DRC investigated College Hospital, a private psychiatric hospital in Cerritos, CA, after receiving reports of high rates of restraint and seclusion. We inspected all facility areas accessible to residents in College’s DDMI units, which are units where people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) along with a significant mental illness are housed. During our investigation, we interviewed patients and staff and reviewed thousands of pages of documents. We found problems and wrote a report about what we learned. Below you will find more information about our work.

Governor Newsom’s May Revision of the proposed 2025-26 state budget, unveiled late Wednesday morning, presents a dangerous vision for California spending, one that will cause tremendous harm, and one that is deeply unaligned with the real needs and desires of the vast majority of Californians.

To: California Congressional Delegation

Dear California Congressional Delegation,

We are writing to voice Disability Rights California’s opposition to the reconciliation bill that passed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, and to ask you to stand up for Californians with disabilities by voting “no” when the bill comes to a vote on the House floor. Medicaid is a life-sustaining benefit for millions of Californians with disabilities, and the provisions in this bill would harm disabled Californians. 

Sacramento, CA — Congress will soon vote on the Budget Reconciliation Bill which will decide on massive cuts to Medicaid. These cuts would be the largest Medicaid cuts in history and, if enacted, the next 10 years would see $715 billion in cuts and 14 million people losing vital health care coverage. This is not just a budget cut, it’s severing a lifeline to millions of Americans. We call on Congress, especially the Congressional Representatives from California to vote No and stop the cuts to Medicaid.

We’d like your input as we review and revise the priorities of our work for 2026. You can tell us what is important by answering the questions below.  If you need help, please call us at (800) 776-5746 and say, “I need help with your survey.”

Disability Rights California urges the state to protect veterans following recent actions from the federal administration that will create unnecessary hardship. The Department of Veterans Affairs expects to decrease staff by over 80,000 people and reorganize the agency by August. We recognize the significant intersection between disability and veteran identity status, as well as the need for ongoing healthcare services during administrative changes.

California’s state parks and beaches are some of the most breathtaking natural landscapes in the world. Yet, for many individuals with disabilities, accessing and enjoying these spaces remains a challenge. AB 1225, introduced by Assemblymember Steve Bennett, seeks to change that by establishing an Accessibility Advisory Committee within the Department of Parks & Recreation.

The Department of Education is crucial to students with disabilities, and Disability Rights California denounces today’s executive order that threatens to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and related programs. The efforts to weaken the Department have been made recklessly and threaten to leave many school-aged children with disabilities and their families without proper access to quality public education and their civil rights. 

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.

This article is part of a series of explainers about how the developmental services system of care overlaps with the criminal-legal system. See Porterville Developmental Center Q&A for the first post in this series.

You can learn about diversion in this RULA section as well.

(Tulare County, CA) - Disability Rights California (DRC) reached a groundbreaking settlement agreement with Tulare County that will expand the County’s mental health services and prevent unnecessary institutionalization and incarceration. The settlement is a culmination of a multi-year investigation by DRC and subsequent negotiations with the County’s Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA). 

Disability Rights California mourns the lives lost in the tragic plane crash near Washington, DC on January 29, 2025.

As everyone continues to simply try and comprehend the destruction taking place in and around Los Angeles, many conversations have been started or re-opened about fire prevention, governance, and how our resources are being used. One of the most powerful stories that reemerged this past week was that of the incarcerated people, who make up a shocking 30% of California's firefighters. Regardless of where people self-identify politically, there is consensus that these brave people were risking their lives while providing a heroic and desperately needed service.

With the current wildfires and windstorms affecting Southern California, we’re sharing resources for people with disabilities. This information has been compiled by DRC's Disaster Resilience Program.

Disability Rights California Emergency Preparedness resources: https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/resources/emergency-preparedness.