People with Disabilities Foundation

Advocacy program: we filed two new civil rights discrimination cases against the social security administration (ssa) in federal court for reasonable accommodations for clients who have schizophrenia ( case nos 3:23-cv-01037 and 3:23-cv-03324 (n.d. Cal.)) In one case plaintiff's supplemental security income (ssi) checks were initially held up for two years based on an ssa false assertion that plaintiff had 1 million of real estate, resulting in him being homeless, being in four psychiatric hospitals and living in shelters. In the other case, the ssa ceased plaintiff's benefits when she tried to work, eventually reinstating her but without the retroactive 12-months of benefits. The ssa should never have ceased her benefits, given her symptomatologhy, which includes disorganized thinking and visual, auditory, and olfactory hallucinations. In both cases, the ssa had the medical information, which showed by clear and convincing evidence, one for 27 years, that these individuals' symptomatology included hallucinations and/or delusions, including auditory, visual, and olfactory, in addition to psychiatric findings of constant disorganized thoughts lasting not less than 2 years at times. See social security listing 12.03 schizophrenia spectrum disorder, part 404, subpart p, appendix 1. The ssa knew one person was homeless for 2 years and from the other individual's work cdr, that the stated reason for holding up his no receipt of ssi check benefits and terminating her ssdi check benefits were false because he did not own any real estate and she did have the capacity to be engaged in sustained work. Twelve years ago, pwdf received favorable outcomes in two federal court cases filed against the ssa for discrimination based on psychiatric and/or developmental Disabilities. (case nos. 3:06-cv-6108 and 3:09-cv-980 (n.d.cal. 2012).) We filed these cases for reasonable accommodations to prevent the ssa from terminating these clients from benefits without "effective communication- and meaningful program access. These cases can take a few years since the ssa has no reason to draw them out. Pwdf represented a client who refused to take psychotropic medications, which the ssa used to support their conclusion that the client was not disabled. The right to refuse psychotropic medication is an important civil right. M.f.v. O'malley, comm'r sos. Sec. Admin., case 3:20-cv-08742 (n.d. cal. Nov. 11, 2021). Pwdf continues to consult with and represent individuals who have psychiatric, intellectual, neuropogical, and/or developmental Disabilities on cases that involve social security disability, employment, and housing benefits including with reasonable accommodations issues. We also have clinics for beneficiaries of ssdi and/or ssi, employment, etc.

Grant program: pwdf continued our pilot grant program, providing funds for other organizations for their work in support of People with p/idd. This year, we were gratified to learn that two grantees had been able to use pwdf grants to maintain vital programs until they were able to secure larger contracts, thereby no longer needing the pwdf grant. We also began the 12-month report and renewal process for the remaining eight programs.

Education program: pwdf's public awareness and education activities continue, but at a reduced level since in-person activities ceased in march 2020 due to the coronavirus stat-at-home orders. Gererally, program activities include outreach events,guest speaking, a quarterly e-newsletter, informational seminars,training sessions and a youtube channel, which hosts our seminar and other videos. To-date, we have videos of 20 3-hour educational seminars on our youtube channel. In addition,we continue to market our training videos for distribution. Over the last 10 years, we have been expanding our public awareness and education program from a primarily local program to a national program thouugh live streaming technology. Pwdf has done research and planning for our next free public awareness seminar, with the working-title of "older adults and mental health issues: diagnosis, treatment, and related awareness issues." This seminar will address psychiatric issues related to aging, including those that may onset late-in life. We provide training on the americans with Disabilities act (ada), and on social security disablility insurance (ssdi) and ssi, with a focus on how the rules affect People with p/idd. We provide these trainings locally,statewide and nationwide by live streaming, including for organizations such as nami California, nami san francisco chaper, nami marin chapter, the bar association of san francisco and support for families of children with Disabilities, among others. When appropriate, we submit public comments to governmental agencies, advocating for policies and regulatory changes as they pertain to People with psychiatric and/or developmental Disabilities (p/idd), because this population is underrepresented and stigmatized. This year we reorganized parts of our website to make our education/public awareness videos and other resources easier to fine.