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Classes

Thursday June 3
2021
 Representation and Advocacy for Persons with Developmental Delays at the Office of Persons with Developmental Delays (the OPWDD)

This CLE will provide attorneys with tools to help clients navigate the 3-step OPWDD eligibility process by learning the common barriers to obtaining OPWDD eligibility and how to challenge adverse decisions effectively. Participants will examine how developmental disability is defined by the Mental Hygiene Law and how OPWDD interprets and applies this definition to its eligibility determinations. Next, participants will explore common barriers to eligibility and provide strategies for recognizing and challenging them. This will include an explanation of the ways in which OPWDD’s eligibility system differs from other public benefits programs. Finally, faculty will provide advocates with the necessary tools to advocate for clients through discussion of effective strategies to utilize in the fair hearing process or other strategies outside the formal fair hearing process, including tips for negotiating the initial application process and by filing interim appeals.

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  • When
    Thursday, June 3, 2021
    10:30 am - 12:30 pm
  • CLE Credits
    Skills: 1.00
    Areas of Professional Practice: 1.00
  • Format
    Fully Interactive Videoconference
  • Practice Area(s)
    Disability
  • Price: $0
  • Materials
    Contains 1 training item(s)

About the Faculty

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    Nanette Schorr (Moderator)

    Nanette Schorr is the Director of the Family and Education Law Units at LSNYC Bronx. She has been a practitioner in the field of child welfare for over 20 years, representing parents and extended family members in proceedings seeking to prevent foster care placement and reunite families. She is also active in a variety of collaborative work groups seeking to improve services to families in that system, and to change the culture of the system in ways that support family integrity, and empowering parents. She also works actively with social workers in her program to foster interdisciplinary practice models that benefit clients. She is a 1982 graduate of Benjamin Cardozo School of Law.
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    Roberta Mueller (Speaker)

    Roberta Mueller is a Senior Supervising Counsel at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. Roberta has worked at NYLPI since 1999. Her areas of practice include rights of individuals with developmental disabilities, Medicaid and Medicare, special education, and the rights of nursing home residents. For nearly two decades, she has served as co-counsel to the Willowbrook class and, with Patterson Belknap, is co-counsel to a class of foster children with developmental disabilities. Prior to coming to NYLPI, Mueller served as the Litigation Director for a large rural legal services program where she litigated in a variety of areas including HIV discrimination, consumer law, public benefits, and health law.
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    Alyssa Galea (Speaker)

    Alyssa Galea is a Staff Attorney in the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Program at Disability Rights New York. She joined DRNY in 2017. Her work includes individual advocacy and systemic projects on behalf on individuals with disabilities through conducting monitoring and investigations, litigation and administrative hearings, public reports, collaborative projects, and policy advocacy in a variety of areas including abuse and neglect investigations, special education, guardianship termination, access to home and community based services, and discrimination. Prior to working at DRNY, she interned at the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York and DRNY and served as a student attorney at Syracuse Law’s Disability Rights Clinic. Her interest in disability rights and advocacy was strengthened by personal and professional experiences working with individuals with developmental disabilities. Alyssa graduated from Hartwick College, where she received a B.A. in Political Science and was a John Christopher Hartwick scholar. She received her J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law. She also received an M.S. from Syracuse University in Cultural Foundations of Education, with a certificate of advanced study in Disability Studies. She is admitted to practice in the State of New York, as well as the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Southern, and Northern Districts of New York.