to the percentage of resulting disability. Social Security benefits, however, require proof that the applicant’s disability has lasted, or is expected to last more than 12 months and prevents the applicant from working full-time.
Civil Rights: The Americans with Disabilities Act (and the closely related Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act) is a federal law with wide application to persons with disabilities. The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, state and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications.
If you need assistance with any of these matters or would like to discuss another disability-related concern, please contact me to schedule a consultation. The initial interview is free.