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“Every American is entitled to live a life
with liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Disabled people have the same rights, too.” |
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This is something Adriana Parrales, a young woman with a severe genetic disorder, firmly believes in.
Parrales is one of five plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed by Southern Legal Counsel, disability rights lawyer Nancy Wright and Disability Rights Florida. The suit claims that the state has failed to ensure that the private managed care organizations (MCOs) provide community-based services and in-home care for thousands of elders and adults with disabilities in order to avoid unnecessary institutionalization. The plaintiffs demand clear and meaningful standards to guide decisions about services for essential care. With no guidance, the MCOs have repeatedly denied services that are necessary.
For example, the MCO provided Parrales, who has tumors on her spine and brain and breathes through a ventilator, with such limited nursing services that her mother had to be by her side 23 to 24 hours a day, for months, to make sure that Adriana was suctioned when needed. The MCO also refused physical and occupational therapies, resulting in Parrales’ deteriorating condition. She and her mother have lived in fear that Adriana will end up in a nursing home, isolated from her family and friends.
Read the Miami Herald article:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article43273908.html
The Long-Term Care Medicaid Waiver Program was established in 2011 on a managed care model to allow persons who are eligible for nursing home care to remain in their own homes with needed services. The MCOs operate the waiver under contract with the State’s single Medicaid agency, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.
Plaintiffs recently argued in court before U.S. Northern District Court Judge Hinkle against the State’s motion to dismiss the suit. A decision is pending.
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Southern Legal Counsel Continues its
Litigation to Improve Education |
Southern Legal Counsel finished its pre-trial discovery September 18, 2015, to gather evidence to be used at trial. The presentation will demonstrate that Florida is not providing adequate funding and policies to assure a high quality public school system for children who need it most.
Supporting our litigation efforts have been Superintendents and other school personnel across the state of Florida who have expressed concern about the negative impacts on education due to over emphasized testing, and lack of educational services for students living in poverty, English Language Learners, children experiencing homelessness and students with disabilities. Others have explained the funding crisis that has faced their districts and not being able to maintain buildings or provide the variety of educational services that are needed.
The outcomes of Florida's struggling students are heart breaking. A striking example is that 90% of Third Graders in one Miami elementary school cannot read at grade level. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Our proof at trial will show the systemic violations and seek a court order requiring the State to address them.
To illustrate the immensity of our task, nearly 100 depositions have been taken (31 Florida Department of Education officials and experts; 32 school district personnel; 17 plaintiffs' experts; 8 private schools/parents; 5 plaintiffs; and 3 statewide associations). A joint exhibit list for trial will be over 4,500 documents.
Trial begins March 14, 2016, and it will cost $100,000.
Your contribution will directly assist us in bringing school district personnel from around Florida and experts from around the country to testify in person.
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SLC Develops IndieGoGo
and CrowdDefend Campaigns
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Southern Legal Counsel launched two new campaigns through IndieGoGo and CrowdDefend.
"5 for Change" the campaign launched via IndieGoGo was started to encourage people to get involved in Southern Legal Counsel's case to bring a high quality education to Florida's public school children. SLC's landmark education case can help bring high quality education to 2.9 million children statewide.
Southern Legal Counsel also launched its "Ending Homelessness Project." The campaign is being hosted on CrowdDefend, a crowdfunding source exclusively for legal aid.
The "Ending Homelessness Project" seeks support for Southern Legal Counsel's three ongoing cases regarding topics of homelessness. These cases aim to protect and defend the civil and human rights of persons experiencing homelessness. Without access to counsel, people experiencing homelessness are vulnerable to being targeted by unconstitutional laws with no ability to meaningfully challenge this violation of rights.
Videos for both campaigns were created by Analise Banko, an eighth grade student at Westwood Middle School. While originally involved with SLC through her mother Khanh-Lien, who has been an integral part of "Five for Change", Analise has since become an important contributor to our new fundraising platforms. "It feels great helping the community," says Analise. As a member of the National Junior Honor Society, Analise has been a positive influence in the community for some time.
Please support SLC and help us improve education -
IndieGoGo and end homelessness -
Crowd Defend.
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
Rosewood: The Road to Reparations
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On February 4, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center, Southern Legal Counsel and Three Rivers Legal Services come together to host a fundraising dinner gala to reflect on the injustices that occurred in Rosewood in 1923 and the efforts of pro bono counsel in the 1990s that succeeded in obtaining reparations for the State.
The event will feature keynote speakers Michael D’Orso, American journalist and author of Like Judgment Day: The Ruin and Redemption of a Town Called Rosewood, and Stephen Hanlon, civil rights attorney who led a pro bono team of attorneys to obtain reparations. The gala will host a catered dinner by the Hilton.
