Our vision statement: We will create individual and family supports, chosen and directed by the person with a disability

Our success stories
Most names have been changed to protect our clients' privacy

Social Security Administration to pay $500 million to 80,000wrongly identified “fleeing felons”

In 2008 Rosa Martinez, 52, of Redwood City, California was abruptly cut off from her disability benefits due to an outstanding Miami drug warrant dating back to 1980. However, she had never been arrested, never used illegal drugs and never been to Miami. SSA officials told her she could not appeal until she had settled the warrant, putting her into the same limbo as approximately 80,000 other Americans who were denied benefits because they were accused of fleeing a former address to avoid felony prosecution or prison. By the time Martinez found legal help to challenge SSA, she was nearly destitute.

Settled in September 2009, the class action case (Martinez v. Astrue) was brought by the National Senior Citizens Law Center with our assistance. Marilyn Holle, attorney in our Los Angeles office who worked on the case, said, “Many of the people who were denied or stripped of benefits did not know there were decades-old warrants against them, others were misidentified. This settlement will help a lot of low income seniors and people with disabilities – many in California – to hold on to their homes.” Our staff is helping to locate Californians who were wrongly denied and to assist them in reapplying and in some cases claiming back benefits.
Details on the suit and settlement. Read other stories in the 2009 Annual Report here.

High school student goes to Germany

In all 4 years of high school, Nietsche Swauger took German, planning to spend part of his senior year in Germany under the German American Partnership Program. Although he qualified for the program in every way, the school district decided that, due to his autism, Nietsche’s participation would be too problematic for the chaperone and the German school to manage. Nietsche and his parents disagreed with the decision and came to Disability Rights California for help. We convinced the school that denying his participation due to autism violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. The case settled and the school district arranged for Nietsche to travel to Germany with his peers, live with a host family, attend the local high school and, as a disability accommodation, paid for his mother to attend as his aide. Read other stories in the 2009 Annual Report here.

Avid high school athlete participates in the summer

Martha Gilliam is a 17 year old high school student with an avid interest in sports. She participates on the cross country and track teams with only slight modifications for her intellectual disability. Although she has been a member for years, Martha was denied the opportunity to practice with the teams during the off-school season and non-school days. Our advocacy resulted in provision of an aide for Martha during team practices on Saturdays and during the summer. Read other stories in the 2009 Annual Report here.

Spanish educational assessment results in service eligibility

As a first grader, Izquierda Garcia had health issues from a prior cancer treatment, was not progressing at the pace her parents expected and they were worried. They saw that their daughter had poor motor skills and was often fatigued, but they could not convince the school district that she needed an evaluation. We worked with the parents to request an educational assessment in Spanish, and, finally in May 2009 Izquierda was found eligible for special education services. Read other stories in the 2009 Annual Report here.

Better wheelchair aids college student

Ben Treffers, a student who lives close to campus which is full of steep streets, needed a more powerful wheelchair to get to class, to doctor appointments and around the community. Medi-Cal agreed to replace his chair but refused to pay for one with a more powerful motor. With the help of our staff, Ben submitted supporting evidence of how the more powerful chair would aid his independence in college and Medi-Cal approved the request. Read other stories in the 2009 Annual Report here.

University welcomes Jack Dewildt back into program

Jack Dewildt called the San Diego office for help after he was dismissed from the private university program he had been attending. He had taken four days off to focus on his mental health. Perhaps due to miscommunication, the university told Mr. Dewildt not to return to his clinic site. They then dismissed him from the program for violating the university’s absence policy. Read more here.

Success in getting SSDI overpayment waived

In 1980, N.M. suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and lost her eyesight in a motorcycle accident. Because her disabilities kept her from working, she received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Read more here.

Yes, Stephanie can write her name

Stephanie Perez was in a special kindergarten day class. Because her family members, who speak only Spanish, were worried that Stephanie's placement was not right for her, they asked Celeste Palmer to observe the class in action. Celeste went to Stephanie's classroom and watched, but when she started to leave, Stephanie began to cry. Learn why Stephanie was crying ...

