I wanted to thank you for considering me for your Leadership Academy.
I understand the program's limitations, but I feel we share the common
goal of improving both the legal community and betterment of lives of
Florida citizens at large. In your letter you mention all the ways
that an attorney can get involved. Unfortunately this is not true of
all practice areas. When I first joined the Bar I wanted to focus on
ADA compliance and disability rights. There were no sections I could
join. In fact, I did not join a section and was assigned to
"Litigation" by default. Very few attorneys choose to practice in
areas involving disabilities (not disability benefits) and the needs
are great. There are no CLE's that I know of that deal with how to
proceed with clients and counsels with special needs and fellow
attorneys turn to me, as the go to lawyer with a wheelchair bound
birth brain injury for guidance. I know of many people with
disabilities that aren't aware of their rights or that they should
speak to someone or who to speak. In turn, the perception of people
with severe disability like mine, their productivity, ability and
accomplishments is very low. Those problems will increase, not only
because Florida has an aging population, but also because of current
wars the number of veterans with physical or mental problems will
grow.
For that reason I have started the Florida Disability Access and
Awareness Foundation. I hope to work with you and the Florida Bar to
bring more ADA awareness, compliance and inclusion. I invite you to
visit the website: http://FDAAF.org my blogpost explaining the idea
and process behind the organization
http://blog.lawyeronwheels.
and a video clip about my life long mission for disability inclusion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
of ways and I invite you to think of ways our organizations can work
together through any programs we can devise. Workshops, lectures,
presentations, perhaps a clinic are some areas that would further our
information and education goal. I look forward to our continuing
relationship
No comments:
Post a Comment