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FIU Law receives $70,000 grant from FIU Embrace to create a legal clinic for families caring for and individuals with autism and other development disabilities.

Article contributed by: Jane Schreier Jones

Recently, a mother and primary caregiver learned the hard way that once a person with developmental disabilities becomes an adult, helping them get the services they need becomes even tougher for parents.
Before she turned 21 years old, her daughter, affected by autism, was covered by the state’s Medicaid plan. But the important services she received — such as 24 hours per week of Behavioral Therapy — were abruptly cut off when the young woman turned 21. Unfortunately, because of the transition to the adult state plan, her daughter was no longer approved for one of the few evidenced-based practices at the proven level of care: behavior therapy at least 20 hours per week.
“Continued learning of the right behaviors is more important than ever for this bright young woman who would like to enter the work force. But the special help she needed had ended,” says Nicole Attong, Director of Operations for FIU Embrace. “This mom could have used legal help to learn what her daughter’s rights are and how to fight the bureaucracy that’s standing in the way. That’s why we’re so pleased with the new partnership we have established.”
FIU Embrace, a university-wide initiative that promotes health, wellness, and overall functioning for adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disabilities (ID), and other neurodevelopmental disorders (OND), has formed a partnership with FIU College of Law, South Florida’s only public law school. Together, FIU Embrace and Law will launch Family Legal-Needs Assessment Day on October 29th, 2016. Register at ealvite@fiu.edu or by calling (305) 348-5377.
“The legal clinic is honored to have been selected as FIU Embrace’s legal partner,” said Michelle Mason, FIU Law’s Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Education, Experiential Learning & Engagement. “Community engagement is central to the law school’s mission. There are so many families in need, and we are committed to giving them voice and assistance through our legal advocacy efforts.”
FIU College of Law will be providing legal support services for adults with autism and other development disabilities,” added Attong. “This support will be extremely valuable to many families who are faced with major hurdles in trying to help the developmentally disabled adult in their family.”
More than 12,000 individuals in Florida are waiting for services.
Many legal situations arise as a child with developmental disabilities reaches adulthood, Attong points out. For instance, how can a parent set up a guardianship to provide for their adult child? How does a parent navigate healthcare and government systems that normally shut out the parent’s involvement when their child turns 21?
The mother in this example, whose daughter’s therapy was discontinued due to age, was able to — after much frustration — get her daughter approved for Florida Wavier services through the iBudget. However, today more than twelve thousand individuals in Florida are waiting for services.
“We want to help people in our community solve their problems with less hassle and more support,” says Attong. “Getting help from a Legal Aid has been a challenge for parents and waiting for assistance has proven to be a barrier. Our partnership with FIU College of Law allows us to offer legal services to disabled adults and their families who are on our campuses and throughout Miami-Dade County.”
Developmental disabilities can impact a person’s physical, language, learning and/or behavior which has lifelong effects. Given the spectrum of the disorder, some individuals are capable of enrolling in degree-seeking course work or inclusive post-secondary education programs at FIU, in order to earn a degree/certificate and be productive members of society. “Our mission at FIU Embrace is to pave the way for all individuals affected by developmental disabilities and helping the greater community to learn the tremendous value of these individuals and to embrace inclusion,” she says.
Attong has high praise for the FIU College of Law’s faculty, students and administration. This past July, the law school had the highest number of students passing the bar exam in the state and exceeded the statewide average bar passage rate of 68.2 percent, by almost 20 percentage points. This follows the state-leading 84.6 percent passage rate on the February 2016 exam, and 89 percent pass rate on the July 2015 bar exam. All three rates have been the highest in Florida. “Dean Alexander Acosta and Senior Associate Dean Michelle Mason of FIU College of Law have demonstrated a pioneering spirit in making legal services available to individuals with developmental disabilities,” says Attong.
“FIU Embrace strives to create programs and functions to help individuals with disabilities feel integrated at the University in a campus-like setting,” she continues. “FIU College of Law has just made a giant step in helping that happen. We are very grateful.”
FIU Embrace (http://fiuembrace.fiu.edu/) also partners with the Dan Marino Foundation, Autism Speaks and IDENTIFOR.
For more information contact the FIU Law Clinical Program at ledesmaz@fiu.edu or 305-348-8095.