CAP CHATCAP CHAT

Anne M. RobertsonAnne M. Robertson

Staff AttorneyStaff Attorney

Client Assistance Project, Client Assistance Project, Minnesota Disability Law Minnesota Disability Law

CenterCenter

June 2014June 2014

CAP and PABSS Advocacy in CAP and PABSS Advocacy in MinnesotaMinnesota

The Client Assistance Project (“CAP”) and The Client Assistance Project (“CAP”) and Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (“PABSS”) are two of several advocacy Security (“PABSS”) are two of several advocacy programs at the Minnesota Disability Law Center. programs at the Minnesota Disability Law Center.

In 2012 the Social Security Administration ended In 2012 the Social Security Administration ended the PABSS program but re-funded it in 2013.the PABSS program but re-funded it in 2013.

MDLC is the designated protection and advocacy MDLC is the designated protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities in the state of system for people with disabilities in the state of MinnesotaMinnesota

How does MDLC accomplish our How does MDLC accomplish our mission?mission?

We work to promote, expand and We work to promote, expand and protect the human and legal rights of protect the human and legal rights of persons with disabilities through the persons with disabilities through the provision of information, training, provision of information, training, advocacy and legal representationadvocacy and legal representation

We receive federal funds for this We receive federal funds for this purposepurpose

Services are provided at no cost to Services are provided at no cost to individuals and there are no income individuals and there are no income guidelinesguidelines

Current Priorities at MDLCCurrent Priorities at MDLC

Abuse and NeglectAbuse and Neglect Self-DeterminationSelf-Determination Community-Based Services, Supports and Community-Based Services, Supports and

Health CareHealth Care Accessibility and DiscriminationAccessibility and Discrimination Special EducationSpecial Education Employment Employment

How are we different from other How are we different from other advocacy organizations?advocacy organizations?

We are a legal office, affiliated with We are a legal office, affiliated with Mid-Minnesota Legal AidMid-Minnesota Legal Aid

Our staff members are lawyers and Our staff members are lawyers and advocatesadvocates

We screen cases for merit and fit We screen cases for merit and fit with our prioritieswith our priorities

We are statewideWe are statewide

MDLC’s Employment Group: MDLC’s Employment Group:

CAP, since 1991, serves persons with CAP, since 1991, serves persons with disabilities encountering problems disabilities encountering problems with vocational rehabilitation.with vocational rehabilitation.

PABSS serves Social Security PABSS serves Social Security beneficiaries encountering barriers to beneficiaries encountering barriers to work.work.

Employment Group Staff MembersEmployment Group Staff Members(Dan Stewart, Supervisor)(Dan Stewart, Supervisor)

Anne Robertson – MinneapolisAnne Robertson – Minneapolis Janna Peterson – NW MinnesotaJanna Peterson – NW Minnesota Rochelle Roehrich – MinneapolisRochelle Roehrich – Minneapolis Dalaine Remes – SW MinnesotaDalaine Remes – SW Minnesota

What does CAP do?What does CAP do?

We help consumers having difficulty We help consumers having difficulty accessing services from Minnesota accessing services from Minnesota VR Agencies and their service VR Agencies and their service partnerspartners

Rehabilitation Services (general)Rehabilitation Services (general) State Services for the Blind (blind, State Services for the Blind (blind,

visually impaired, and deaf/blind)visually impaired, and deaf/blind) Community Rehabilitation ProgramsCommunity Rehabilitation Programs Independent Living ProgramsIndependent Living Programs

What Services Can CAP Offer?What Services Can CAP Offer?

Advocate with VR counselors over the Advocate with VR counselors over the phone or at meetingsphone or at meetings

Review VR eligibility determinations and Review VR eligibility determinations and Employment PlansEmployment Plans

Advise clients of rights and services Advise clients of rights and services available under the federal Rehabilitation available under the federal Rehabilitation ActAct

Represent clients in mediation and, if legal Represent clients in mediation and, if legal merit exists, VR administrative appeals merit exists, VR administrative appeals processprocess

What Doesn’t CAP Do?What Doesn’t CAP Do?

