Tomás J. Aragón, M.D., Dr. P.H.
Director and State Public Health Officer
California Department of Public Health 

Mark Ghaly, M.D., M.P.H.
Secretary, California Health and Human Services Agency

Dear Dr. Aragón and Dr. Ghaly: 

DRC is saddened by the loss of disability rights activist Judy Heumann who was considered the “mother of the disability rights movement” because of her longtime advocacy for the disability community.

Solitary confinement is one of the most severe and destructive practices used in detention facilities. The World Health Organization, United Nations, and other international bodies have recognized solitary confinement as greatly harmful and potentially fatal. People with disabilities, pregnant people, youth, and the elderly are all at heightened risk from the harm caused by solitary confinement inside jails, prisons, and immigrant detention centers in California.

Disability Rights California (DRC) is proud to announce that Candis Bowles, our Associate Director of the Legal Advocacy Unit (LAU), was recently appointed to serve on the California Racial Equity Commission.

The commission, established in 2022 under Governor Gavin Newsom, is tasked with producing a Racial Equity Framework of resources to promote racial equity and address structural racism.

It takes a unique kind of lawmaker or staffer to champion laws that positively impact Californians with disabilities. That’s why DRC is proud to honor legislators and legislative staff who worked and advocated on behalf of persons with disabilities.  

Each year, we hold an event to recognize selected legislators and staff for their outstanding legislative work toward advancing disability rights. The 2022 Legislative Awards ceremony was held in-person for the first time since 2019 at Fox and Goose Public House in Sacramento, CA.

Alice is a poet, visual artist, and filmmaker based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, who has lived experience with bipolar disorder.

On January 31, 2023, the City of Seal Beach is holding a run-off election for the Councilmember seats for Districts 3 and 5. In addition to receiving a mail ballot automatically for this Election, voters will have two options for in-person voting:

Finding a community of support is a valuable tool in navigating challenging systems. Knowing that you’re not alone, and that others have faced the same issues as you is invaluable towards overcoming obstacles.

When was the last time your state representative discussed disability rights? Or have you been in a room where disability activists shared about collective liberation? All these topics and more were covered at Disability Rights California’s virtual town hall.

A quarter of all Californians have a disability,1 and it is estimated that close to four million of them are eligible to vote.

Clerk of the Board
700 H Street, Suite 2450
Sacramento, CA 95814
BoardClerk@saccounty.gov

Re: Sacramento County Must Act Now to Significantly Reduce Its Jail Population and to Meet Its Legal and Constitutional Duties in the Treatment of People with Disabilities

[For: Sacramento County Board of Supervisors 12/7 Meeting Agenda Item # 2 (Report on Population Reduction Efforts and Request for Direction on Steps to Address Jail Facility Deficiencies for Mays Consent Decree Compliance)]