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| DRLC Newsletter |
Friday, April 15, 2011 |
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Paula Pearlman, Shawna Parks Pen Column for Daily Journal
 | | Daily Journal article |
Paula Pearlman, Executive Director, and Shawna Parks, Legal Director, wrote a guest article, "Removing Barriers---One Class Action at a Time" for the Los Angeles Daily Journal newspaper published on April 11 about the appropriate use of class actions in disability cases. The article begins: "Brown v. Board of Education marked a watershed moment in this country's legal history---separate is not equal. That moment was equally noteworthy for people with disabilities who have spent the last six decades fighting for full inclusion and equal participation in society and its institutions. Despite longstanding California law, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, physical barriers continue to pervade both private businesses and government programs and services. The pervasiveness of these barriers often calls for a comprehensive and thorough response, which is often achieved through a class action." Download a PDF of the article. |
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John Longoria Fields Legal Questions From Anaheim Angels
John Longoria, DRLC Community Outreach Program Director, conducted a series of trainings for over 260 players and staff of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim baseball team and Angel's Stadium on March 30th and April 5th. Participants learned about their legal obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and state laws that require businesses and public service entities to be accessible to people with disabilities. DRLC provides businesses in the hospitality industry free training under a grant from the DPTAC-Pacific ADA Center. If you would like more information on the free trainings offered by the DRLC Community Outreach Program, please contact Maggie.Hui@LLs.edu or call 213-736-1408. |
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Anya Prince Contributes to 'Facing Our Risk of Cancer'
 | | FORCE logo |
Anya Prince, Skadden Fellow at the Cancer Legal Resource Center, has published information on the website of Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE). Ms. Prince's article helps people with genetic predispositions for cancer navigate insurance coverage for preventative care, including how to appeal an insurance company's decision to deny a preventative treatment. The article can be found by visiting the Insurance and Privacy Issues webpage , then clicking on health insurance appeals. FORCE is a national, nonprofit organization that provides resources and support to men and women with a genetic predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer. These resources will help individuals gain access to essential preventative services if an insurance company is denying care. |
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Maggie Hui Shares DRLC Resources at Health Fair
The American Diabetes Association hosted the 11th Annual For your Family - Por tu Familia Health Fair on April 3 in Santa Ana. The event featured 60 exhibitors and provided services, including free diabetes risk assessments for children and adults, foot and vision screenings, as well as educational seminars, health information and entertainment. Maggie Hui, DRLC Community Outreach Program Coordinator, staffed a booth where she gave out information regarding DRLC's Special Education Advocacy Program and other services. The event was a family oriented "fiesta" environment drawing more than 5,000 participants. |
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DRLC Hosts Loyola Law Students for Open House
On April 14, the DRLC hosted an open house and pizza lunch for Loyola Law School Los Angeles students to inform them about externship and other volunteer opportunities with the DRLC. Students can participate in two different externships, honing critical legal skills while advancing DRLC's impact work. Shawn Kravich, staff attorney of the Cancer Legal Resource Center, gave a presentation to the students about the DRLC's work educating, advocating, and litigating for people with disabilities while highlighting recent media coverage of one of the DRLC's disability discrimination cases. DRLC attorneys also informed students of opportunities with the Education Advocacy Program and Cancer Legal Resource Center. For more information about DRLC externships in fall 2011 and spring 2012, and other ways to volunteer with the DRLC, please visit the How You Can Help page of our website. |
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DRLC Welcomes Options Assistant Jonathan Rivera
Jonathan Rivera has joined the DRLC as the administrative assistant for the Options Counseling and Lawyer Referral Service, the primary telephone intake mechanism for the DRLC. Mr. Rivera holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology/Law and Society from University of California, Riverside. Prior to joining the DRLC, he was an Intake Specialist, among other responsibilities, for the Helping Hands Recovery Center, and volunteer for The Los Angeles Transitional Center. |
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Happy Spring Holidays!
The Disability Rights Legal Center wishes everyone a happy spring holiday. We will be on holiday break from Wednesday, April 20 to Sunday, April 24, and return to our offices on Monday, April 25. The Good News Report will resume on Friday, April 29. |
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Get to Know DRLC at Ability Expo April 15-17
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Abilities Expo Logo |
The Disability Rights Legal Center has signed on to be an Organizational Sponsor for Abilities Expo Los Angeles that will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center Friday, April 15 through Sunday, April 17. The Abilities Expo provides an opportunity for people with disabilities, their families, seniors, veterans, caregivers and healthcare professionals to gain knowledge and empowerment tools. For more than 30 years, Abilities Expo has also provided an excellent forum for companies with disability products and services to reach out and enhance the lives of the disability community. DRLC will provide an information table where people can learn more about DRLC programs and services. For more information about the Abilities Expo visit their website. |
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Hold Saturday Night July 23 for 'Casino Angeleno'
The Cancer Legal Resource Center's Casino Night event is back by popular demand! The CLRC will be hosting its "Casino Angeleno" summer event on Saturday, July 23, 2011, sponsored by our exclusive "Baccarat Sponsor"
Ticketmaster®. Set on the rooftop deck of the Petersen Automotive Museum, with the Hollywood Hills as a spectacular backdrop, guests will enjoy a starry, summer night of guilt-free gaming, music and prizes. Proceeds will benefit the CLRC. For sponsorship opportunities, click here to download the sponsorship packet, or contact Joanna Morales at joanna.morales@lls.edu. Event details will be posted at www.cancerlegalresourcenter.org in April. |
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DRLC Offers Free Legal Clinic in Orange County
 | | Dayle McIntosh Center |
To better serve residents of Orange County, Community Outreach Program staff will hold office hours on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Dayle McIntosh Center in Garden Grove. That means this month we will host office hours at the center on April 27. Come meet our staff and learn about laws protecting the civil rights of those with disabilities, and services available to them, including health care, special education, government services and more. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, contact Maggie Hui, Community Outreach Coordinator, at (213) 736-1408 or Maggie.Hui@lls.edu. Video TDD (213) 736-8310; Video Relay Number (866) 912-8193. The Dayle McIntosh Center is located at 13272 Garden Grove Boulevard, Garden Grove, CA 92843-2205. |
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Donate
The online credit card donation feature is available on the Make a Donation page of the DRLC website. This quick and easy function can be used for general donations. .
Volunteer
Visit the How You Can Help page of our website to volunteer as a pro bono attorney on a disability rights case, work as a student law clerk or assist with intake and administrative responsibilities. |
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 | | Disability Rights Legal Center Staff Photo August 2010 |
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