Recent Blog Posts
36 Years of the ADA: Why It Still Matters
As we recognize this anniversary, we should also remember that the ADA only works when it is understood, respected, enforced, and upheld. Its protections affect real people in real ways every day. The ADA establishes the minimum standards required by law, but our goal should never be to do the bare minimum.
Mental Health Month – Breaking Down Barriers in the Legal Profession That Stigmatize Mental Illness
Mental health month is always a good time to remind the legal profession that we still have a profession that stigmatizes applicants and lawyers that have mental illness or past histories of substance use disorder and that has a practice of conditioning the ability to practice law on mandated treatment and conditions that may… Read More »
One South Florida Man Took on City Hall Over Disability Access. He Lost in Court but Also Won.
BY JAY WEAVER APRIL 02, 2023 Ironically, it was his weakening condition that would launch Karantsalis on what would prove a Herculean task — a one-man battle against his own city to improve disability access. He lost the legal battle but also won the bigger war, if at a cost…. But there were obstacles… Read More »
The Hunt for Alejandro Suarez: A Miami Man Decided to Move Out. A Massive Uproar Ensued.
BY CAROL MARBIN MILLER AND OMAR RODRÍGUEZ ORTIZ – OCTOBER 06, 2022 On July 4, Independence Day, Alejandro Suarez packed his laptop, camera and some clothes into a book bag. He placed a handwritten note in the glove box of his blue Honda Civic and left the car in the parking lot of a… Read More »
Reclaiming my Deaf Lineage
It is important to recognize and understand our ancestors and the struggles that they may have had as being part of a minority population that has been stigmatized and hidden in the shadows of family trees. By reclaiming and retelling our family stories and including, and being proud, of what they had to go through, whether they were queer, disabled or otherwise marginalized, like putting a stone on their headstone, it honors their lives and blesses their memory.
Ticket to Work and WIPA – What Does That Mean?
People with disabilities can work without losing their financial security or health care benefits. There are many programs available that make it possible to still collect benefits while working. Here is a brief overview of a few programs available.
Work Incentives Protecting Health Coverage
As long as your disabling condition still meets our rules, you can keep your Medicare coverage for at least 8 ½ years after you return to work. (The 8 ½ years includes your nine-month trial work Period)
Your Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) coverage is premium-free. Your Medicare medical insurance (Part B) coverage will also continue.
Employment Support for People with Disabilities
If you are a person with a disability and pursuing employment, you are not alone. You can find many agencies providing employment support and help you to reach your vocational goal.
The Americans with Disabilities Act at 35: A Promise in Peril
The rollback of disability rights has also been fueled by the broader political push to eliminate Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) programs. These initiatives were designed to ensure that workplaces and institutions reflect the diversity of the communities they serve, including people with disabilities. Yet in the current climate, DEIA has been mischaracterized as “wokeness” and dismissed as a matter of preference rather than a matter of rights. This framing is not only inaccurate, it is dangerous. It ignores the legal obligation to provide reasonable accommodations and treats the needs of disabled individuals as optional.
Florida Special Needs Shelters: What You Need to Know
Hurricane Season is June – November Be prepared! If you or a loved one has a disability, it’s important to know your shelter options and plan ahead. Don’t Wait – Register Now.
Spaces are limited and may fill up fast during a storm.