Fast forward to 2009 and so much has changed. HIV/AIDS is now labeled as a chronic “managed care” condition and no longer necessarily a death sentence if treated early and consistently. Disability Benefits are now a well known and widely needed specialty training in the corporate business world, as well as, the private sector. As federal and state disability laws and policies changed to meet the needs of people with disabilities, Mr. Fortuño began to expand his practice to include the entire disabled community, not just HIV/AIDS. Mr. Fortuño honors the pioneering work of the HIV/AIDS organizations who brought to the national dialogue the rights of people with disabilities. The one unfortunate outcome of all these fast paced changes, additions and revamped laws and guidelines concerning disability benefits; is that it has all become even more complex, misunderstood, entangled and as a result often under utilized in everyday counseling. No formal or recognized training exists and generally everyone learns by trial and error to often at the disabled individual’s expense. Mr. Fortuño’s almost three decades of experience in this field is what has made him a leading benefits expert.

HIV/AIDS Community

With BEC on your team, you will understand the intricacies and complexities of the Disability Benefits System

Our Ongoing Relationships include:

Arkansas Jefferson County Comprehensive Care Clinic California AIDS Assistance Program, Palm Springs AIDS Project Los Angeles CAIRS Medical Clinic, Sacramento Desert AIDS Project, Palm Springs EMA CARES, Sacramento Employment Support Project, San Diego Minority AIDS Project, Los Angeles National Native American AIDS Prevention Center, Oakland Positive Living for US (PLUS), SF,CA Project Inform, San Francisco Sacramento AIDS Foundation San Francisco AIDS Foundation St. Mary Medical Center, Long Beach Sunburst Project, Sacramento TODEC Legal Center, Perris Working Wonders, Cathedral City Watts Health Clinic, Los Angeles Louisiana Dulac Community Center, Dulac Tech Action Clinic, Franklin & Houma Massachusetts Circle of Wellness, Jamaica Plain New York Aich Circle of Care, New York Aich Sewankaka Place, Riverhead Vision Quest, Buffalo North Carolina Borderbelt AIDS Resources Team, Lumberton Catawba Health Services, Charlotte

Fast forward to 2009 and so much has changed. HIV/AIDS is now labeled as a chronic “managed care”

condition and no longer necessarily a death sentence if treated early and consistently. Disability Benefits are now a well known and widely needed specialty training in the corporate business world, as well as, the private sector. As federal and state disability laws and policies changed to meet the needs of people with disabilities, Mr. Fortuño began to expand his practice to include the entire disabled community, not just HIV/AIDS. Mr. Fortuño honors the pioneering work of the HIV/AIDS organizations who brought to the national dialogue the rights of people with disabilities.

The one unfortunate outcome of all these fast paced changes, additions and revamped laws and guidelines concerning disability benefits; is that it has all become even more complex, misunderstood, entangled and as a result often under utilized in everyday counseling. No formal or recognized training exists and generally everyone learns by trial and error to often at the disabled individual’s expense.

Mr. Fortuño’s almost three decades of experience in this field is what has made him a leading benefits expert.

Over 18 Years Served

Disability benefits raged to the center of national attention in the mid 1980’s as thousands of men, women and children across the country were being affected by as yet unknown disease, that took people devastatingly fast and in unstoppable numbers. As communities scrambled to serve these sick and dying individuals, many organizations sprung up across the country to support these dying individuals in any way possible at the time.

At the time labeled a “gay men’s disease” did little to help the reality that this disease was affecting populations across the boards. As we now know today HIV/AIDS has no gender, ethnic or demographic boundaries and has consequently become a global pandemic.

Mr. Fortuño’s intensive benefits work began with such a grassroots organization based in San Francisco, CA in 1993. At the time AIDS Benefits Counselors (ABC) had really one objective and that was to assure these critically ill individuals that they would have adequate medical care and some sort of financial support and a roof over their heads until they died. Prior to this he work as a Case Manager at the Sacramento AIDS Foundation, CA in 1991.

Benefits Education Center

1031 Franklin Street, Suite 1106 · San Francisco, CA 94109

Phone 415-345-1725 · Fax 415-962-0417

email: info@benefitsec.com