Disability Rights California

UPDATE: The DRC intake line is available Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday from 9:00AM – 3:00PM. Our intake line is closed on Wednesdays.

Tech harvests our identity for profit and then disappears what should be our money into private equity.

Slogans are always coopted. Never trust anyone who uses them too much. This is your money. aol.com/articles/newly…

Remember this every time politicians suggest treatment via forced detention. This was obvious from day one, and just as cynical. cjcj.org/reports-public…

On April 1, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on birthright citizenship in Trump v. Barbara — a high-stakes case that could determine whether this fundamental constitutional right is protected. Join partners nationwide on March 26 for an informative and engaging digital rally, about what’s at stake and how civil rights advocates and community members can take action together. Co-hosted by: Asian Law Caucus, Move On, Vet Voice Foundation, and Popular Democracy We’ll share key legal and advocacy updates and ways to raise community voice ahead of oral arguments, in anticipation of the ruling, and beyond. 📆 March 26, 10AM PT/ 1PM ET ➡️ bit.ly/defendbirthrig… #DefendBirthright #AmericanPromise #BirthrightCitizenship

The Roadmap with ACE, a new webinar series, continues in March 2026! The series will feature monthly webinars covering a wide range of topics, from tools for supporting school-aged children with disabilities to resources for adults navigating employment and public benefits. In March, ACE is hosting webinars in both English and Spanish about student transition planning from school to adulthood and mental health services available in special education. Visit the link to learn more and register! Mental Health Services in Special Education When: Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 6:00 P.M. - 7:30 P.M. Link: disabilityrightsca.org/events/ACE-men… . . ¡La serie de seminarios web, La Ruta con ACE, continúa en marzo de 2026! La serie incluirá seminarios web mensuales que abarcarán una amplia gama de temas, desde herramientas para apoyar a los niños en edad escolar con discapacidades hasta recursos para adultos que buscan empleo y prestaciones públicas. En marzo, ACE organizara seminarios web en inglés y español sobre la planificación de la transición del estudiante empezando en la escuela hasta la edad adulta y los servicios de salud mental disponibles en educación especial. Visite el enlace para obtener más información y registrarse. Servicios de salud mental en educación especial Cuándo: martes 17 de marzo de 2026, de 10:00 A.M. a 11:30 A.M. Link: disabilityrightsca.org/es/events/ACE-… #DisabilityRightsCA #RegionalCenter #SpecialEducation #Webinar #Virtual #Zoom #IDD #Education #NonProfit #Español

DRC and our colleagues at APHC recognize the lack of real solutions the California Governor and Legislature are offering in response to homelessness and the growing need for mental health resources. Both sides of the party aisle are sinking low income populations, the unhoused, and people with disabilities into deeper poverty by prioritizing institutionalization, incarceration, and funding cuts to essential life-saving services. This terrible death spiral of poor mental health policy has been difficult to navigate and we find as the new legislative session begins, lawmakers need to seriously change course toward better, more effective, cheaper, and less cruel alternative policies. People with lived-experience, community organizers, and folks on the ground know what works. Learn about another solution: voluntary, community-based mental health services. This menu of care can – and in many communities does – include outreach, community engagement activities, skill building, supportive employment, peer wellness centers, drop-in centers, full-service partnerships, assertive community treatment (ACT), youth and transitional aged youth (TAY) services. Learn more about our solutions at the link: …sabilityrightscalifornia.substack.com/p/california-m… #DisabilityRightsCA #APHC #AllPeopleHealthCollective #CrisisResponse #California #Community #Voluntary #Solution #MentalHealth @pplwillbefree

The Los Angeles Times recently reported on the deportation of the Gutierrez family, including a 6-year-old boy. The family's attorney, Nikolas De Bremaeker, was unable to locate the Gutierrez family ahead of their deportation and said they were given misleading information from federal officers about their whereabouts. Visit the full article at the link: latimes.com/california/sto… The 6-year-old attends the California School for the Deaf in Fremont. The child has now been taken away from his school and has been without his hearing medical devices since being detained. Language deprivation brings great harm to D/deaf people. Being deprived of hearing devices, sign language, and interpreters puts D/deaf people in danger, especially when they are being forced into unfamiliar, highly populated locations with law enforcement present. Law enforcement miscommunication with D/deaf people is often read as noncompliance and can result in brutality, injury, and death. The Department of Homeland Security claims to go "above and beyond" their medical policy, yet we have seen no evidence of these claims as detainees continue to voice unhygienic conditions in custody, poor access to essential medical devices and health care, and deaths due to delayed health care access. DHS has a responsibility to care for all in their custody and people with disabilities must have their health care and access needs met. #DisabilityRightsCA #LAtimes #Article #Deaf #ICE #DHS #California

