Join us for a live Virtual Town Hall

Our panel will be informing the community on how federal education, health, and immigration policies are impacting California schools and young people with disabilities. We will explore the changing education funding landscape and increased immigration enforcement, and ways we can continue to support young people and their families and preserve vital disability services.

About the Virtual Town Hall:

There are proposals to change way that federal funding is allocated to states by the Department of Education. We want to directly explain what is happening, what impacts are felt, and potential impacts that could happen down the line.

DRC understands that many families depend on schools to provide needed support and services to students with disabilities. We want this town hall to cut through the noise to emphasize what is most relevant to families of students with disabilities.

After the presentation, there will be time to have your questions answered live by our team of experts.

In this town hall, we will cover: 

• Preserving Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds for school and community services for disabled youth in California.
• The reduction in staff and funding of the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights and state-level civil rights enforcement alternatives.
• The impact of immigration enforcement activity and changes in health services on students and families.
• Impacts of MediCal funding adjustments.

Panelists:

Nicole Shaddox-Ramos is a Program Manager and Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) Project Director at Parents Helping Parents in San Jose, California. She manages several programs that support families in understanding their rights and navigating the systems that may assist their loved ones with disabilities. These systems include education, assistive technology, regional centers, public benefits, and other community-based resources that meet their basic care needs.

Oscar Daniel Lopez is the Associate Managing Attorney for the Mental Health Practice Group (MHPG) at Disability Rights California (DRC). The MHPG advocates for community-based mental health services and against forced institutionalization and incarceration of adults and youth with mental health disabilities.

Saran Tugsjargal is a globally recognized leader whose advocacy spans from the state, national, and international levels. From serving as one of the inaugural Student Commissioners for the California Department of Education Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE), to advancing policy with Mental Health America, they now shape international disability rights through the U.S. International Council on Disabilities. She advocates across education, mental health, and social welfare to ensure systems are designed and work for the people.

Moderator:

Allegra Cira Fischer is a Senior Policy Attorney for the Youth Practice Group (YPG) at Disability Rights California (DRC). The YPG advocates for education justice for students with disabilities and ending the school-to-prison pipeline.