The Louisiana State Bar Association’s publication, the Louisiana Bar Journal, is a bimonthly magazine containing substantive law articles and Association news. The October/November 2024 edition, “Focus on Accessibility and the Law,” that featured articles by DRLA attorneys and advocates,
“…seeks to highlight the ongoing work of the Louisiana State Bar Association’s (LSBA) Legal Services for Persons with Disabilities Committee and the Louisiana Access to Justice Commission’s Accessibility Committee in ensuring that individuals who face those barriers are able to fully participate in and seek redress through the legal system.” (“Accessibility & Legal Services for Persons with Disabilities Committees: Missions and History” by Luz M. Molina and Debra J. Weinberg, DRLA’s Director of Community Advocacy.)
Melanie Bray, DRLA’s Director of Legal Programs and Advocacy asks in her article entitled, “Who Makes the Decisions”:
“What is autonomy and do I have it? For most, having autonomy means the right for each person to make his or her own decisions on their own terms.
…Imagine being served with court papers informing you that someone you may know, possibly a family member, is seeking a court order to take away your right to make your own decisions and gives that power to the family member.
What follows may feel like an impossible battle to make your voice heard so you can prove that you do not need anyone else to make decisions for you.”
“Disabilities and Everyday Barriers” also by Melanie Bray, informs readers that:
“…Attorneys are often the answer to removing the hurdles to accessibility and, as a profession, attorneys should be educating themselves to be the advocates for their clients’ needs. Some common areas where attorney intervention could be valuable include Medicaid or waiver eligibility, financial planning and reasonable accommodations in employment.
The programs and services that are intended to assist individuals with disabilities or other neuro-divergent conditions can sometimes be complicated, burdensome and time-consuming. As lawyers, we can assist individuals in navigating these barriers to ensure they have access to what they need to enable them to live an integrated life in the community, safe-guard their financial interests, and secure or maintain gainful employment.”
“Disaster, Disability, Changes from FEMA” by Sarah Bacot, former DRLA Staff Attorney highlights:
“…In fact, those with disabilities are two to four times more likely to die due to natural disaster than those without disabilities.”
“Attorneys are in a unique position to provide disaster-related assistance, whether lending aid in the creation or understanding of important personal documents, such as healthcare directives and estate planning documents, or representing disaster survivors in civil matters related to recovery…”
These articles have been shared with LSBA’s permission.
For more information about the Louisiana Bar Journal, visit: https://www.lsba.org/newsandpublications/barjournal.aspx
