Paula Pearlman Attends Conference on Restorative Justice

LMU President David Burcham at Restorative Justice Conference

Today, Paula Pearlman, DRLC Executive Director, attended "Another Way Conference: Imagining the Future of a Justice that Restores." The Loyola Law School Center for Restorative Justice presented the conference that examines the role of lawyers in the 21st century. The Restorative Justice Center believes a new kind of lawyer is possible, one who understands and acknowledges the continuing harm caused by historic racial injustices in Los Angeles, and who will work for a justice that heals those wounds and restores the individual and community. The conference featured a conversation between David Burcham, President, Loyola Marymount University, and Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Chief Justice, California Supreme Court. Scott Wood, Director, Loyola Law School Center for Restorative Justice, gave the keynote address. Judges, public officials, correction officers and other experts participated in panel discussions on:  Adult Prison Reform and Re-Thinking the Death Penalty; Restoring Victims and Survivors of Crime; Restoring Youth Offenders.

Daily News Reports on Residents' Frustration with
City of Los Angeles Over Broken Sidewalks

The media in Los Angeles continues to report on the city's failure to repair thousands of miles of sidewalks that are cracked, broken, buckled, and  inaccessible to people with disabilities. On February 22, the Los Angeles Daily News published the article "Northridge residents can't get the city to fix buckled sidewalks." Residents of Northridge, a community in the San Fernando region of the city of Los Angeles, rely on the city to maintain and repair their sidewalks, crosswalks and other public spaces. The story includes a photo and video of an elderly resident attempting to push his wife in a wheelchair over a dangerous buckle in the sidewalk in front of their home. The Daily News reporter interviews and quotes Surisa Rivers, DRLC Senior Staff Attorney, about our class action lawsuit against the city to make sidewalks, crosswalks and other pedestrian rights of way accessible.

Heather McGunigle Speaks at Epilepsy Conference           

Heather McGunigle, Director of the Inland Empire Program, conducted a presentation at the Epilepsy Empowerment Conference 2012 on "Knowing Your Rights" for the community in Riverside on February 18. She informed the community about Americans with Disabilities Act, Employment Title I, State & Local Government Title II, and Public Accommodations Title III. This event drew more than 100 participants. The Epilepsy Empowerment Conference was sponsored by The Epilepsy Center, and coordinated by the Center's CEO and Founder, Luana Garrison.

DRLC Continues Outreach in Orange County 

On February 14, Maggie Hui, Community Outreach Coordinator, presented an Americans with Disabilities Act Overview to speech and language pathologists at Providence Speech and Hearing Center in the City of Orange. The Center's pathologists work primarily with adults who have various communicative and/or swallowing disorders resulting from stroke, brain injury or degenerative neurological diseases. Some in this group work with children with developmental speech and language problems as well. The training was very informative and helped educate the staff about disability rights. To schedule a training at your business or organization, please contact Maggie Hui by emailing Maggie.Hui@lls.edu.

Boanerges Rodriguez Accepted as UCLA Law Fellow

Boanerges Rodriguez, Community Advocacy Program Administrative Assistant, has been accepted to the UCLA Law Fellows Program. As a fellow, Mr. Rodriguez will be a part of what the university calls an "educational 'pipeline'" where he will have the opportunity to interact with law students, professors, and attorneys in various legal fields. The program will also pay for a Law School Admission Testprep course and partner him with a law student mentor.

Friday, March 2

Employment Round Table of Southern California Seminar: 

'Advanced Issues in Employment Investigations'  

ERTSC Board Members Jacqueline Harding,  Andrew Friedman, and Phyllis W. Cheng  at the group's 2011 Annual Luncheon

On Friday, March 2, from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m., Employment Round Table of Southern California (ERTSC) will offer a Breakfast Seminar, "Advanced Issues in Employment Investigations," at the RAND Corporation, 1776 Main St., Santa Monica, 90407. Paula Pearlman, Esq., Executive Director, Disability Rights Legal Center, ERTSC Chair, will speak at the event. In addition, attendees will hear from skilled investigators Edgar Daryabigi, Sr. Employee Relations Manager, Amgen, and Christine Farrell, Employee Relations Consultant, Work Matters. Mr. Daryabigi has 13 years' experience in conducting human relations and security investigations. At Amgen six years, he was previously employed by WellPoint, GAP, and Target Stores. Ms. Farrell has more than 25 years' experience in human resources. She conducted more than 1,000 investigations while employed by Bank of America and Warner Brothers and most recently has conducted 25 third-party investigations. Attendees can submit questions in advance. For more information, read the event flyer.

Register for CLRC's 2012 Cancer Rights Conferences  

Registration is now open for Cancer Legal Resource Center's 2012 Cancer Rights Conferences! The CLRC will be hosting conferences in Boston, MA, on May 29; Chicago, IL, on September 7; Central Valley, CA, on October 5; and Houston, TX on October 19. Each of these conferences will bring together cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, attorneys, health care professionals, and other members of the cancer community to learn about subjects including health insurance, health care reform, employment, and taking time off work and disability insurance.  To register, please visit http:cancerrightsconference.org. For more information about becoming a sponsor or partner of the CLRC's National Cancer Rights Conferences, click here. 

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