Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund

DREDF Highlights
In The News
And of Interest...

California Department of Education confirms that its Legal Advisory on the Rights of Students with Diabetes remains in effect (1.29.10)
December 2009 SSA Notice Informing Blind and Visually Impaired Beneficiaries, Recipients, Applicants and Representative Payees About Their Right to Alternative Formats and How to Request Alternative Formats (1.26.10)
DREDF authored the topical brief on private and nonprofit sector housing for the National Council on Disability's report, "The State of Housing in America in the 21st Century: A Disability Perspective" (PDF). (1.20.10)
Major article against the legalization of assisted suicide, Killing Us Softly: The Dangers of Legalizing Assisted Suicide by DREDF's Marilyn Golden and Tyler Zoanni, was published in the Disability and Health Journal January 2010 issue. (1/12/09)
DREDF filed comments on the EEOC's proposed regulations on the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (11.23.09)
DREDF signs onto Letter of Support for H.R.3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2009 (11.5.09)
Court to SSA: Federal law requires alternate formats for effective communication with individuals who are blind and visually impaired. (10.20.09)
To the sponsors and guests of DREDF's 30th Anniversary Celebration and Tribute to Senator Edward M. Kennedy, and to all our supporters and friends, our deepest appreciation and heartfelt thanks for 30 years of commitment to social justice for the disability community. For event photos and a recap of the evening, please visit the 30th Anniversary Celebration page.
DREDF and fellow disability rights organizations ask Congress and the Administration to end aversive practices in the US (9.30.09)
National Council on Disability releases report entitled "The Current State of Health Care for People with Disabilities" authored by a team led by DREDF (9.30.09)
After four years of litigation, DREDF and co-counsel Howrey LLP, went to trial on September 14, 2009, on behalf of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) and a class of 3,000,000 blind and visually impaired plaintiffs. Closing arguments were presented on September 23, 2009. (9.23.09)
Disability Community Meeting with Attorney General Eric Holder on September 9, 2009 (9.10.09)
Health Care Reform: Be Informed and Take Action! DREDF eNews (9.8.09)
DREDF'statement on the passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy (9.2.09)
Important Diabetes Information for the 2009-2010 School Year. (7.23.09)
Diabetes Care in California Public Schools. Critical information for families in English and Spanish. (7.09)
DREDF partners with other legal advocates to launch The Barrier Free Healthcare Initiative. (6.26.09)
DREDF's Comments on the Senate Finance Committee's "Description of Policy Options, Expanding Health Care Coverage: Proposals to Provide Affordable Coverage to All Americans" (5.22.09)
New York Times: Almost people-first in principle, not yet in practice. (4.21.09)
New! Clearinghouse on Foster Youth and Transition, underwritten by the California Department of Rehabilitation (3.09)
DREDF joins disability rights coalition to send disability policy priorities to President-elect Obama (12.22.08)
DREDF filed final comments on the DOJ's proposed ADA regulation changes. See draft comments, arranged by topic, with a summary of the DOJ proposals and filing instructions. (8.15.08)

1.31.10 Federal judge rules that CA bar examiner must provide accommodation to visually impaired law student (SF Chronicle)
1.29.10 US Department of Justice files motion to monitor care in Georgia state psychiatric hospitals (Macon Telegraph)
12.28.09 Student with learning disability wins case to live in dorms (The Detroit News)
12.15.09 Good News from WIPO: U.S. Delegation Supports Visually Impaired Citizens
12.9.09 Lawmakers Seek Halt To Abuses Of Disabled Kids In School (NPR)
11.3.09 Ninth Circuit rules that teacher can sue school district for retaliation for reporting IDEA violations
11.2.09 More kids have diabetes, fewer schools have nurses (USA Today)
10.19.09 Federal judge issues injunction stopping California from cutting In Home Supportive Services (Contra Costa Times)
10.6.09 Los Angeles Public Library Suspends Purchase of Adobe Digital Editions, Reading Rights Coalition Commends Decisive Action (PRNewswire-USNewswire)
9.23.09 The EEOC releases proposed regulations for the ADA Amendments Act. Comments due Nov. 23. (Fed Register)
9.19.09 Leaving Nursing Homes Behind (NY Times)
9.20.09 Murder-Suicide at California nursing home after allegations of neglect and abuse (SF Chronicle)
9.11.09 California cuts to adult day health programs violate ADA (Kaiser Health News)
9.8.09 State Discriminated Against Mentally Ill, Judge Rules (NY Times)
9.2.09 Campaign in Portland, OR to limit service animal access (NY Times)
8.13.09 Disaster planning for individuals with disability lags (Times Picayune)
8.11.09 Eunice Kennedy Shriver, leading advocate for people with intellectual disabilities and founder of Special Olympics, dies
8.10.09 Texas state "school" abuse trial begins (Associated Press)
8.10.09 Juvenile correction system fails youth with mental illness (New York Times)
7.30.09 The US signs the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (AP)
7.26.09 California - What happens if you cut waste that isn't there? (SF Chronicle)
7.29.09 Disability Rights New Jersey gains release of 300 individuals from state psychiatric hospitals (The Star-Ledger)
7.29.09 CA budget agreement suspends exit exam graduation requirement for special education students (SF Chronicle)
7.24.09 Third Circuit Rejects Certification in UPS Discrimination Case (Law.com)
7.16.09 The US Dept. of Justice issued guidance to states that it is a violation of the ADA to refuse a license to a person with HIV because of his or her disability. (MSNBC)
7.17.09 LA shelters sued over ban on aid dogs (Los Angeles Times)
7.2.09 Arizona State sued over Kindle usage (Library Journal)
6.26.09 Blue Cross of Florida to require pre-authorization for mental health services in anticipation of Mental Health Parity requirement (Naples News)
6.23.09 US Dept. of Justice intervenes in ADA lawsuit against Jackson, Miss. transportation provider
6.22.09 US Supreme Court rules in favor of parents in tuition reimbursement case
6.12.09 California Supreme Court upholds disability discrimination damages (SF Chronicle)
6.7.09 California contemplating re-write of social contract
6.4.09 Disability Rights Activists protest Disney's proposed settlement on the use of Segways
Read older "In the News" items

Sins Invalid: A Night of Resistance to Invisibility. Fourth Annual Performance. Oct. 2 - 4, Brava Theater, San Francisco
The American Diabetes Association program "Fighting For Fairness: Ending Discrimination Against Students And Workers With Diabetes 2009" brochure is now online.
Disability rights groups weigh in on the Stimulus (12.23.08)
The Obama–Biden Administration posted "The Agenda" on The White House website. Read the Administration's priorities on disability. (1.21.09)
The National Disability Rights Network issued an investigative report on the use restraint and seclusion in schools, "School is not Supposed to Hurt." (1.17.09)
The U.S. Dept. of Labor launches America's Heroes at Work, a project supporting employment of individuals with TBI and PTSD (12.5.08)
New law requires better information and support to women whose fetus or newborn is diagnosed with a disability (10.21.08)
U.S. based forum supporting ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Young disability groups build political presence
Michael Berube weighs in on genetic testing

Special Education Needs in California County Jails or Adult State Prison?

DREDF is conducting an investigation into whether young people with disabilities are receiving special education and related services as guaranteed under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Click here for more information.

Law Clerk Internships

DREDF is seeking law students to work during summer, fall, and spring.