Disability Rights California

We are pleased that AB 2441 (Ash Kalra) passed through Senate Education Committee with a 5-2 vote. It is an honor to fight alongside the iconic Dolores Huerta to advance the bill. AB 2441 is a DRC-cosponsored bill that makes it discretionary, rather than mandatory, for teachers to contact law enforcement for low level instances of student misconduct. We are grateful to our partners at ACLU California Action, Dolores Huerta Foundation, CFT – A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals, and Alliance for Boys and Men of Color for their advocacy in securing this victory! AB 2441 heads to Assembly Appropriations Committee for further consideration.

Interested in racial disparities in California's system for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities? Hear the Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence discuss findings from their independent evaluation of the Department of Developmental Services' Service Access and Equity Grants. Register for the Zoom briefing this Monday, July 8 at 1pm, here: https://lnkd.in/gTKdjEqx You can download a 7-page summary of the evaluation report here: https://lnkd.in/gy6j37tR #HealthEquity Association of University Centers on Disabilities Andy Imparato

On June 28, 2024, Federal Court Judge Jesus Bernal issued a historic permanent injunction in C.B. v. Moreno Valley Unified School District et al., in which he ordered Defendant Moreno Valley Unified School District (MVUSD) to make extensive district-wide changes, as well as reduce its reliance on school police and security officers to respond to students with disabilities. The ruling marks a significant victory in protecting the rights of students with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The order requires MVUSD to significantly reduce the disproportionate referral, removal, and restraint of disabled and Black disabled students from classrooms by reforming school district policies, implementing comprehensive training for school-based staff, and collecting and monitoring data. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/ghcCckjq

Disability Rights California’s Mental Health Practice Group Honors National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month July is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Bebe Moore Campbell was an author, journalist, teacher, wife, mother, and a mental health Advocate. Because of her tremendous work advocating for equity in mental health services, the 2008 Congress recognized July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This month is to bring awareness about the unique challenges our underrepresented communities, especially Black, Indigenous, and of color experience in the mental health system. Disability Rights California’s Mental Health Practice Group actively fights against systemic barriers and addresses racial disparities in mental health care too often experienced by communities of color. Today and every day we passionately advocate for increased access to culturally responsive and affirming mental health care rooted in voluntary community-based approaches. To learn more about our work, find self-advocacy resources, or if you feel you are being discriminated against because of a disability please visit: www.disabiltyrightsca.org or call our Intake Line at 800-776-5746

The U.S. Supreme Court set back civil rights in its Grants Pass v. Johnson decision, which gives local governments discretion to ban people from sleeping outside, essentially criminalizing homelessness. DRC condemns the harm this decision will inflict on our communities and will continue to fight to make voluntary, community-based care the standard. As a former encampment resident, David R. explains: “This is what works; having advocates that are for you and not against you; equal assistance available for everyone; caring case management. I was given love, not judgement.” Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gVYRnQrK

This month, we celebrate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)! July 26, 2024, marks the 34th year of the (ADA), a landmark piece of legislation that transformed the landscape of accessibility and inclusion in the United States. Learn more about the history of the ADA and how to get involved in our mission of achieving full inclusion and equality for people with disabilities, here: https://lnkd.in/gVhEmFZH #ThanksToTheADA

The Administration, Senate, and Assembly have reached an agreement on a state budget plan, paving the way for a nearly $300 billion state budget for fiscal year 2024-25. The budget deal includes a number of changes that will directly impact the developmental services system and people who rely on regional center-funded supports. Check out some of the highlights here: https://lnkd.in/g_XBZ4NN

La Administración, el Senado y la Asamblea llegaron a un acuerdo sobre un plan presupuestario estatal, allanando el camino para un presupuesto estatal de casi $300 mil millones para el año fiscal 2024-25. El acuerdo presupuestario incluye una serie de cambios que afectarán directamente al sistema de servicios de desarrollo y a las personas que dependen de los apoyos financiados por el centro regional. Éstos son algunos de los aspectos más destacados: https://lnkd.in/gcQy-jRQ

DRC-sponsored #SB445 by Senator Anthony Portantino just passed the Assembly Education Committee unanimously thanks to the support of Chair Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi and committee members. SB 445 ensures school districts have the necessary tools and guidance to quickly and accurately translate a student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to the family's preferred language. Some school districts translate materials within days, while others can take months. If a parent is not fully informed about the contents of an IEP, their student could be improperly served and their academic progress can be delayed. We are thankful for Senator Portantino's relentless support of special education and for our legislative partners, Educate Advocate, Innovate Public Schools, SpEducational, and the dozens of supporting organizations. SB 445 heads to Assembly Appropriations Committee for further consideration.

This week is Deaf Blind Awareness week, a time to raise awareness of the contributions of Deafblind individuals to society. Achieved by fostering independence and creating employment opportunities, we understand the need for continued work and advocacy to create a more accessible society, so that Deafblind individuals can continue to thrive.