Disability Rights California provided recommendations to Governor Gavin Newsom’s Task Force on Police Reform, co-chaired by Lateefah Simon, president of the Akonadi Foundation, and Ron Davis, former East Palo Alto Police Chief.

Thank you to the individuals and organizations who signed on to DRC’s advocacy letter and to all of those who submitted their own letters to the Building Standards Commission regarding the proposed changes to the California Building Code public housing definition.

While people with disabilities make up 22% of the American public according to figures released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in August 2018, they remain largely a neglected, albeit sizeable minority in terms of recognition and participation in the decennial census according to our findings.

Many people with disabilities miss out on opportunities to equal access because we do not know our rights under The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA is a law to protect against discrimination on the basis of disability. Learn more about your rights as a person with a disability!

Each year, National Disability Voter Registration Week happens to increase the power of people with disabilities by sharing resources and getting individuals registered to vote.

Disability Rights California presents a short video sharing some of our work in healthcare, housing, jails/criminal justice, and employment in response to COVID-19.  

July 26, 2020 marks 30 years since the signing of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) which became a law to prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities.

On May 14, 2020 the Governor presented his May Revision to the budget structured to address a $54.3 billion deficit caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The solutions proposed by his May Revision included cancelling program expansions, borrowing and fund transfers, new revenue and program cuts that would be offset by a “trigger” in the event that federal COVID relief materialized.

On May 27, 2020, a federal court granted preliminary approval for the settlement of a class action lawsuit about lack of curb ramps in the City of San Jose. The lawsuit is on behalf of people with mobility disabilities who use wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, or other devices.

DRC’s report shines a much-needed light on the current practice of inadequate supervision and standards that lead to increased risk of death or injury from restraint chair use.

Disability Rights California and Justice in Aging jointly submitted comments opposing proposed changes by the federal Centers for Medicaid Medicare Services to the Pre-admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) program. DRC’s comments align with many other disability rights organizations, nationwide, and call for a complete withdrawal of the proposed rule or that the proposal be significantly rewritten.

Affordable Housing Month invites us to think about the importance of housing access, affordability, and inclusion for all people who need it.

Disability Rights California, Justice in Aging, and the National Health Law Program write to express our strong opposition to the wholesale elimination of ADHC/CBAS and MSSP programs proposed in Governor Newsom’s May Revise.

We appreciate and recognize the enormous challenge associated with economic and budgetary impact resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenge that it presents to maintain services for those who have been most impacted by the pandemic itself, such as persons with disabilities, the elderly, persons of color and low-income individuals and families.

Every May - for Mental Health Awareness Month - we encourage you to help us #breakthestigma associated with mental health disorders by sharing your story to inspire those facing similar challenges.

There are moments in life that should be defined by hope in the midst of uncertainty.

At its meeting on April 6, 2020, the Judicial Council adopted an emergency court rule that effectively stops all evictions, other than those necessary to protect public health and safety, for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency.

The Governor’s March 27 Executive Order N-37-20 is intended to be a delay—not a moratorium—on evictions. Unfortunately, it provides little practical help for renters during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BCSHA) issued some guidance to homeless assistance providers on March 18, 2020, shelters are not complying.

Californians with disabilities and our advocates are horrified by reports from Italy and now Washington State about rationing access to Coronavirus (COVID-19) care via medical treatment triage criteria that will openly exclude people with disabilities from life-saving care.