For more information and tickets go to: http://www.trls.org. CLE credits pending.
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FALL EVENTS:
SLC's Homecoming Open House
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SLC kicked off UF Homecoming Weekend by hosting an open house on November 6, 2015, following the Homecoming Parade.
Taking place in SLC’s office, the event was attended by community members and alumni among others.
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Thanks for Making SLC's Annual
Signature Event a Huge Success
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| The cast and crew of American Foundation for Equal Rights and Broadway's Impact's "8" |
Southern Legal Counsel produced a staged reading of the American Foundation for Equal Rights and Broadway Impact’s “8” by Academy Award-winning screenwriter, Dustin Lance Black.
Black’s play re-enacts the historic trial in which California’s Proposition 8, which restricted marriage between same-sex couples, was ruled unconstitutional. The Supreme Court’s recent ruling in favor of same-sex marriage is certainly cause for celebration for the LGBTQ community, but there is still much work to be done. A panel discussion after the show featured UF Law Professor Darren Hutchinson, UF law student Simone Chriss, and SLC Executive Director Jodi Siegel.
The event was held at the Hippodrome Theater on September 21, 2015. Southern Legal Counsel aimed to raise awareness for LGBTQ rights by highlighting the historic Proposition 8 case in their reading of American Foundation for Equal Rights and Broadway Impact’s “8”.
The staged reading featured Broadway actors Malcolm Gets and Tim Altmeyer, along with members of the Hippodrome Acting Company, and Gainesville attorneys Peg O'Connor, Robert A. Rush and Larry Turner.
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| SUPPORT SLC'S WORK |
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To maintain our independence in order to challenge institutional inequities, SLC does not accept federal, state or local government funds.
We really need your help to ensure that SLC has the resources to continue to provide legal and policy advocacy in public interest cases across the state of Florida. SLC is eligible to receive your $350 pro bono contribution.
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SLC's monthly giving program is the easiest way to give and ensure that SLC recieves your ongoing support.
Your recurring donation or one-time gift means, together, we will help people in need.
To sign up, visit southernlegal.org and click "Donate Now," or click the "Donate" button above.
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| SAVE THE DATE |
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What: Rosewood: The Road to Reparations
When: February 4, 2016, @ 6:00 p.m.
Where: UF Hilton Conference Center, 1714 SW 34th St., Gainesville FL, 32607
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| BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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Robert F. Spohrer, Chair
Elizabeth L. Bevington
Bennett Brummer
Raul A. Cuervo
William S. Graessle
Tim D. Haines
E. Andrus Healy
Berta Hernández-Truyol
Dr. Vivian L. Hobbs
William Kalish
Tiffani G. Lee
Marni Lennon
Barbara Bolton Litten
Dixon Ross McCloy, Jr.
Peg O'Connor
Robert A. Rush
Tom Scarritt
Harry L. Shorstein
The Honorable William A
Von Nortwick, Jr.
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| ATTORNEYS |
Jodi Siegel,
Executive Director
Neil Chonin
Kirsten Clanton
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| INTERNS AND CLERKS |
Diego Aleto
Julie Bontems
Joseph Cordova
Dejhon Fairure
Maria Fuentes
Randall Harper
Richard Hatch
Cameron Hood
Kathryn Kuethman
Jessica Lennon
Daniel Ley
Tina O'Rourke
Kelsey Pena
Kate Rheume
Alessandra Rosales
Irene Sepulveda
Marisol Silva
Madonna Snowden |
| THANK YOU TO SLC'S 2015 PRO BONO ATTORNEYS |
Your work helps impact cases involving education, disability rights, homelessness and due process protections.
Deborah E. Cupples
Randall Harper
Eric J. Lindstrom
Timothy McLendon
Maru Opabola
Mara Shlackman
Nancy E. Wright
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| CONTACT DETAILS |
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Southern Legal Counsel
1229 NW 12th Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
Phone: 352.271.8890
Fax: 352.271.8347
Email:
slc@southernlegal.org
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Southern Legal Counsel, Inc. (SLC) is a Florida statewide not-for-profit public interest law firm that is committed to the ideal of equal justice for all and the attainment of basic human and civil rights. SLC primarily assists individuals and groups with public interest issues who otherwise would not have access to the justice system and whose cases may bring about systematic reform. SLC uses a range of strategies to achieve its goals, including litigation, policy advocacy, and training and technical assistance to lawyers, lay persons and organizations.
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SOUTHERN LEGAL COUNSEL, INC., A NON-PROFIT FLORIDA CORPORATION, IS REGISTERED WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION, #CH13498, AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE
800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. SLC IS A FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION.
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