Judge rules EPSDT is not an alternative resource

Molly DeJournett is 18 months old and has disabilities. Because she was born prematurely, she needs 24-hour monitoring and assessment to ensure she gets enough oxygen. ... Molly’s mother provides Molly’s IHSS services. When she asked for more IHSS hours to care for Molly, the Administrative Law Judge denied the request. Find out how Molly's mother got the needed hours and EPSDT services ...

Nursing facility 250 miles away from family is not acceptable

Because he has quadriplegia from an accident, Leroy Nolan has spent the more than 10 years in nursing homes. He has bounced back and forth between nursing homes and acute care hospitals because the community nursing homes could not keep him healthy. He is eligible for both Medi-Cal and Medicare benefits. Find out how Mr. Nolan's cousin stepped in to take over his care ...

Teen finally gets necessary behavioral services

At age 13, Jordan Widmayer has a long history of severe behavior problems. He has special education services under the category of Emotional Disturbance (ED). His history of poor social skills, and of social, emotional and behavioral concerns is well documented. Read about Jordan's quest for an appropriate education ...

Patton client will have medical care

Jason Patkar has both psychiatric and physical disabilities. Since his admission to Patton State Hospital, he had been bothered by an injury sustained just before he got there. Find out how Mr. Patkar has fared in getting medical treatment at Patton ...

Social Security waives overpayment

Janice Lingel was injured at work in early 2001. Later that year, she was awarded Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). She also began receiving Workers’ Compensation benefits. ... in September 2005 she got a notice of SSDI overpayment. Read more about why the judge waived the entire overpayment ...

Teacher can now use her wheelchair at work

Helen Sarralde is a high school special education teacher who has polio-related disabilities. Last summer, Ms. Sarralde’s primary care doctor prescribed a wheelchair - for use at work as well as at home. Find out how Ms. Sarralde got the school to accommodate her wheelchair ...

Housing provider agrees to make units accessible

In 2004, Grady Rankin called the Oakland office because his unit in an apartment complex was not accessible. It should have been, because the complex was getting federal funds under the McKinney Homeless Services Act and the project-based Section 8 program. Learn more about how Mr. Rankin got the managers to make more units accessible ...

Good record keeping gets benefits back, overpayment waived

... Due to her earnings, the Social Security Administration (SSA) cut off Edna Willhoit's SSDI benefits and charged her with a $44,395 overpayment. Ms. Willhoit filed for a waiver of the overpayment and contacted the Los Angeles office. How Ms. Willhoit's records helped her avoid penalties and lost benefits ...

Deaf inmate will have sign language for mental health treatment

Damian Ritt has a mental health disability, and he is deaf. For eight months Damian has been in the mental health treatment unit of a Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) correctional facility. Read more about Damian's struggle for reasonable accommodations ...

Parents can share mobile home with their grown son

Circumstances forced Randall Placht move into his parents’ mobile home. He has a psychiatric disability and needed a place to live. When the seniors-only mobile home park told him he had to move because he was not a senior, Mr. Placht called the Oakland office. What happened next ...

Mandamus relief restores housing subsidy

In January 2007, attorneys in the Los Angeles office filed a mandamus petition for Margaret Ferst. Her Section 8 benefits had been cut off because of allegations that she threatened staff at a public housing authority. Learn how Ms. Ferst got her Section 8 benefits back ...

Homeless, abandoned, abused teenager qualifies for CCS

A teenager from Central America, Henrique Casas. was homeless, abandoned and abused. With help from the Center for Human Rights (CHR) he was trying regularize his immigration status. He was staying at a homeless shelter/half-way house for teens. Diagnosed with a serious medical condition, Henrique needed intensive treatment. Read more about Henrique and how he survived ...

Housing authority restores Section 8 rental assistance

Ruth McGrave, who has multiple disabilities, got a letter cutting off her Section 8 rental assistance. The letter said she did not provide all the documents needed for her annual recertification. Ms. McGrave asked for an informal hearing, noting that ... Find out how Ms. McGrave coped with the housing authority ...

Mental health information should not be public

Anita Tartalome, a physician’s assistant, called the Sacramento office after the California Medical Board posted a copy of her probation agreement on its website. The agreement included references to Ms. Tartalome’s disability. Learn how Ms. Tartalome got her privacy back ...