Webinar TOMORROW! Have you had a repair or pest issue that a landlord just would not fix? This workshop will share red flags, best practices, and options for addressing an unsafe living environment while protecting your housing. We will discuss examples of habitability problems and what tenants can do to make sure the housing provider maintains the property and gives tenants a safe place to live. After the webinar, you will have the opportunity to get your questions answered in a one-on-one consultation. Register at the link: disabilityrightsca.org/events/habitab… ASL and Spanish interpretation will be offered. This event is only for tenants with disabilities, not landlords or home owners. When: March 17th, 2026 at 1:00pm #DisabilityRightsCA #Webinar #HousingResource . . . Image Description: Header: Webinar. Top Right, blue/green DRC logo. Title Text: Habitability and the Right to Safe Living Conditions. When: March 17th, 2026 at 1:00pm. Image of a black male-presenting wheelchair user wearing a plaid shirt, behind him stands a black male-presenting individual with a tan sweater. Kneeling by the wheelchair user’s wheel is a black individual. They’re all in a white and navy blue living room with a gray couch to the left and a black bookshelf behind them.

Less than a week left until DRC's 4th Annual Gala! Buy your tickets before they're sold out! Join us at the beautiful Tsakopoulos Library Galleria for a night together in community with powerful speakers, advocacy, and performances. This year, we have the pleasure of welcoming our two awardees, Mychal Threets and Nyle DiMarco! Also, a stellar performance from Antoine Hunter and the Urban Jazz Dance Company! Learn a bit more about these great folks, who they are, what they do, and the advocacy they're passionate about. Don't miss out on a spectacular night! Join us and purchase your tickets at the link: disabilityrightsca.org/gala-26-ticket… Disability Rights California 4th Annual Gala Tsakopoulos Library Galleria Sacramento, CA Wednesday, March 18, 2026 Doors open at 5:00 PM #DisabilityRightsCA #Gala #Sacramento #Event #MychalThreets #NyleDiMarco #DeafPresidentNow #Disability #Community #Advocacy #UrbanJazzDanceCompany #AntoineHunter

During National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), DRC, National Disability Rights Network, and The Named Advocates hosted a webinar honoring the history and power of the disability rights movement, especially the impact of Black people with disabilities. Black disabled communities know the price of democracy because we’ve been paying it for generations. From the labor of our ancestors who built this country while being denied its promises, to leaders like Brad Lomax and Fannie Lou Hamer who linked civil rights to economic justice, our history makes clear that the fight for democracy has always been a fight for fair work, dignity, and survival. This webinar is now available as a video resource with ASL! Check out the full video at the link: disabilityrightsca.org/events/ableism… Through unapologetic dialogue, we examined the intersections of race, disability, labor, and democracy — not as abstract issues, but as lived realities shaping whether our communities can thrive. Together, we did not just analyze the barriers — we imagined and claimed new possibilities for economic justice that honor our resilience and leadership. This was not a panel about despair; it was about strategy, power, and our collective refusal to be left behind. Thank you to Taryn Mackenzie Williams, Eric Harris, Keris Jän Myrick, Tameka Citchen-Spruce, Keri Gray, and Ms. Monica Wiley for joining us for this important discussion. #DisabilityRightsCA #NDEAM #Employment #Ableism #BlackDisabledCommunity

DRC and our colleagues at APHC recognize the lack of real solutions the California Governor and Legislature are offering in response to homelessness and the growing need for mental health resources. Both sides of the party aisle are sinking low income populations, the unhoused, and people with disabilities into deeper poverty by prioritizing institutionalization, incarceration, and funding cuts to essential life-saving services. This terrible death spiral of poor mental health policy has been difficult to navigate and we find as the new legislative session begins, lawmakers need to seriously change course toward better, more effective, cheaper, and less cruel alternative policies. People with lived-experience, community organizers, and folks on the ground know what works. Learn about another solution: Economic Justice and Basic Universal Benefits For All. We support economic justice and universal basic benefits because everyone deserves real income and stability, not poverty traps disguised as help. Learn more about our solutions at the link: …sabilityrightscalifornia.substack.com/p/california-m… We must ensure that no one is ever punished for working or striving to build a better life, even when a loved one has committed crimes that are painful and difficult to understand. All people deserve stability. #DisabilityRightsCA #APHC #AllPeoplesHealthCollective #EconomicJustice #Poverty #UniversalBasicBenefits @pplwillbefree

