MARIA toyofuku BRADY, MS, CRC, SPHR

With 30 years of experience as a vocational rehabilitation counselor, I specialize in the analysis and clear explanation of the intersection of disability and earning capacity.  While assisting injured workers in returning to the labor force, I have met with hundreds of people over the years - software engineers, nurses, police officers, landscapers, medical professionals, electricians, caregivers, truck drivers, roofers, sales executives, childcare workers, carpenters, CEOs, ironworkers, therapists, longshoremen, restaurant workers, and many more.  It has been my privilege to accompany clients in exploring employment alternatives during times of unwanted change, to provide support, and to implement retraining programs.  I have learned about the inner workings of jobs in all sectors of the labor market, including hiring practices, and labor market conditions that vary by industry and location over time.  

My work as a vocational consultant also involves understanding the impact of disability conditions on an individual's ability to continue to perform their usual work or to work in a different capacity.  In consultation with physiatrists, orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, and others, my role is to gain an understanding of work capacity from a medical perspective.  Ultimately, while focusing on the unique circumstances of each individual, I integrate all factors affecting employability to arrive at realistic projections of vocational alternatives and earning capacity, identifying the most viable paths forward post-injury or illness.

I am retained equally as an expert witness by plaintiffs' and defense attorneys in cases involving personal injury, medical malpractice, employment law, civil rights, wrongful death, maritime law, and workers' compensation.  I have been retained on cases in superior courts throughout California, in other states, and in federal courts.

When not involved with work, I most enjoy traveling, cooking, learning to speak Italian, and spending time with friends, family, and my three sons.