Ninth Circuit Takes California Department Of Education (CDE) To Task

December 15, 2016
The Ninth Circuit affirmed U.S. Northern California District Court Judge Thelton Henderson's orders that the California Department of Education (CDE) must implement a corrective action plan designed to ensure that its special education monitoring system would comply with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Consent Decree in the case, a class action brought to protect the special education rights of students with disabilities. The decision is the culmination of nearly 20 years of attempting to reform failed local and state-level special education policies.

Do More Than Worry About Disability Rights — Fuel Our Fight This #GivingTuesday

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November 29, 2016
In case you have not heard, #GivingTuesday is an annual global day of giving that celebrates generosity and kindness.
As disability civil rights advocates — and people with disabilities — we remain profoundly worried about health care and education (among other issues). We know you are, too.

NAD Lawsuit Against Harvard and MIT Moves Forward

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November 8, 2016
Judge Mark G. Mastroianni of the District Court of Massachusetts denied Massachusetts Institute for Technology's (MIT) and Harvard University's motions to dismiss the National Association of the Deaf's (NAD) and other named plaintiffs' complaint that the institution discriminates against deaf and hard of hearing people by failing to caption the vast and varied array of online content they make available to the general public, including massive open online courses (MOOCs). Today's decision affirms that plaintiffs' case will be going forward.

DREDF and Allies Submit Comments on Website Accessibility

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October 21, 2016
On October 7, 2016, in response to the U.S. Department of Justice's Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rule regarding Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability; Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State and Local Government, DREDF has signed onto comments submitted by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB); National Association of the Deaf (NAD); National Disability Rights Network; and Paralyzed Veterans of America, among others. The comments emphasize that the internet has become a fundamental part of every day life, and state and local government websites must remove the serious barriers facing people with disabilities in accessing critical government information online.

The National Association of the Deaf and Hulu Reach Agreement

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September 6, 2016
BERKELEY, CA – September 6, 2016 Hulu, LLC (Hulu) and the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), the nation's premier civil rights organization of, by, and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals, represented by Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF), and Civil Rights Education and Enforcement Center (CREEC), entered into a settlement agreement for Hulu to provide 100 percent closed captions of its full-length English and Spanish content by September 2017.

DREDF letter Opposing HR 3765

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August 8, 2016
We strongly oppose the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2015, H.R. 3765. This bill is designed to limit the ability of people with disabilities to enforce their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to access places of public accommodation in the same manner as all other citizens. Twenty-six years after the ADA was enacted, businesses should be expected to know and comply with their obligations under the law. [...]

East County NAACP Sues Antioch Unified School District

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July 7, 2016
The East County NAACP filed suit against the Antioch Unified School District (AUSD) for violating an agreement intended to address civil rights violations against African American students. That agreement, and the lawsuit, seek to end AUSD’s disproportionate suspensions and expulsions of African American students, particularly those with disabilities. The NAACP East County is represented in this lawsuit by Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF), Morrison & Foerster, the National Center for Youth Law (NCYL), and the Equal Justice Society (EJS). [...]

East County NAACP Sues Antioch Unified School District for Violating Agreement on Civil and Disability Rights

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July 7, 2016
Martinez, CA – The East County NAACP filed suit on July 6, 2016 against the Antioch Unified School District (AUSD) for violating an agreement intended to address civil rights violations against African American students. That agreement, and the current lawsuit, seek to end AUSD's disproportionate suspensions and expulsions of African American students, particularly those with disabilities.

DREDF’s Comments on CMS Proposals

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July 5, 2016
DREDF supports CMS proposals to include Promoting Health Equity and Continuity, and Social and Community Involvement as Clinical Practice Improvement Activity performance categories related to rewarding eligible practitioners who work to improve and maintain high quality care for people with disabilities. However, we question why the proposed rule fails to immediately adopt the subcategory of promoting health equity, which explicitly includes "maintaining adequate equipment and other accommodations."

Arlene B. Mayerson to Receive Paul G. Hearne Award for Disability Rights

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June 24, 2016
We are incredibly proud to announce that DREDF Directing Attorney Arlene B. Mayerson, will receive the American Bar Association's Paul G. Hearne Award for Disability Rights. The ABA Commission on Disability Rights selected Mayerson for her commitment and service as a disability rights advocate.