2020 Fellowship Sponsorship Opportunity

For Collaborations on Skadden and Equal Justice Works Applications

2020 Fellowship Sponsorship Opportunity

Disability Rights California (DRC), the state’s designated Protection and Advocacy agency, seeks candidates for collaboration on Skadden, Equal Justice Works, and/or other public interest fellowship applications for the two-year period beginning fall 2020. The fellow would join DRC’s Youth Practice Group, which represents students with disabilities in individual and systemic matters. The Youth Practice Group’s priority is to advocate for equal educational opportunities, access to services in the most integrated settings and access to special education and supports. The fellow could be located in any of our Sacramento, Oakland, Los Angeles, or San Diego regional offices.

DRC requests project proposals in any one of the following areas:

  1. Juvenile Reentry and Integration. Youth with disabilities transitioning out of the juvenile detention face delays in enrolling in school and are often denied credit earned while enrolled in juvenile court schools. These hurdles result in improper class or school placement, denial of special education services, and high dropout rates. DRC seeks advocacy proposals that enforce the rights of youth with disabilities to return to school and receive appropriate supports and services to prevent or reduce the risk of recidivism.
  2. Language Access. Special education laws ensure that the families of students with disabilities have meaningful opportunities to participate in their education. But all too often these families lack access to culturally and language competent services that value their disability, diversity, culture, or ethnicity. DRC welcomes advocacy proposals that increase access to information, notices, and other documents in accessible formats or in individuals’ native language and American Sign Language.
  3. School Discipline and Police Involvement. Students with disabilities, especially students of color with disabilities, continue to be suspended and expelled at disproportionate rates. They are also more likely to be arrested on campus by police or school resource officers who lack training on interacting with students with disabilities. DRC seeks proposals that address these programs through creative and culturally competent legal advocacy.
  4. Inclusion and Equal Opportunity. Special education law requires students with disabilities to be educated in the “least restrictive environment.” But California continues to lag behind other states in implementation of this crucial right. We seek project proposals that advocate for equal educational opportunities, access to services in the most integrated settings and access to special education and supports.

While these areas are the Youth Practice Group’s priorities, we welcome project proposals in other areas that impact youth with disabilities.

Applications must be submitted to DRC via talent@disabilityrightsca.org .

 Your application must include:

  • Detailed cover letter describing the fellowship(s) in which you are interested and a brief project proposal
  • Resume
  • Transcript
  • Writing Sample
  • List of three references

If you have questions about this opportunity please contact Robert Borrelle, Supervising Attorney, by phone at (213) 213-8000 or by email at Robert.Borrelle@disabilityrightsca.org.