Free Legal Aid & Resource Clinic

On Friday, May 21^st, from 12-1pm, Disability Law Group together with the State Bar of Michigan-Young Lawyers Section hosted a free VIRTUAL event open to the public: Free Legal Aid & Resource Clinic. This event was free to the public, and brought together local attorneys and non-profit organizations, as well as free hygiene kits, to those in need.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many people in Michigan, and throughout the nation and globe, are faced with health issues, job loss, and financial struggles. Unfortunately, as a result, many people have lost critical medical insurance, along with the means to provide for themselves and their family. Significant life changes and struggles can be difficult for anyone to cope with. The saying ‘it takes a village’ certainly proves true during tough times, but it’s not always easy to locate community supports and know how to seek out the help that you need.

With May being Mental Health Awareness and Military Appreciation Month, the goal of this event was to help spread awareness, education, legal advocacy and support for those struggling with mental health symptoms, along with their caretakers and advocates. The attorneys at Disability Law Group presented on topics regarding Social Security Disability (by partner Randall Mansour), and Veteran’s Disability benefits (by attorney Bridget Barrett), including the application and appeals process, recent changes in the law, and other new developments. Michigan Law Center attorney Michele Fuller also shared her presentation on estate planning issues, particularly for those with mental health conditions and related benefits to be aware of, including ABLE accounts and Special Needs Trusts. Attorney Erika Riggs, partner at Disability Law Group, moderated the webinar.

Critical community supports, including those that can be found in organizations like Southwest Solutions were also discussed, highlighting the importance of mental health treatment, defying the stigma against seeking help, and resources available for the community. Southwest Solutions is a Detroit-based non-profit that offers mental health treatment in addition to housing for formerly homeless veterans, job training and literacy programs, home-buyer assistance, and more.

Disability Law Group in partnership with the SBM-YLS is proud to sponsor this event, and will continue to leave open the registration link for anyone who would like to request a free hygiene kit (while supplies are still available), mental health resources, and/or free legal consultations. For more information, please visit: www.disabilitylawgroup.com/FreeClinic. You can also follow Disability Law Group through social media and on their website for additional resources, and to listen to their podcast ‘Disability Lawyers for the Community’ where they spotlight local non-profit organizations that help the community in need (including most recently ‘Mala Child & Family Institute’ with helpful mental health strategies and looking at mental health in terms of preventative care): www.disabilitylawgroup.com.

Erika Riggs

Disability Law Group

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