CAP does not provide direct VR services, CAP does not provide direct VR services, such as education, training or equipmentsuch as education, training or equipment

CAP does not handle most legal issues CAP does not handle most legal issues unrelated to vocational rehabilitation unrelated to vocational rehabilitation (i.e., employment discrimination, (i.e., employment discrimination, housing, other benefits, family law, housing, other benefits, family law, criminal law)criminal law)

CAP StatsCAP Stats

In FY 2013 CAP provided in total:In FY 2013 CAP provided in total:

individual advocacy to 123 clients;individual advocacy to 123 clients;

information and referral to 29 consumers; information and referral to 29 consumers;

Technical assistance to 12 professionals/VR Technical assistance to 12 professionals/VR service providers/advocates in the community; service providers/advocates in the community; andand

outreach and training to 510 peopleoutreach and training to 510 people

Who CAP Served in 2013Who CAP Served in 2013

Significant numbers of CAP clients served Significant numbers of CAP clients served in 2013 were:in 2013 were: White (67%), Nonwhite or undisclosed (33 %)White (67%), Nonwhite or undisclosed (33 %) Persons with mental illness (25%)Persons with mental illness (25%) Persons with orthopedic impairments (13%)Persons with orthopedic impairments (13%) Blind or visually impaired (12%)Blind or visually impaired (12%) Persons with learning disabilities (7%)Persons with learning disabilities (7%) Persons with TBI (6%)Persons with TBI (6%) Persons with developmental/intellectual Persons with developmental/intellectual

disabilities (11%) disabilities (11%)

How did we help VR How did we help VR consumers?consumers?

Majority of CAP cases resolved with Majority of CAP cases resolved with informal advocacy (phone calls & informal advocacy (phone calls & meetings with VR staff)meetings with VR staff)

In 2013, CAP was involved in:In 2013, CAP was involved in: 1 Administrative Review1 Administrative Review 1 Mediation1 Mediation 1 Formal Administrative Hearing Process1 Formal Administrative Hearing Process

CAP Community Outreach and CAP Community Outreach and InvolvementInvolvement

FY2013: 16 outreach/training events FY2013: 16 outreach/training events to 510 peopleto 510 people

Substantial outreach to Substantial outreach to underserved/underrepresented underserved/underrepresented communitiescommunities American IndianAmerican Indian Immigrant communities of colorImmigrant communities of color transition-aged studentstransition-aged students

CAP Ongoing Community CAP Ongoing Community InvolvementInvolvement

CAP staff members actively serve on CAP staff members actively serve on SRC, the internal VRS Policy SRC, the internal VRS Policy Committee, the State Rehab. Council Committee, the State Rehab. Council for the Blind, the State Special for the Blind, the State Special Education Advisory Panel, as well as Education Advisory Panel, as well as a task force re Ex-Offenders with a task force re Ex-Offenders with disabilities.disabilities.

CAP Systemic AdvocacyCAP Systemic Advocacy

In FY2013, CAP worked on several In FY2013, CAP worked on several systemic issues, including:systemic issues, including:

Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation ActReauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act Segregated EmploymentSegregated Employment OlmsteadOlmstead Planning Planning

What’s Cookin’ at CAP?What’s Cookin’ at CAP?

Increasing Supported Employment Increasing Supported Employment opportunities and reducing reliance opportunities and reducing reliance on sheltered workshops for the most on sheltered workshops for the most severely disabled Minnesotans severely disabled Minnesotans

Improving services to transition Improving services to transition students in Minnesotastudents in Minnesota

Helping consumers request Helping consumers request exceptions to VRS and SSB rules and exceptions to VRS and SSB rules and policies when appropriatepolicies when appropriate

Want More CAP CHAT?Want More CAP CHAT?

Call:Call:

Anne Robertson: (612) 746-3725Anne Robertson: (612) 746-3725

New Client Intake Contact New Client Intake Contact InformationInformation

New clients should call: New clients should call: Twin Cities: (612) 332-1441Twin Cities: (612) 332-1441 TDD: 332-4668TDD: 332-4668 Greater Minnesota: (800) 292-4150Greater Minnesota: (800) 292-4150

Client should ask for “Disability Law Client should ask for “Disability Law Center’s New Client Intake” Center’s New Client Intake”

More InformationMore Information

Check out our website! Check out our website!

www.mnlegalservices.org/mdlc

Access CAP Annual Reports at:Access CAP Annual Reports at: http://rsa.ed.gov/

click “Reports”, “About your state”, click “Reports”, “About your state”, “Minnesota”, “View Information”, “Minnesota”, “View Information”,

“CAP”“CAP”