People With Disabilities Foundation is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) public charity based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our Mission is to provide education and advocacy for people with psychiatric and/or developmental disabilities, with or without physical disabilities, so that they can achieve equal opportunities in all aspects of life.

PWDF, Inc., is a Section 501(c)(3) public nonprofit operating foundation.

The Mission of People With Disabilities Foundation is to provide education and advocacy for people with psychiatric and/or developmental disabilities, with or without physical disabilities, so that they can achieve equal opportunities in all aspects of life.

Education services are offered to a variety of audiences depending on the subject matter, with the beneficiary always being consumers with psychiatric, developmental or both psychiatric and/or developmental and physical disabilities.

To be eligible for our advocacy services, the following conditions must be met:

-An individual must must be disabled within the meaning of any state or federal law.

-The case must relate to disability.

-No one is declined based on ability to pay. We offer a sliding scale for attorney fees.

Please call our office at (415) 931-3070 or (510) 522-PWDF (7933) for an initial phone interview and to make an appointment.

Our Advocacy program consists of:

SSI, Social Security Disability, and disability work incentive programs hearings and appeals

Consultations on employment issues (including ADA reasonable accommodations), health care issues (including Medi-Cal and Medicare), SSA Work Incentive Programs, and Post-Secondary Education

Referral Services

Litigation


Our Education/Public Awareness program consists of:

Seminars, Workshops and guest speaking on psychiatric disability-related issues such as Employment, Social Security, Education, Multiculturalism, and Health Care.

Training materials including videos (DVD and VHS) and CDs

Publication of a quarterly e-newsletter addressing current disability-related issues.

PWDF will be hosting public seminars throughout the year. Please visit our Web site at http://www.pwdf.org for further information.

Steven Bruce founded People With Disabilities Foundation in 2000, where he is the interim executive director and managing attorney. Previously, Steven worked for the Social Security Administration as a senior staff attorney. Steven has also worked for the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Offices for Civil Rights, was a supervisor in the Government Benefits Unit for Legal Aid, and was an assistant public defender. He has a B.A. in Economics and Psychology, with honors, from the University of California at Berkeley. His J.D. is
from the University of San Francisco School of Law. Steven is admitted to numerous courts including
the U.S. Supreme Court.

Sally Sklar, Attorney at Law
Oakland, CA

Joyce Smith
Division of Humanities
University of Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA

Steven Bruce, Attorney at Law
San Francisco, CA

William Fry, M.D.

Emeritus associate clinical professor, Stanford University; life fellow of the American Psychiatric
Association; diplomat, American Board of Psychiatry; Forty years clinical experience including active member as California State Qualified medical examiner.
Sacramento, CA


Jo Ellen Brainin-Rodriguez, M.D.

Associate clinical professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of California at San Francisco. Dr. Brainin-Rodriguez received her medical degree from UCSF and completed her residency in Psychiatry at St. Mary's Hospital in San Francisco. She was formally the medical director of Bridge to Wellness.
San Francisco, CA


Aaron Cohen, Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist

Clinical psychologist, Counseling and Psychological Services, University of California at Berkeley. Dr. Cohen conducts workshops relating to students and psychological disabilities, is involved in crisis intervention, counseling and educational assessment. His research includes "Self-Concept in College Students With Specific Learning Disabilities."


Anita Gilbert, Ph.D.

Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Medical Director of Walden House, San Francisco, CA. Formerly staff clinical psychologist at California Department of Corrections, Parole Outpatient Unit.
San Francisco, CA


John Wilde, Ph.D.

Professor and Counselor at City College of San Francisco, Disabled Students Department. Dr. Wilde obtained his B.A. in Education from Northern Illinois University, and his M.A. in Communications and Ph.D. in Education from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Dr. Wilde joined the faculty at City College of San Francisco in 1991. Dr. Wilde has also presided as president of the San Francisco Mayor's Disability Council, and has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Golden Gate Regional Center, Goodwill Industries, and the Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco.
San Francisco, CA


Gerald Belchik, Ph.D.

Vocational rehabilitation consultant to the Social Security Administration.
Oakland, CA


Martin L. Levine, S.P.H.R.

Vice president of Human Resources of Windham Hospital.
Willimantic, CT


Monika Eskridge

Former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Office for Civil Rights employee and manager for thirty years. Responsibilities included enforcing compliance with various disability discrimination violations under federal law and regulations including the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
San Francisco, CA

Funding provided by (ranked by amount): Individual gifts, U.S. statutory attorney fees, The Martin Bruce Charitable Remainder Trust, Van Loben Sels Foundation, Bay Area United Way.