BLACK LIVES MATTER
February 11, 2021
Report: A Case for Prioritizing
Vaccination for Recipients of
Home and Community-Based Services
October 15, 2020
People with Disabilities
Not Counted in COVID-19
Vaccine Allocation Framework
READ MORE ABOUT People with Disabilities
Not Counted in COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Framework →
August 27, 2020
DREDF, Partners, File Complaints of Disability Discrimination by California Hospitals re COVID Visitation Policies
June 10, 2020
California Dept. of Public Health
Releases Revised
Crisis Care Guidelines!
March 25, 2020
DREDF Brief: Medical Rationing
on the Basis of
Disability is Illegal
READ MORE about Medical Rationing on the Basis of Disability →
Latest News
DREDF and DRC Reply Comments on Phase 3 of CPUC Power Outage Proceeding
March 29, 2021
On March 29, 2021, DREDF and DRC filed reply comments as part of the third phase of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regulatory proceedings on Investor Owned Utility (IOU) decisions to shut off power to consumers during extreme weather events. With this phase of the proceeding, the CPUC has begun to develop their regulations on providing backup power resources to people who utilize medical equipment during these emergencies. DREDF and DRC make recommendations on this proposal and others, and continue to advocate for the needs of the disability community during all stages of these disaster events. DREDF and DRC continue to be involved in a multi-prong approach to address effective mitigation of the life-threatening consequences to our community from these planned power outage emergencies. [...]read more ❯
On March 29, 2021, DREDF and DRC filed reply comments as part of the third phase of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regulatory proceedings on Investor Owned Utility (IOU) decisions to shut off power to consumers during extreme weather events. With this phase of the proceeding, the CPUC has begun to develop their regulations on providing backup power resources to people who utilize medical equipment during these emergencies. DREDF and DRC make recommendations on this proposal and others, and continue to advocate for the needs of the disability community during all stages of these disaster events. DREDF and DRC continue to be involved in a multi-prong approach to address effective mitigation of the life-threatening consequences to our community from these planned power outage emergencies. [...]read more ❯
Together We Must Stop Asian Hate
March 26, 2021
The horrific, tragic killing of 8 people – including 6 Asian and Asian American women by a white man in Atlanta Tuesday, March 16 – shines an uncomfortable, necessary spotlight on anti-Asian racism and violence in the United States. Both the shooting and its aftermath – in which a first responder attributed the shootings to "a bad day" rather than white supremacy, or the shooter placing the blame on his victims – shows the lengths to which many will go in an attempt to avoid facing difficult but necessary truths. [...]read more ❯
The horrific, tragic killing of 8 people – including 6 Asian and Asian American women by a white man in Atlanta Tuesday, March 16 – shines an uncomfortable, necessary spotlight on anti-Asian racism and violence in the United States. Both the shooting and its aftermath – in which a first responder attributed the shootings to "a bad day" rather than white supremacy, or the shooter placing the blame on his victims – shows the lengths to which many will go in an attempt to avoid facing difficult but necessary truths. [...]read more ❯
Coalition Comment Urges Protection for Clients With Disabilities in Legal Representation
February 16, 2021
DREDF and other California legal services offices continue work to ensure that clients with cognitive or mental health disabilities are not stripped of their right to make decisions based on paternalistic stereotypes. Past advocacy, which began in 2009, has focused on the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Model Rule 1.14 addresses clients with “diminished capacity.” The coalition has repeatedly and successfully argued that Rule 1.14 is too vague and too broad, and would allow attorneys to inappropriately compromise clients’ personal autonomy and confidentiality in situations where it is not warranted. Model Rule 1.14 has not been adopted in California. However, the California State Bar ethics committee is now considering issuing an advisory opinion that would be similarly and inappropriately restrictive. [...]read more ❯
DREDF and other California legal services offices continue work to ensure that clients with cognitive or mental health disabilities are not stripped of their right to make decisions based on paternalistic stereotypes. Past advocacy, which began in 2009, has focused on the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Model Rule 1.14 addresses clients with “diminished capacity.” The coalition has repeatedly and successfully argued that Rule 1.14 is too vague and too broad, and would allow attorneys to inappropriately compromise clients’ personal autonomy and confidentiality in situations where it is not warranted. Model Rule 1.14 has not been adopted in California. However, the California State Bar ethics committee is now considering issuing an advisory opinion that would be similarly and inappropriately restrictive. [...]read more ❯
DREDF and Others Press HHS OCR to Strengthen Nondiscrimination in Healthcare
February 11, 2021
DREDF, with partners Not Dead Yet and the Patients Rights Action Fund, have assembled a total of 30 disability rights and racial justice organizations to support further regulatory action by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights. In particular, the groups want to see the formal HHS release of the recently issued but not yet published Request for Information (RFI) on "Discrimination on the Basis of Disability in Critical Health and Human Service Programs or Activities" (RIN: 0945-AA15). [...]read more ❯
DREDF, with partners Not Dead Yet and the Patients Rights Action Fund, have assembled a total of 30 disability rights and racial justice organizations to support further regulatory action by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights. In particular, the groups want to see the formal HHS release of the recently issued but not yet published Request for Information (RFI) on "Discrimination on the Basis of Disability in Critical Health and Human Service Programs or Activities" (RIN: 0945-AA15). [...]read more ❯
Elevated COVID-19 Mortality Risk Among Recipients of Home and Community-Based Services: A Case for Prioritizing Vaccination for This Population
February 11, 2021
H. Stephen Kaye, Ph.D., published a paper setting out his analysis of mortality risk among recipients of home and community-based services. He finds that HCBS recipients between 45 and 64 years of age appear to be at greater mortality risk than the general community-resident population between 65 and 74 years of age. He concludes that this elevated mortality risk justifies increasing the vaccination priority for HCBS recipients under age 65 to equal that of the general population age 65 and older. [...]read more ❯
H. Stephen Kaye, Ph.D., published a paper setting out his analysis of mortality risk among recipients of home and community-based services. He finds that HCBS recipients between 45 and 64 years of age appear to be at greater mortality risk than the general community-resident population between 65 and 74 years of age. He concludes that this elevated mortality risk justifies increasing the vaccination priority for HCBS recipients under age 65 to equal that of the general population age 65 and older. [...]read more ❯
C.B. v. MVUSD, et al.
