Joe Whitcomb
The disability attorneys at the Rocky Mountain Disability Law Group understand that individuals suffering from a disability, as well as their families, need to know more than just the law. A disability, whether one suffered from birth or acquired later in life, impacts a person’s social, financial, physical, and mental health. The good news is you and your family don’t have to go it alone. There are a plethora of local, regional, and national resources that can help. The following are just a few of them.
Disability.gov
Disability.Gov is a federal government-sponsored website that is one of the most comprehensive resources for those suffering from a disability. It provides reliable information, primarily in the form of handouts and guides, regarding all aspects of living with a disability. Topics covered range from financial benefits to advocacy to employment to transportation.
Adaptive Sports Programs
Across the nation, adaptive sports programs are increasing in popularity; and for good reason. The programs allow individuals with disabilities to engage in sports and activities that were traditionally thought of as for those without disabilities. From surfing to basketball to mountain climbing, these programs are proof that individuals with disabilities truly can do anything. They are fun and foster social activity. Modified equipment and volunteers help make many of the programs the success they are. A few of the many programs are: (1) The Colorado Adaptive Sports Foundation; (2) The American Association of Adapted Sports; and (3) The Challenged Athlete Foundation.
Social Security Administration & Veterans Affairs Websites
These two federal agencies combined are the most common source of financial support for disabled individuals. While both can be difficult to effectively deal with on your own, their websites have a host of informational resources that can help you gain a better understanding of the rules, how they’re applied by each agency, the process, and any recent changes in the law. The Veterans Disability page can be found here, the Social Security Disability can be found here.
Employment Resources
Not all disabled individuals are unable to work. In fact, many can and want to work. Unfortunately, disabled individuals face obstacles in the workforce that others don’t. Sometimes it is an actual inability to perform certain demands of the job; other times it is a discriminatory belief by prospective employers that a disabled worker will not be able to fulfill the position. Fortunately, there are Colorado and federal laws that protect disabled workers.
EEOC
The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission administers the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal laws that protect disabled workers from discrimination. Its website provides overviews of which individuals and employers are covered under the laws, what their obligations are, and how to file a claim. The website for the Colorado Division of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Civil Rights Division is less comprehensive but includes similar resources regarding the laws and complaint process in Colorado.
We hope you find these resources helpful. And, of course, you can always learn more about disability law and recent news by contacting our office at Whitcomb, Selinsky Law PC or the Rocky Mountain Disability Law Group o set up a consultation with one of our attorneys. Please call (303) 534-1958 or fill out an online form.