Category Archives: Uncategorized

Casey Martin – Disability Accommodations in Sports!

By Disability Independence Group, Inc. |

The ADA has had an overarching impact on all aspects of life, including competitive sports. Casey Martin, a professional golfer, highlighted the true impact of the ADA in the sports world in 2001 when he won his lawsuit against the PGA tour under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The PGA Tour, the main organizer… Read More »

IT’S THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADA

By Disability Independence Group, Inc. |

By: Lester Langer OVER THE LAST SEVERAL editions of our newsletter we have discussed mediation. But did you know mediation is available under the ADA Mediation Program? This is an informal process but you have to request it after you file your complaint. Since its inception the program has mediated more than 4000 complaints… Read More »

A Note From Matt

By Disability Independence Group, Inc. |

So on a sunny day 25 years ago … President George H.W. Bush stood on the South Lawn and declared a new American Independence Day. “With today’s signing of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act,” he said, “every man, woman and child with a disability can now pass through once-closed doors into a bright… Read More »

Kids Crusaders

By Disability Independence Group, Inc. |

By: Julie Fioravanti Welcome to this month’s edition of Kids Crusaders as we celebrate the ADA, a law that went into effect 25 years ago on July 26, 1990. My son was born in April of 1991. While we knew from the day he was born we were going to be faced with challenges,… Read More »

Litigation: Cruise Ship Accessibility After 25 Years!

By Disability Independence Group, Inc. |

By: Matthew Dietz Twenty years ago, accessible cruising was an impossibility. Notwithstanding that a cruise ship – a resort at sea – was the ideal vacation with everything at one’s fingertips — for a person with a disability it was just impossible. There were no accessible rooms, no accessible bathrooms, public rooms on different… Read More »

The City of Coral Gables’ Granada Golf Course should be accessible to all for ADA’S 25th Anniversary

By Disability Independence Group, Inc. |

By: Sharon Langer I love to walk on Saturdays on our city of Coral Gables public golf course. It has been a destination for walkers, runners and joggers for as long as it has been built for the last 50 years. The City of Coral Gables recreational programs or activities, such as those offered… Read More »

Weiss v. Bethesda Hospital

By Disability Independence Group, Inc. |

We have been asked for copies of documents from the Weiss case by many persons  — the attached are the pleadings: COMPLAINT-Weiss Motion For Preliminary Injunction Defendants Response to Motion for Preliminary Injunction Plaintiff’s Reply to Defendants Response to Motion for Preliminary Injunction Report & Recommendation  Plaintiffs’ Objections to the Report and Recommendations 

Lucky 13 Casino Night by the Pets’ Trust, June 6, 2015

By Disability Independence Group, Inc. |

Over 400 people attended the Pets’ Trust “Mercedes-Benz of Cutler Bay Casino Night”. Our client, Monica Alboniga with her children, Stevie the dog, and Yarelys Mirabal and Marlon Velez from DIG .

What is Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) according to the Social Security Administration?

By Disability Independence Group, Inc. |

By: Lesly Lopez   To be eligible for disability benefits, a person must be unable to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA). A person who is earning more than a certain monthly amount (net of impairment-related work expenses) is ordinarily considered to be engaging in SGA. The amount of monthly earnings considered as SGA… Read More »

Mediation

By Disability Independence Group, Inc. |

By: Lester Langer So you have now decided to hire an attorney. First, shop around, speak with your friends and colleagues about their experiences. Make sure your attorney has handled cases and law suits involving your issues. Find out how many cases and the attorneys experience in that area. Discuss the fee and other… Read More »

Disability: The Market You’re Missing: Incentives for Business

By Disability Independence Group, Inc. |

By: Rachel Goldstein Recently the Small Business Committee of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce presented a seminar ‘Disability: The Market You’re Missing’. I was one of several panelists at the seminar who explained to small businesses how to best serve customers, clients and employees with disabilities. As an attorney, most of the questions… Read More »

Guardianship Seminar – May 6, 2015

By Disability Independence Group, Inc. |

By: Sharon Langer Elizabeth Hubbard and Wendy RobbinsOn May 6, 2015, Dade Legal Aid and Disability Independence Group Inc. presented the first training for Attorneys and others in for our children with special needs. The Regis Little Act will now protect our most vulnerable foster youth by providing a process that not only protects them… Read More »

Cool Ways to stay cool

By Disability Independence Group, Inc. |

By: Sharon Langer Summer is here and while it can be lots of fun it also means heat..heat.. heat. For many folks with a disability this heat can actually be a health risk or even life threatening. There are many personal cooling devices on the market that can help! Here are some: SHADING DEVICES-… Read More »

By Disability Independence Group, Inc. |

 District 8 Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava Debbie and Sharon went to meet Commissioner Levine Cava and her team to discuss our work with individuals with disabilities and to discuss The Wallet Card Project and Animal Partners.  

By Disability Independence Group, Inc. |

Law Day – May 1, 2015 Picture by: THEO KARANTSALIS   Over 100 students from Miami Central and Hialeah High Schools met with U.S. District Court Judge Laurel M. Isicoff, and several attorneys, at the James Lawrence King Federal Justice Building for a five-hour Law Day program that included watching court in session. Students… Read More »

By Disability Independence Group, Inc. |

 AIDS Walk –  April 26, 2015 Debbie and Matt joined Richard Milstein and Eric Hankin  to walk in the 27th Annual AIDS Walk on Miami Beach.  This event is  Miami’s largest HIV/AIDS awareness fundraiser and continues to attract thousands of participants to support Care Resource and Food For Life Network food bank and its work… Read More »

julie Kids Crusaders Corner

By Disability Independence Group, Inc. |

By: Julie Fioravanti Welcome friends to this month’s edition of Kids Crusaders. My goal is to introduce you to an amazing organization, give you just a few of the stories and introduce you to a few of the many people that make up this “family” and encourage you to consider joining, or referring someone… Read More »

Hui Yu – Life as an intern at Disability Independence Group

By Disability Independence Group, Inc. |

Here at DIG, I can really see how the work being done can actually make an impact on people’s lives.

Mediation Corner with Lester – How do you prepare for Mediation

By Disability Independence Group, Inc. |

by Lester Langer, Retired Circuit Judge Certified Mediator Building on the first two articles, you are now at mediation. How do you prepare? First, if you do not have a lawyer, at least speak to one for a consult. While you can learn a lot on the internet about a particular issue, it is… Read More »

Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Projects

By Disability Independence Group, Inc. |

By: Lesly Quin WIPA projects are community-based organizations that receive grants from SSA to provide all Social Security and SSI disability beneficiaries (including transition-to-work aged youth) with free access to work incentives planning and assistance. Each WIPA project has counselors called Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWIC) who: Provide work incentives planning and assistance to… Read More »