Description:

RAD Justice partners with the Integrated Community Collaborative (ICC), a grassroots organization helping low income Latinx families attain services for their children with disabilities. California’s Regional Centers, the organizations that coordinate providing services to people with disabilities, disproportionately deny services to Latinx families.

These families often find themselves fighting an uphill battle to meet their children’s needs, without representation or guidance. RAD Justice supports the ICC with a “movement lawyering” model. This means we center the experiences of families and follow their leadership. We attend Individualized Program Plan (IPP) meetings with families as part of their circle of support, create tools and resources to help families advocate for themselves, and support policy efforts for system-wide change.

Commitment Required of Members:

Members are required to participate in 1 to 2 client-focused meetings/hearings at self-scheduled times, as well as follow-up meetings with ICC. Members also participate in semi-regular meetings with the project’s membership.

There are also projects students can work on to support our client community (for example, toolkits on how to navigate court hearings over service requests). Students may also participate in case research regarding mental health law in California to assist partner goals.

Open Membership Spots: 12

Adv. Degree Student Participation: Permitted

Winter Start: Permitted; Fall Start Preferred & All New Members Must Participate in Fall Quarter Training

Eligible for Meeting NYS Bar Pro Bono Requirement: Likely

Project Leaders: David Gutierrez