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The law firm of Kendra S. Kleber & Associates was formed to represent people living with HIV/AIDS on Social Security disability benefits claims, and to develop legal strategies to enhance independence and reduce HIV stigma, without relying on grants and donations from foundations and government agencies.

The mission of the firm is simple:

We provide legal services and training on HIV/AIDS-related legal rights and responsibilities to support the self-sufficiency, independence and quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Disability Services: Kendra S. Kleber & Associates provides creative and effective legal representation on claims for Social Security disability benefits to people living with HIV/AIDS who are disabled and unable to work. We understand HIV and AIDS, and we can explain it to Social Security decision-makers who may or may not know anything about it. Our compassionate, respectful and aggressive approach to disability claims allows us to help the Social Security Administration by presenting thoroughly prepared applications that can be resolved in our clients' favor quickly, completely and properly. We do the worrying  and paper-gathering for our clients; and we do the file preparation for the Social Security Administration so that each application can be moved from 'pending' to 'approved' as fast as possible.

Training Services: Teaching about legal rights and responsibilities related to HIV/AIDS is one of our strategies, and Kendra S. Kleber conducts training events on HIV/AIDS-related legal rights and responsibilities for audiences including providers, individual consumers,  government agencies, and others. (Not all programs are available at all times. Please refer to the "Training Event Info" button above for more information.)

Legal Services: Technical support, mentoring and creative problem-solving is another strategy. HIV-focused legal experience allows us to encourage medically appropriate responses to the legal needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. Sometimes all you need is to talk a problem through, and Kendra S. Kleber & Associates is available to help individuals, businesses, law firms, and state agencies seeking information about their own HIV-related legal rights and responsibilities.

We want everyone to call us for everything, because we believe that the best way to handle a legal problem is to avoid it in the first place. And consulting an attorney early is a fine way to avoid or prevent legal problems.

Kendra S. Kleber JD Kendra S. Kleber is an attorney who has been active in public health and social justice issues since 1995. Since 1997, her practice has largely focused on reducing the burden of HIV/AIDS on individuals, families, communities, government, businesses and others. Ms. Kleber is a graduate of the Michigan State University College of Law, and she holds an undergraduate degree in computer science from the University of South Carolina. In addition to her legal experience and education Ms. Kleber has over twenty-five years of general business experience. She has worked as a management consultant to public utility companies across the country, and was a merchandising supervisor for a national drug store company. In her life before law school, she owned and operated businesses as a computer consultant and as a horse trainer and riding teacher.

Ms. Kleber is admitted to practice law before the courts of the States of Michigan and New York, the federal courts of Michigan and the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. She is authorized to practice before the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, in any hearing office across the country.

Michigan Advocates Exchange (MAX)

In 2000, Ms. Kleber co-founded Michigan Advocates Exchange, Inc. (MAX) as the only HIV-specific nonprofit legal services agency in Michigan. Under Ms. Kleber's leadership, from 2000 until 2004 MAX was the only agency funded by the State of Michigan to provide HIV/AIDS-specific legal advocacy and training statewide. MAX served clients on matters related to Social Security benefits, estate planning, confidentiality of HIV status, and discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, medical care, prisoner rights, contract rights, collections and insurance.

MAX also produced articles, training materials and technical guidelines on HIV/AIDS policy issues, implementation of state and federal law, and other topics. Many of MAX's publications have been updated and reproduced here, with the permission of the MAX Board of Trustees.

By the way, if you'd like to purchase a MAX sweatshirt, clock or mousepad please click the "Back Room" button above and check out the MAX store. There is an assortment of MAX merchandise still available.

Positive Outlook Why "Positive Outlook"? The name, the t-shirts, the website address - unusual stuff for a lawyer. Positive Outlook expresses two things about Ms. Kleber and the firm. First, Kendra is a relentless optimist and prefers a positive view of everything. (Know the old "glass is half full or half empty" question? In Kendra's view, the glass is half full, getting bigger by the minute, and is filling up as it rains.) Second, the name perfectly expresses Kendra's focus on working for people who are HIV-positive. We will look out and speak up for people who are positive until it is no longer necessary.

Check out the Positive Outlook store by clicking on the "Positive Outlook" button above. Our uppity and outspoken ideas are available on tshirts and sweatshirts. Examples:

• "People who say AIDS is over have never been tested." 
• "My HIV status is not your business. Know your own."
• "Live out. Take your life back."
• "PWA Person With Attorney"
• "You're either HIV positive or you don't know yet."
• "Safety without Liberty is not security."
• "My friend died of AIDS and I'm furious."  (we know, nobody "dies of AIDS," but it is a sentiment that even people who do not understand much about HIV can understand.)
• "You are wonderful"
• "Never underestimate the power of a good example."