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Resource Advocates:
Helping People with Disabilities
by Debbie Hugh, Andrea Amaya, and Annaliza Torres
March 25, 2003
Resource Advocates are the people at WPAS who provide information and referrals over the phone to people with disabilities who ask for help. Resource Advocates take hundreds of calls every month form people with disabilities and their families. Below are some of the stories that resulted from those calls.
Special Education
Although the end of the school year is in sight, WPAS continues to receive a large volume of calls that are about special education. Recently we received two calls that were quite complex, involving not only problems with the clients’ special education services, but also with problems that involved the agencies that were supposed to be helping these children.
We received a call from a state agency caseworker who was trying to get her client enrolled in school. The client had recently moved to a residential facility in a new school district. As part of her plan, she was required to have an adult with her at all times. The school district didn’t feel this was necessary because there wasn’t any evidence of behavioral problems. The state insisted that an adult companion be provided, but the district refused to pay for an extra staff person. Because of the dispute, the student had not been enrolled in school in March – six months after the beginning of the school year! A WPAS Resource Advocate made several calls to see if a solution the problem could be reached that would allow her to go to school. A compromise has finally been agreed to between the district and the state, and the student is very happy to (finally) be back in school. Because WPAS advocated for the client’s rights, a young woman is now getting the education that she deserves.
Another case involves a young girl who has autism. She has been living at home and is a special education student. Things were going fairly well until she started high school. The parents and the school district could not agree on a proper program, and the student spent most her day sitting at school doing nothing. This caused her much frustration, and she had no outlet for her increased energy. This increase in energy came out in fits of rage at home, causing the parents to be concerned for the safety of their other children. As much as the parents want to continue caring for their daughter at home, they came to realize that some type of outside placement would become necessary unless the situation changed. When she started actually hitting family members, her parents took her out of school. This calmed her down some, but was a temporary solution as she needs and deserves a good education. The parents began working with a state agency to find a suitable placement, only to find that nothing was available. Because of the family’s concern of possible consequences if she seriously hurt someone, WPAS placed a call to the state agency to advocate for the state to expedite their efforts to provide this family with appropriate supports. Within a few days, a temporary respite bed had been found for her, and a permanent placement is in the works. As soon as she is placed, she will begin special education at a different school.
Lost in the System
A woman called because she felt overwhelmed and “lost in the system.” She had failed to get her Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) review documents turned in on time. As a result, she was forced to undergo the difficult application process again. She wanted to work, but told a Resource Advocate about past history of difficulty while working due to multiple mental and physical disabilities. The Resource Advocate suggested possible accommodations she may ask for if she pursues work again, and sent an employment discrimination packet to her in the mail. This packet contains multiple referrals and helpful information for employed people with disabilities. The caller also expressed concerns about her mental health during the presently stressful situation. The Resource Advocate suggested she call the Regional Support Network and Community Information Line to obtain information about local mental health providers. Since the caller had no current income, the Resource Advocate referred her to local Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Community Services Office to enquire about financial assistance. The advocate also talked to the caller about her rights while dealing with DSHS. Finally, the caller was referred to a Benefits Planner for additional support.
Appealing a loss of Services
A caller contacted WPAS because her young son had been cut off from services from the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). The termination of services came without a letter of termination or information about appealing the decision made by DDD. The Resource Advocate informed the caller of her (and her son’s) rights when dealing with a DDD termination. The Resource Advocate suggested that the mother go to the DDD office and ask to meet with the case manager face-to-face to discuss DDD’s reason for termination, as well as asking to see copies of the notice of termination letters DDD was claiming to have sent to the mother. The Resource Advocate referred the caller to Columbia Legal Services, the local Arc chapter, and the Office of Administrative Hearings. The advocate also sent the caller a booklet that describes fair hearings in DSHS cases .
Paratransit Eligibility
An individual called who had applied for paratransit services. Paratransit is public transportation that must be offered to individuals with disabilities who are unable to use an existing transit system. The caller was upset because her application was denied. A Resource Advocate sent her information about paratransit eligibility and suggested that she appeal the decision if she feels that she should be eligible for the service. Because the caller also receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the Resource Advocate also provided her with information about the Ticket To Work program and the creation of work incentives which may be a way to obtain transportation if it is work related. She is now informed of her rights regarding how to obtain transportation services.
Housing Rights
A mother with several disabilities was given a notice to terminate tenancy because the manager of a Housing Authority complex accused her of not taking care of herself and that her son disturbs the peace of others. She felt that she was treated differently because of her disability. The Resource Advocate provided her with information about her housing rights. The advocate also assisted this mother with a plan on how to avoid an eviction which included: writing a letter requesting accommodations for her disability; requesting a grievance through the housing authority; and requesting assistance in writing to request an extension. The Resource Advocate also sent information on how to file a Fair Housing complaint.
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