Opinion letter nets medical device

When Walter Sporl went into one of California’s state hospitals, the authorities took a medical device away from him. Without the device, said Mr. Sporl, his physical problems got worse. So he asked the Sacramento office for help. Find out what happened to Mr. Sporl's medical device ...

University welcomes Jack Dewildt back into program

Jack Dewildt called the San Diego office for help after he was dismissed from the private university program he had been attending. He had taken four days off to focus on his mental health. Perhaps due to miscommunication, the university told Mr. Dewildt not to return to his clinic site. They then dismissed him from the program for violating the university’s absence policy. Find out how Mr. Dewildt finished his university program ...

Assessment shows need for assistive technology

Eighteen-year-old Zachary Miller needs help with all of his daily living activities. Besides the personal care she provided, it was obvious to his mother that Zachary needed assistive technology equipment - such as a lift, a bath chair, a hospital bed, and more. Find out how Zachary got the equipment he needs ...

Student can substitute test as a reasonable accommodation

A young man with a developmental disability, Stephan Lydon was in a Healthcare Technology certificate program at a community college. One of the requirements for the certificate is a general education math course. Due to his disability, Mr. Lydon feared he could not pass the math course. Find out how Mr. Lydon convinced the college ...

Community-based mental health and support services at last a reality

For some time, Lacy Cunningham has been living in the community. She has a psychiatric disability, but she could not get the supports and services she needed to help her to live as independently. She asked the Los Angeles office to help her get those supports and services. Find out if Ms. Cunningham got those supports and services ...

James "Jimmy" Campbell finally gets waiver services

In June 2007, Jimmy Campbell finally went home - after five and a half years in an acute care hospital. He had remained there because the 24-hour care his doctor ordered was not available until the state amended its Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver program. Because he has a progressive neurological condition, Mr. Campbell needed 24-hour care. Follow Mr. Campbell on his quest for home care ...

Legal clients need effective communication

Dimitrio Gutierrez, who is deaf, called the Los Angeles office when his attorney, apparently frustrated with passing notes back and forth, told him to “bring an interpreter next time.” When Mr. Gutierrez asked the attorney to pay for the service, the attorney refused. Read more about Mr. Gutierrez's right to have an interpreter ...

Nightclub patron asserts his rights in court

Oscar Tannenbaum called the Los Angeles office after bartenders at a large Los Angeles nightclub denied him service on Valentines Day 2007. Mr. Tannenbaum, who uses a wheelchair and has impaired speech, visited the club with his attendant. He tried to buy a drink, but was denied service. A waitress confided to Mr. Tannenbaum that two bartenders had told her not to serve him. Find out how Mr. Tannenbaum dealt with the nightclub ...

13-year-old girl will finally get the services she needs

Gina Maldonado’s disability disrupted her sleep, disrupted her family’s sleep, and caused other behavior challenges. Because no one could sleep, her family found that they could no longer work and care for their other daughter. Read more about what happened to Gina ...

Teen avoids expulsion from high school

Alberta Whitney was 15 years old and in high school. She had special education services because of specific learning disabilities. In November 2007, the school district suspended her for allegedly pushing a teacher’s aide during a fight with another student. On December 4, the school district held a manifestation determination review (MDR) to discuss expulsion. More about how Alberta got the services she needed ...

Technical assistance nets a health plan to cover needed infusions

Jenna Marie Wilder has chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIPD). The neurological disorder causes weakness and impairs sensory function in her legs and arms. Until Medicare kicks in, Ms. Wilder has healthcare benefits through her former employer’s self-insured health plan. Read more about how Ms. Wilder found a way to get the infusions she needed ...

Turney seating system and DD waiver lighten mother’s care

Zeke Mandheim is 18. He has developmental disabilities and cannot walk or speak. His mother, a single parent with health problems, is Zeke’s attendant. When his mother could no longer safely transfer Zeke to and from her vehicle, she called the San Diego office. Learn how Zeke's mother got a Turney system for her car ...

School district retracts expulsion

Andy Melton qualified for special education because of a specific learning disability (SLD). His father called the San Diego office when the school tried to expel Andy for fighting. The fight occurred off campus after school. Read more about Andy's behavior support plan ...

Archived success stories