Practice Areas

• Personal Injury
• Zadroga Bill
• Social Security Disability
• Workers' Compensation
• Real Estate Law
• Business Law
• Franchise Law

Blog

Social Security Disability

• Symptoms of Autism That May Qualify for Social Security Disability in New York
• 7 Intellectual Disability Impairments That May Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits
• How Anxiety Disorder Can Restrict Filing for Disability in New York
• 3 Ways to Prepare for Social Security Disability Hearing in New York
• 6 Steps in Filing a Social Security Disability Claim in New York

view more

News

• Task Force Group Recommends Men Not Undergo Prostate Cancer Screening...
  Posted on 10/17/2011
• Ability to Ride a Bike May Determine Type of Parkinson’s Disease...
  Posted on 10/14/2011
• Upright MRI Provides Breakthrough in Understanding Multiple Sclerosis...
  Posted on 10/13/2011
• Free Mobile App Determines Qualification for Social Security Disability...
  Posted on 10/7/2011
• Alcohol and Obesity Found Among Leading Causes of Sudden Cardiac Death...
  Posted on 10/6/2011

view more

Library

Social Security Disability

• 5 Things Examiner Does to Evaluate Social Security Disability Claim in New York
• Social Security Disability Benefits for Intellectual Disability
• Pursuing Social Security Disability in New York for Autistic Disorders
• Seeking Social Security Disability as a Student in New York
• Filing for Disability in New York Because of Anxiety Disorders

view more

News

Miss Wheelchair New York Among Disabled Fighting For Home Care

Posted on Dec 17, 2010

December 15, 2010 - New York, NY - While typical beauty pageants focus on bikini contests and talent reviews, the Miss Wheelchair pageants put the emphasis on the accomplishments, advocacy and self-perception of extraordinary women who happen to need the assistance of a wheelchair.

A recent news story presented by National Public Radio tells the story of one such woman, Michelle Fridley, who was crowned Miss Wheelchair New York 2010. She is among a growing age group who is becoming eligible for nursing home care, but is fighting it every step of the way.

Studies from the Department of Health and Human services has shown a growing number of Americans aged 31-64 being admitted to nursing home care, a total of 14% this year. This is a 10% increase in the past 10 years and some analysts believe it is due to state budget gaps and cuts that fund the disabled care programs. Others have found that since many state psychiatric facilities have been closed in the past year many working-age adults have been forced to seek assistance in nursing homes rather than specialized facilities.

Fridley has been fighting being forced into a nursing home for more than 10 years since a car accident left her a quadriplegic. Fridley, like many, originally depended on her family for assistance following the accident while the state of New York provided minor assistance through home aides a few hours a day.

As the toll of taking care of their daughter and granddaughter weighed on Fridley's family, she almost gave in to nursing home care until she discovered the Center for Disability Rights in Rochester, which helped her obtain a new apartment and funding to live independently. She now shares an apartment with her 9-year-old daughter and has attendants 20 hours a day to help with her physical needs and household chores.

Most states spend nearly 60% of their budget for long-term care for elderly and disabled on nursing home care. The cost to support a disabled individual with at-home care is typically 1/3 of that spent on supporting them in a nursing home facility. When budget cuts threatened to end Fridley's in-home assistive care she became seriously involved in advocacy for the disabled.

Fridley's appeals to New York Governor David Paterson helped reverse a decision for cutting the assistant program, but she isn't stopping there. Fridley and her daughter have helped with protests and events with disability civil rights groups that are pushing for laws to make it mandatory for states to offer in-home assistance to help allow disabled Americans to live in their own homes.

For disabled New Yorkers, living in your own home may be a crucial part to leading a quality life with your condition. For financial assistance in maintaining your daily needs, you may need to file for Social Security disability benefits, provided you are unable to work.

Contacting a New York Social Security Disability Lawyer 

Before you hire a New York Social Security disability lawyer, order this free consumer's guide: 5 Mistakes to Avoid when Filing a Social Security Disability Claim, to give you an idea of the Social Security disability claims process. Contact a New York Social Security disability lawyer at Decker, Decker, Dito & Internicola for more information about your case - 1-800-976-4904.

back to top

Decker Decker Dito & Internicola, LLP the New York Social Security Disability Law Firm.  If you have suffered an injury or illness and unable to work, contact Social Security Disability Lawyer Frank J. Dito, Jr., Esq. at 800. 976. 4904.  Mr. Dito is an experienced trial and disability lawyer who represents disabled and injured individuals and their families in getting the benefits that they deserve. Frank is the author of "A Lawyers Guide to Car Insurance", the publisher of the "New York Injury Law Blog" and he is a frequent speaker regarding the recovery of benefits and the preservation of rights resulting from accidents and work place injuries. If you or a family member has a question about disability benefits contact disability lawyer Frank J. Dito, Jr. to discuss your legal rights and how he can assist you in obtaining the benefits you deserve.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE REPORT "The 5 Mistakes to Avoid when Filing a Social Security Disability Claim" Click Here to Download the Free, No Obligation Report by Frank J. Dito, Jr.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: The information contained on this website is provided for general educational purposes only, should not be relied on as legal advice and does not serve to create an attorney client relationship. In utilizing this website you acknowledge that there is no attorney client relationship between you and Frank J. Dito, Esq. and that the information contained on this site does not and cannot serve as a replacement for the competent legal advice of a licensed attorney in your state. The content of this website is subject to the Copyright of its author, Frank J. Dito, Esq.