The Social Security Disability Pro Bono Project at Stanford Law School helps local homeless people secure disability benefits, and it happens to be one of Elizabeth Kolbe’s favorite law school activities.
Kolbe, a 2L, knows firsthand that being disabled presents unique challenges — a car accident left her with a spinal cord injury at age 14, and she uses a manual wheelchair and has limited hand function. Most of the homeless clients she assists suffer from mental illness or cognitive disabilities, but they can still relate to her experience. “They appreciate that there is someone who is helping them who understands what it’s like to be disabled,” she said. “I think anytime anyone has had an interesting life experience or has had to overcome obstacles in the past, they have a different take on things. It’s made me more interested in the client perspective.”
