November 6, 2005
On behalf of the American Council of the Blind and a group of individuals who are blind or have vision impairments, DREDF filed a class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court, California Northern District against the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA), alleging that the agency failed to provide the most basic accommodations to its blind applicants and beneficiaries. More than 30 years after federal civil rights law made the obligation clear and technological advances made alternative formats commonplace, the SSA continued to ignore the needs and rights of blind and visually impaired individuals.
Children With Diabetes Sue School Districts, State for Assistance
October 11, 2005
Oakland, California — Four elementary school-age students, along with the American Diabetes Association, filed an unprecedented civil rights complaint today in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking class action relief against the California Superintendent of Public Schools, the California Department of Education, members of the California Board of Education, the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, the Fremont Unified School District, and their Superintendents and Boards of Trustees. The suit asks the Court to compel public school officials to comply with federal law by providing the assistance that California students with diabetes require to manage their diabetes during the school day.
Hurricane Katrina
August 30, 2005
The disability community has come together to assist people with disabilities in the Gulf States affected by the hurricane. We've gathered the following information for those affected and how to help.
Sanchez v. Johnson Opinion
August 8, 2005
The Governor and the legislature now face a very large problem that has begun to destroy community services for people throughout California. Although the federal Court said it couldn't act, the state can and must deal with this crisis. Providers serving persons with disabilities in the community have seen insubstantial increases in payments since 1989. Although the state has collected $254 million in additional federal money for the disabled since this case started none of it has been used to pay for services for the disabled. The system cannot continue hemorrhaging skilled workers and replacing them with untrained persons who could be earning more at fast food restaurants.
Million Dollar Baby Built on Prejudice about People with Disabilities
February 13, 2005
The Oscar-winning movie Million Dollar Baby advances the offensive and dangerous message that death is preferable to life with a disability.
Laguna Honda Hospital Lawsuit Settles
December 18, 2003
Judge Saundra B. Armstrong of the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, today preliminarily approved settlement of a class action lawsuit against San Francisco and several State agencies brought on behalf of present and potential residents of Laguna Honda Hospital (LHH) and the Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco (ILRCSF). "This settlement represents a positive first step in establishing the rights of people with disabilities, including seniors, to receive services in their homes and communities rather than in institutions," says Kim Swain, lead counsel in the case from the Oakland office of Protection & Advocacy, Inc. (PAI), a non-profit agency that works to advance the rights of people with disabilities.
Zepeda and Zepeda v. County of San Mateo (California)
December 3, 2003
Hours after Marco and Adelina Zepeda gave birth to their healthy seven-pound son, Rivaldo, San Mateo County, California Child Protective Services attempted to remove the infant from his parents and place him in foster care while they began an investigation of the family's fitness as parents.
Tennessee v. Lane
November 12, 2003
DREDF filed an amicus curiae brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Tennessee v. Lane on behalf of the of former US Attorney General Richard Thornburgh, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), and ADA Watch, which argued that Congress had the power to enact all of Title II of the ADA, enabling disabled persons to participate in critical facets of American life and helping to achieve full integration.
Raytheon Co. v. Joel Hernandez
July 9, 2003
DREDF joined as co-counsel in the preparation of an amicus curiae brief submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the National Employment Lawyers Association and the American Association of People with Disabilities. The central issue in the case was whether the Americans with Disabilities Act confers preferential rehire rights on employees lawfully terminated for misconduct, such as illegal drug use.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2003
June 24, 2003
Washington D.C. — The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the most important civil rights law ever passed for children with disabilities in the United States. IDEA was reauthorized and strengthened in 1997. The law is again up for reauthorization and faces substantial threats. The House of Representatives passed a bill, HR 1350, on April 30, 2003 making sweeping changes that weaken services and protections for students with disabilities.