Success stories

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 about N.M. ...

J.D. returns to finish college

J.D. contacted PAI for assistance after he was dismissed from the private University program he had been attending. J.D. took four days off from his higher education program to focus on his mental health disability. Read more about J.D. ...

Success in getting SSDI overpayment waived

In February 2001, L.J. acquired a traumatic brain injury (TBI) while at work. She was awarded Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits in August 2001, as well as Workers’ Compensation benefits for work-related injuries. ... In spite of her efforts, she received an overpayment notice from Social Security ... Read more about L.J. ...

Teacher secures cutting-edge accommodations from employer

Hilary Jones (not her real name) is a teacher in a Northern California school district who has Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) and other disabilities. Hilary has reduced ability to filter out background noise in telephone conversations, staff meetings, etc. Read more about Hilary ...

After 20 years in “The Gardens,” J.S. moves into the community

J.S. had made it clear to the staff of an institution called The Gardens, and to anyone else who would listen, that she did not like living there. However, it was not until she became one of the named plaintiffs in PAI’s lawsuit (Capitol People First v. Department of Developmental Services) about the slow pace of transitioning Californians from institutions into the community, that J.S. received any concrete support to move. Read more about J.S. ...

Student educates college

Ken Johnson (not his real name) graduated from a community college with an Associate in Science degree and a certificate in computer programming. To continue his education, he applied to an e-business computer program at a four-year college. He was accepted. Read more about Ken ...

How to get a learners’ permit

“I would love to be able to drive,” says Justine Blevins. “It would be nice to just go to the ocean. It would be nice not to have my life stop at 7:00 p.m. just because the bus stops running. I would just like to be more independent. Read more about Justine ...

Adoption assistance helps children get services

Many Californians are confused about the Adoption Assistance Program (AAP). There are special rules for regional center consumers on how much the state will pay non-relative foster care families or adopting families. Even when the foster parents or adopting parents have a right to higher rates, the Department of Social Services (DSS) often pays the regular foster care rate. Read more about adoption assistance ...

Court orders Alameda County to complete IHSS assessments before a person is sent home

After being hospitalized for a stroke, L.F. applied for IHSS to help her live at home with needed attendant care after she left the hospital. Read more about L.F. ...

DOR approves law school as employment goal

Eric Heckman is deaf, and he wants to be a lawyer. The Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) approved Heckman for vocational rehabilitation services. Read more about Eric ...

Ethan's transportation reinstated

Tom DiVerde, who was an advocate with the Office of Clients' Rights Advocacy in San Diego at the time, won an administrative hearing. The decision secured transportation for Ethan Blackhurst, who had severe autism. He was 6 years old. Read more about Ethan ...

Bike sets Jazlyn free

"When she rode the bike, there was such a look of joy and satisfaction in her face that I never saw before," said Mimi Sauer, Jazlyn LeClair's grandmother and guardian. Read more about Jazlyn ...

Mamie Hayes fights for drop-in center

Mamie Hayes is a proud woman. For much of her life, she has lived in Oroville, California. She, with many other mental health consumers, was looking forward to the opening of a client-run drop-in center in downtown Oroville. Read more about Mamie ...

Unopened mail must go through

One of the basic of rights of people in institutions is to get mail from their attorney unopened and without delay. Read more about unopened mail ...

Child keeps in-home nursing hours

Miranda Wrobel had just turned 7. She lived at home with her parents, Michael"Mike" Monaghan and Rand Wrobel. Her brother, Jordan is two years older. Injured during birth, Miranda relied on 56 hours a week of in-home nursing care. Her parents cared for her the rest of the time, including all overnight care. Read more about Miranda ...

D.E. wanted to live in his own apartment.

D.E. requested assistance from OCRA to attend his IPP. At the IPP meeting, the Assistant CRA was informed that D.E. could not live on his own because he could not afford it. After more inquiry, it was discovered that E.E.'s personal and incidental money from his SSI check was being used to purchase a burial plot and tombstone. Read more about D.E. ...

Police agree to improve crisis response for non-English speakers

In April, 2004, PAI and five Asian community organizations met with Chief Heather Fong of the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD). Participants talked about two shootings that involved Chinese men with psychiatric disabilities. The organizations and PAI had asked for the meeting because of concerns about SFPD's ability to respond to people with psychiatric disabilities who speak little or no English and who are in crisis. Read more about crisis response ...

Pamela Peak is an independent woman

To say that Pamela Peak has some disabilities is an understatement. Nevertheless, she is independent and persistent. And, she insists on living in the community on her own terms. Read more about Pamela ...

Kaiser pays for lighter wheelchair

Pat Oliva has paraplegia and uses a wheelchair. After much rehabilitation, he could once again drive and get out into the community. But his wheelchair would not fit into his car. Read more about Pat ...

When women speak

La Asociación de Mujeres de Woodlake (in English, "Woodlake Women's Association") began in early February, 2004. In this unique peer/self-advocacy group, all of the members were monolingual Spanish-speaking women. Most of them had attended a self-help course on dealing with depression. When the course ended, Healthy Start referred them to PAI to see if they might start a self-advocacy group. They did, and began working on projects that would improve their own and others' lives. Read more about this self-advocacy group ...

Senior prefers his own home, neighborhood

Simon Riveroll, a senior citizen with disabilities, was admitted to a skilled nursing facility in Oakland. He had been in a hospital and needed rehabilitation. When it came time to discharge him, the nursing facility staff said it was not safe for Riveroll to live on his own because he might forget to turn off his stove. Read more about Simon ...

Transitional housing tenants get their apartments back

About 40 residents lived at the Mayfair Apartments in Stockton, California. They had supports from the Community Reentry Program in conjunction with San Joaquin County Mental Health. Read more about the transitional housing tenants ...