20 Hours / 20 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on the Forensic Evaluation of Workplace Disability is presented by Lisa Drago, PhD, ABPP. 

This badge-earning program can be shared digitally on platforms like LinkedIn or your resume and counts toward a certificate. Enroll in this program to earn credit towards the Civil Forensic Assessment Certificate and share your new digital credentials.

This program provides a conceptual framework and practical strategies for forensic evaluations in matters involving disability statuses such as ADA, disability insurance, and workers’ compensation. The program begins with an overview of various types of disability cases, emphasizing the underlying legal context. 

This program explores the basis for evaluating a disability, with a focus on functional assessment. Specific subtopics include avoiding ethical pitfalls, understanding the role of diagnosis, and assessing dissimulation. This is followed by a discussion of practical strategies for designing an effective assessment, organizing and weighing data, and communicating the findings. Participants have the opportunity to practice these skills through in-depth case studies, which include background information, test data, and collateral materials.

This program is designed for forensic psychologists and clinically trained psychologists with a foundational knowledge of forensic psychology who are interested in, or currently engaged in, conducting disability evaluations. It is particularly well-suited for professionals seeking to strengthen their assessment skills, refine their interpretation of evaluation data, and enhance their understanding of best practices within forensic and disability-related contexts.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe the psycho-legal question to address in disability evaluations
  • 2 Describe the importance of correctly identifying the definition of disability
  • 3 Describe examples of potential ethical issues that may arise in disability evaluations
  • 4 Describe why functional capacity is more important than a diagnosis in disability evaluations
  • 5 Describe how condition, functional limitations, and work demands interact in the determination of disability
  • 6 Describe appropriate methods for data collection in disability evaluations
  • 7 Describe how issues of cultural diversity can impact the examinee’s presentation in a disability evaluation
  • 8 Describe strategies for the assessment of dissimulation in disability evaluations
  • 9 Describe strategies for report writing

  • Intended Audience

    This program is designed for individuals who are interested in or have experience with conducting disability evaluations in forensic contexts, particularly those who seek to deepen their understanding of the legal, ethical, and practical complexities involved in assessing disability status. The intended audience includes those who wish to enhance their skills in functional assessment, data collection, ethical decision-making, and effective communication of findings, while also considering the impact of cultural diversity and the importance of accurately identifying disability definitions.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Forensic Psychologist
    • Clinical Psychologist
    • Mental Health Professional
    • Disability Evaluator
    • Rehabilitation Psychologist
    • Neuropsychologist
    • Psychotherapist involved in forensic assessments

  • Experience Level

    This program is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals seeking foundational knowledge and practical skills in forensic disability evaluations.

    • Beginner: Participants are new to forensic disability evaluations or have limited experience with legal frameworks, functional assessment, and report writing in disability cases.

    • Intermediate: They are seeking to build competence in understanding psycho-legal questions, ethical considerations, and the basics of data collection and interpretation within the context of ADA, disability insurance, and workers’ compensation cases.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who conduct forensic disability evaluations typically work in environments where legal, medical, and psychological issues intersect. These settings require careful attention to confidentiality, objectivity, and adherence to legal and ethical standards. Workplaces may include private practices, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, government agencies, or consulting for legal teams. Professionals often interact with attorneys, courts, insurance companies, and other stakeholders, and their work involves structured interviews, psychological testing, review of records, and preparation of detailed reports for legal proceedings.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Private forensic or clinical psychology practices
    • Hospital-based neuropsychology or rehabilitation departments
    • Government agencies (e.g., Social Security Administration, Veterans Affairs)
    • Disability determination services
    • Workers’ compensation evaluation centers
    • Consulting roles for law firms or insurance companies
    • Academic medical centers with forensic assessment units
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.


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Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Introduction to disability evaluation

  • Legal Framework

  • Ethical Issues

  • Conceptualizing disability: diagnosis, functioning, and context

  • Designing the assessment

  • Data interpretation

  • Report Writing

  • Communicating with Clients and Trainees About AI

Earning a Certificate

This is a badge-earning program, which means it will help you earn a certificate that can be showcased on digital platforms like LinkedIn.
View Certificates

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. This training has been approved for a total of 12 Hours of continuing education (CE) for the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) in accordance with Labor Code section 139.2(d)(3) and Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations, section 55.1.