Planning for Life

By Harry S. Margolis

Michael Anderson, a 35-year-old quadripalegic man who needs the assistance of a personal care attendant (PCA), asked the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia's science museum, to waive the entrance fee for his PCA. They refused. When he ultimately brought suit, the Franklin Institute, which was originally funded by Benjamin Franklin, moved to dismiss the case arguing that Anderson had no claim under the Americans with Disability Act (the ADA). This left the federal judge who ruled in Anderson's favor entirely perplexed:

By Harry S. Margolis

One of our clients recently brought to our attention a Social Security benefit that was news to us. He and his wife care for their adult daughter with a disability in their home. Our client retired and began receiving Social Security benefits. As a result, his daughter was able to drop her Supplemental Security Income and switch over to Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), a much better benefit for a number of reasons.

By Harry S. Margolis

In an article in The Boston Globe Magazine, attorney Carol R. Steinberg asks Boston and Massachusetts to get real about making their sidewalks and businesses accessible. Due to her multiple sclerosis, Steinberg must use a wheelchair to get around. Her family recently vacationed in Barcelona where she had no trouble navigating the streets and tourist destinations, in large part due to changes it put in place when it hosted the 1992 summer Olympics.