CAP CHAT CAP CHAT Anne M. Robertson Staff Attorney Client Assistance Project, Minnesota Disability Law Center June 2014

CAP and PABSS Advocacy in Minnesota The Client Assistance Project (“CAP”) and Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (“PABSS”) are two of several advocacy programs at the Minnesota Disability Law Center. The Client Assistance Project (“CAP”) and Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (“PABSS”) are two of several advocacy programs at the Minnesota Disability Law Center. In 2012 the Social Security Administration ended the PABSS program but re-funded it in In 2012 the Social Security Administration ended the PABSS program but re-funded it in MDLC is the designated protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities in the state of Minnesota MDLC is the designated protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities in the state of Minnesota

How does MDLC accomplish our mission? We work to promote, expand and protect the human and legal rights of persons with disabilities through the provision of information, training, advocacy and legal representation We work to promote, expand and protect the human and legal rights of persons with disabilities through the provision of information, training, advocacy and legal representation We receive federal funds for this purpose We receive federal funds for this purpose Services are provided at no cost to individuals and there are no income guidelines Services are provided at no cost to individuals and there are no income guidelines

Current Priorities at MDLC Abuse and Neglect Abuse and Neglect Self-Determination Self-Determination Community-Based Services, Supports and Health Care Community-Based Services, Supports and Health Care Accessibility and Discrimination Accessibility and Discrimination Special Education Special Education Employment Employment

How are we different from other advocacy organizations? We are a legal office, affiliated with Mid- Minnesota Legal Aid We are a legal office, affiliated with Mid- Minnesota Legal Aid Our staff members are lawyers and advocates Our staff members are lawyers and advocates We screen cases for merit and fit with our priorities We screen cases for merit and fit with our priorities We are statewide We are statewide

MDLC’s Employment Group: CAP, since 1991, serves persons with disabilities encountering problems with vocational rehabilitation. CAP, since 1991, serves persons with disabilities encountering problems with vocational rehabilitation. PABSS serves Social Security beneficiaries encountering barriers to work. PABSS serves Social Security beneficiaries encountering barriers to work.

Employment Group Staff Members (Dan Stewart, Supervisor) Anne Robertson – Minneapolis Anne Robertson – Minneapolis Janna Peterson – NW Minnesota Janna Peterson – NW Minnesota Rochelle Roehrich – Minneapolis Rochelle Roehrich – Minneapolis Dalaine Remes – SW Minnesota Dalaine Remes – SW Minnesota

What does CAP do? We help consumers having difficulty accessing services from Minnesota VR Agencies and their service partners We help consumers having difficulty accessing services from Minnesota VR Agencies and their service partners Rehabilitation Services (general) Rehabilitation Services (general) State Services for the Blind (blind, visually impaired, and deaf/blind) State Services for the Blind (blind, visually impaired, and deaf/blind) Community Rehabilitation Programs Community Rehabilitation Programs Independent Living Programs Independent Living Programs

What Services Can CAP Offer? Advocate with VR counselors over the phone or at meetings Advocate with VR counselors over the phone or at meetings Review VR eligibility determinations and Employment Plans Review VR eligibility determinations and Employment Plans Advise clients of rights and services available under the federal Rehabilitation Act Advise clients of rights and services available under the federal Rehabilitation Act Represent clients in mediation and, if legal merit exists, VR administrative appeals process Represent clients in mediation and, if legal merit exists, VR administrative appeals process

What Doesn’t CAP Do? CAP does not provide direct VR services, such as education, training or equipment CAP does not provide direct VR services, such as education, training or equipment CAP does not handle most legal issues unrelated to vocational rehabilitation (i.e., employment discrimination, housing, other benefits, family law, criminal law) CAP does not handle most legal issues unrelated to vocational rehabilitation (i.e., employment discrimination, housing, other benefits, family law, criminal law)

CAP 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 service providers/advocates in the community; and Technical assistance to 12 professionals/VR service providers/advocates in the community; and outreach and training to 510 people outreach and training to 510 people

Who CAP Served in 2013 Significant numbers of CAP clients served in 2013 were: Significant numbers of CAP clients served 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 disabilities (11%) Persons with developmental/intellectual disabilities (11%)

How did we help VR consumers? Majority of CAP cases resolved with informal advocacy (phone calls & meetings with VR staff) Majority of CAP cases resolved with informal advocacy (phone calls & meetings with VR staff) In 2013, CAP was involved in: In 2013, CAP was involved in: 1 Administrative Review 1 Administrative Review 1 Mediation 1 Mediation 1 Formal Administrative Hearing Process 1 Formal Administrative Hearing Process

CAP Community Outreach and Involvement FY2013: 16 outreach/training events to 510 people FY2013: 16 outreach/training events to 510 people Substantial outreach to underserved/underrepresented communities Substantial outreach to underserved/underrepresented communities American Indian American Indian Immigrant communities of color Immigrant communities of color transition-aged students transition-aged students

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

CAP Systemic Advocacy In FY2013, CAP worked on several systemic issues, including: In FY2013, CAP worked on several systemic issues, including: Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act Segregated Employment Segregated Employment Olmstead Planning Olmstead Planning

What’s Cookin’ at CAP? Increasing Supported Employment opportunities and reducing reliance on sheltered workshops for the most severely disabled Minnesotans Increasing Supported Employment opportunities and reducing reliance on sheltered workshops for the most severely disabled Minnesotans Improving services to transition students in Minnesota Improving services to transition students in Minnesota Helping consumers request exceptions to VRS and SSB rules and policies when appropriate Helping consumers request exceptions to VRS and SSB rules and policies when appropriate

Want More CAP CHAT? Call: Call: Anne Robertson: (612) Anne Robertson: (612)

New Client Intake Contact Information New clients should call: New clients should call: Twin Cities: (612) Twin Cities: (612) TDD: TDD: Greater Minnesota: (800) Greater Minnesota: (800) Client should ask for “Disability Law Center’s New Client Intake” Client should ask for “Disability Law Center’s New Client Intake”

More Information Check out our website! Check out our website! Access CAP Annual Reports at: Access CAP Annual Reports at: click “Reports”, “About your state”, “Minnesota”, “View Information”, “CAP”