February 4, 2021
On behalf of an 11-year-old Black disabled student (C.B.) who was repeatedly handcuffed and restrained by school police, DREDF and co-counsel Disability Rights California and Barajas & Rivera APC filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging that Moreno Valley Unified School District and Riverside County discriminates against students with disabilities with a demonstrated bias toward Black students in its disciplinary practices. [...]read more ❯
On behalf of an 11-year-old Black disabled student (C.B.) who was repeatedly handcuffed and restrained by school police, DREDF and co-counsel Disability Rights California and Barajas & Rivera APC filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging that Moreno Valley Unified School District and Riverside County discriminates against students with disabilities with a demonstrated bias toward Black students in its disciplinary practices. [...]read more ❯
The DREDF Blog
What Happens When Advocacy Never Ends?
April 12, 2020
I am weary.
Of calling and emailing. Of educating and advocating. Of meeting and presenting. Of filing complaints. Of not being heard.
It’s not living with a disability that exhausts me. I have learned to live well with spina bifida—even to thrive. I am adept at balancing a career, chronic health issues, community advocacy, and having a life. My support system includes a wonderful husband, family, friends, and colleagues. I have honed my advocacy skills; I know when to take on a battle and when to focus on the war. I have worked to make my community accessible for all, and to be the kind of place I want to grow old in. Life is good. [...]read more ❯
I am weary.Of calling and emailing. Of educating and advocating. Of meeting and presenting. Of filing complaints. Of not being heard.
It’s not living with a disability that exhausts me. I have learned to live well with spina bifida—even to thrive. I am adept at balancing a career, chronic health issues, community advocacy, and having a life. My support system includes a wonderful husband, family, friends, and colleagues. I have honed my advocacy skills; I know when to take on a battle and when to focus on the war. I have worked to make my community accessible for all, and to be the kind of place I want to grow old in. Life is good. [...]read more ❯
How Automated Benefits Determinations Violate Disabled People's Constitutional Due Process Rights and Increase Risk of Institutionalization
February 23, 2021
If you blinked, you might have missed it.
At the end of 2020, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals published an important decision in Waskul, et al. v. Washtenaw County Community Mental Health. In the case, five people with developmental disabilities sued the state of Michigan and Washtenaw County after the county was allowed to implement a new budget methodology for their services and health care. The state tried to stop the case from moving to trial, but the Sixth Circuit decided that the plaintiffs’ facts were compelling enough for their arguments to be heard. Their decision offers some important language and potential tips for other advocates. [...]read more ❯
If you blinked, you might have missed it.
At the end of 2020, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals published an important decision in Waskul, et al. v. Washtenaw County Community Mental Health. In the case, five people with developmental disabilities sued the state of Michigan and Washtenaw County after the county was allowed to implement a new budget methodology for their services and health care. The state tried to stop the case from moving to trial, but the Sixth Circuit decided that the plaintiffs’ facts were compelling enough for their arguments to be heard. Their decision offers some important language and potential tips for other advocates. [...]read more ❯
I'd Rather...The IDEA
December 1, 2020
This is a personal story about how IDEA – the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act – has affected our family. And the nation.
by Meriah Nichols, Unpacking Disability, and DREDF Board Memberread more ❯
This is a personal story about how IDEA – the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act – has affected our family. And the nation.
by Meriah Nichols, Unpacking Disability, and DREDF Board Memberread more ❯
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DREDF joined Legal Aid at Work in writing a comment to the State Bar of California opposing a revision to State Bar Rule 4.90. The revision would give bar applicants less time to appeal accommodation denials and less opportunity to have accommodation denials reviewed. DREDF and LAAW described the harmful impact this would have on bar applicants with disabilities, imposing more difficulty in an already frustrating process. The comment further urges the State Bar to instead adopt meaningful reforms to its testing accommodation process, adhering to guidance from the Department of Justice which has already been implemented by the Law School Admissions Council. [...]read more ❯