Articles
Well-Being Tips, Your Rights, Etc.Thomas Insel’s New Book — Read it with us!
Tom Insel, the former head of the federal government's National Institute of Mental Health during three presidencies, who dissed DSM5 as "not scientifically valid", who pushed to have funding shifted away from diagnostic-label-based studies, and who wanted to fund...
Discussion of Bipolar, Not So Much
Another reason to join us on Discord. . . In order to support a recently diagnosed member some of us are going to buy and then read/discuss Jim Phelps, M.D.'s recent book on mood disorders, Bipolar, Not So Much. This will be a read-at-your-own-pace discussion where...
Assistance Animals on Airplanes, the Real Rules
People with disabilities have the right not only to trained service animals, but also to emotional support animal on planes with them. Here are the real rules directly from the DOT.gov, which is the regulatory and enforcing agency for the ACAA, Air Carrier Access Act....
Updated Service Dog FAQ
Service dogs in shopping carts or on restaurant or store furniture, no. Service dogs in the swimming pool water, no, but on the deck beside the water, yes. Hotels, yes. Learn the updated rules straight from the DOJ, which is the enforcing and regulations agency for...
Keep Calm and Camp On – Dealing with Corona While Still Enjoying Life on the Road
The topic for the Saturday, March 7th Nomad Chapter phone call was about methods for avoiding the COVID-19 (Corona) virus and still enjoying life on the road. The information shared by all during the call was meant to educate, not induce panic. Some very...
Sample Emotional Support Animal Letter
The following text is from the Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. I checked with my local fair housing council (the people to whom one reports violations) when I used this letter and they agreed the last paragraph is not necessary. You may want to...
Advance Directive Information and Forms
Advance directive related brochures from CT Legal Rights Project (CLRP)Connecticut advance directive forms andAARP links to Advance Directive forms in 50 statesNational Resource Center on Psychiatric Advance DirectivesPsychiatric Advance Directive (PAD) Form and...
Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws
Almost everyone who attends our meetings is considered person with a disability under federal law; one does not need to be 100% disabled to have rights under federal civil rights laws. See my earlier post for more details on the legal definition of a person with a...
Am I Legally Disabled?
People get confused about the definition/standards of disability. Social Security's definition is a high standard and difficult for many to meet, but it is only the standard for qualifying for SSDI or SSI benefits. Meeting this standard is not necessary for one to...
Take a Hike!
HIKING IS THE BEST BANG-FOR-THE-BUCK MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH ACTIVITY We all know that exercise is good for us, but it's often boring and/or annoying. To add insult to injury, gym memberships cost money. You've also probably heard that being outside can help mood,...