4 Hours / 4 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Case Law: Disability & Worker's Compensation is presented by Lisa Drago Piechowski, PhD, ABPP, in partnership with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP).

This program describes statutory and case law related to disability and worker's compensation. The legal framework for different types of assessments is discussed. Key federal laws, including SSA, ADA, ERISA, and DBA, are reviewed, along with an overview of contract law relevant to private disability insurance. Relevant landmark cases are discussed.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe the applicable law for three types of disability/worker's compensation cases.
  • 2 Describe three landmark cases related to disability/worker's compensation.
  • 3 Describe disability/worker's compensation cases controlled by federal law from cases controlled by state law.

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for psychologists who seek a comprehensive understanding of the legal framework governing disability and workers’ compensation assessments. It is ideal for those involved in forensic psychology, clinical assessment, occupational health, and disability evaluation, and addresses the complexities of legal and regulatory requirements. Participants will be equipped to conduct assessments, provide expert opinions, and navigate relevant legal processes in disability and compensation cases.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Forensic Psychologists
    • Clinical Psychologists
    • Occupational Health Psychologists
    • Disability Evaluators
    • Legal Consultants in Psychology
    • Insurance Assessors
    • Mental Health Professionals

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at various stages of familiarity with disability and worker’s compensation law.


    • Beginner: Participants are new to statutory and case law related to disability and worker’s compensation and seek foundational knowledge of legal frameworks and key federal laws.

    • Intermediate: Participants have some experience with disability and worker’s compensation cases and are looking to deepen their understanding of applicable laws, landmark cases, and distinctions between federal and state jurisdiction.

    • Advanced: Participants have substantial experience with legal aspects of disability and worker’s compensation and seek to refine their expertise in complex case law, nuanced statutory interpretation, and advanced assessment practices.

  • Practice Setting

    Psychologists apply this training in clinical, forensic, and occupational health environments where disability and workers’ compensation evaluations are conducted for employers, insurers, attorneys, and government agencies.

    Work involves structured assessment protocols, comprehensive record review, collaboration with medical and legal stakeholders, and participation in administrative or court proceedings.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Independent medical/psychological evaluation (IME) clinics
    • Hospital-based rehabilitation and pain programs
    • Occupational health departments and employer-based clinics
    • Government disability determination services (e.g., SSA consultative exams)
    • Workers’ compensation boards and administrative hearing offices
    • Insurance carriers and third-party administrators
    • Private forensic assessment and expert witness practices
    • Veterans health and disability systems
Presented By

Lisa Drago, PhD, ABPP

Lisa Drago, Ph.D., ABPP is a board-certified forensic psychologist (ABPP). Specializing in civil forensic matters, Dr. Drago is in private practice in Annapolis, Maryland. She has a particular interest in employment-related cases including disability, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, ADA, fitness for duty, and workplace violence. She regularly conducts evaluations in disability, workers’ compensation, personal injury, fitness for duty, and security clearance cases. She has testified as an expert witness on these matters in both state and federal courts. In addition, Dr. Drago serves as a consultant to the U.S. Department of State Forensic Behavioral Science Service regarding fitness for duty and security issues. Dr. Drago has served as president of the American Board of Forensic Psychology. She was chair of the American Psychological Association Committee on Professional Practice and Standards, and co-chair of the American Psychological Association Committee on Legal Issues. She served on the Taskforce for the Revision of the Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology. Dr. Drago is the author of the book Best Practices for Forensic Mental Health Assessment: Evaluation of Workplace Disability as well as a number of book chapters and articles on topics related to personal injury, fitness for duty, ADA, psychological assessment, and disability. She has provided professional training on these topics for the American Psychological Association, the American Bar Association, the American Academy of Forensic Psychology, and the British Psychological Society. She has presented extensively on civil forensic evaluations around the U.S., as well as in Canada, Scotland, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Dr. Drago was the 2018 recipient of the Beth and Charlie Clark Award, a lifetime achievement award given by the American Academy of Forensic Psychology in recognition of an extraordinary level of service to the profession of forensic psychology.
We are proud to partner with

American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)

American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)

We are proud to partner with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP) for this training. AAFP is a non-profit organization of board-certified forensic psychologists whose mission is to contribute to the development and maintenance of forensic psychology as a specialized field of study, research, and practice. The Academy does this by providing high-quality continuing education workshops, providing a forum for the exchange of scientific information among its members, and conferring awards upon outstanding students and practitioners in the field of forensic psychology.

Learn More About Our Partner

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).


Sponsorship Approval Statements

Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Palo Alto University maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073.