DRC has a resource intended to help you challenge denials, insufficient amount of hours, reductions in hours, and/or the termination of your In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) hours and prepare you for the state fair hearing. When you disagree with a county action, such as a reduction of hours, denial of an IHSS service, program or service termination, or if the County fails to take an action such as reviewing and processing an application you submitted, you can appeal your Notice of Action by requesting a fair hearing. Check out the full resource so you may learn how to request a hearing, notices you may encounter, possible outcomes, and more. Explore the full resource and learn your rights at the link: disabilityrightsca.org/publications/i… DRC has a library of resources available on our website covering over 20 categories and translated into several languages. Know your rights and become a well-informed self-advocate! #DisabilityRightsCA #IHSS #FairHearing #County #SSI #Assessment . . . Image Description: Header Text: In-Home Supportive Services Resource. Small magnifying glass to the right. Blue/green DRC logo. Title Text: IHSS Fair Hearings Guide: How to Prepare for IHSS Terminations or Reductions in Hours . Photo below of a person wearing a white blouse, holding a walker and being helped by a person next to them wearing nurse scrubs. In the background is a blurry court gavel.

Only one week left until DRC's 4th Annual Gala! Buy your tickets TODAY! Join us at the beautiful Tsakopoulos Library Galleria for a night together in community with powerful speakers, advocacy, and performances. This year, we have the pleasure of welcoming our two awardees, Mychal Threets and Nyle DiMarco! Also, a stellar performance from Antoine Hunter and the Urban Jazz Dance Company! Don't miss out on a spectacular night! Join us and purchase your tickets at the link: disabilityrightsca.org/gala-26-ticket… Disability Rights California 4th Annual Gala Tsakopoulos Library Galleria Sacramento, CA Wednesday, March 18, 2026 Doors open at 5:00 PM #DisabilityRightsCA #Gala #Sacramento #Event #MychalThreets #NyleDiMarco #DeafPresidentNow #Disability #Community #Advocacy #UrbanJazzDanceCompany #AntoineHunter . . . Image Description: Large blue/green DRC logo on the top. Title Text: 2026 Gala One Week Left to Buy Tickets! Below, small text: Featuring. Below are 3 cut out photos in circles with solid backgrounds. Left circle with text: Nyle DiMarco. Includes a photo of Nyle, a white man with dark hair, thick eyebrows, beard, and mustache, and blue eyes. Bottom center, a dancing photo of Antoine Hunter, a Black individual with long black locs tied back, a large beard, mustache, and wearing a blue tie dye tank top. Text under image: Antoine Hunter, Urban Jazz Dance Company. Right, cut out photo of a smiling Mychal Threets. He is a Black male presenting person with a dark afro and wearing a headband, he is holding up a thumbs up.

March is Women's History Month. To celebrate the month, we would like to uplift a few people who have helped shape disability rights and justice. Patty Berne, Miss Shirley Raines, and Alice Wong recently passed away, and we hold on tight to their legacy of powerful advocacy, collaboration, and fight for progress. Today we would like to honor these 3 incredible people, reflect on their accomplishments, and aim to continue their work. Miss Shirley Raines (she/her) - CEO and founder of Beauty 2 The Streetz, a non-profit which served unhoused communities throughout Los Angeles and Nevada. Shirley was very open about her own mental health disabilities and offered tireless compassion, dignity, and commitment to her unhoused neighbors. She used her media platform to amplify the voices of those in need and provided life saving resources to those on the streets. Patty Berne (they/she) - Co-founder and longtime Executive and Artistic Director of Sins Invalid. Patty was a primary architect of the Disability Justice movement, its 10 Principles, and core practices that center the lives, wisdom, and leadership of disabled queer and trans Black and brown people. Patty identified as non-binary and we honor them today for their great work in uplifting the intersection of feminism, disability justice, and racial justice. Alice Wong (she/her) - A disability scholar, activist, community organizer, and writer. Notably, Alice's extremely far-reaching and diverse work in the Disability Visibility Project, she built what every think tank and advocacy project aspires to—an incredibly rich, engaging, and revolutionary body of continuing work and writing that made leaps and bounds from past ways of thinking. She was tireless in developing our understanding of disability not as tragedy but as the loveliest expression of human diversity. #DisabilityRightsCA #WomensHistoryMonth #Advocacy #AliceWong #MsShirley #PattyBerne

Thank you to our Platinum and Gold sponsors for their hand in making this year's DRC 2026 Gala possible! Buy your tickets TODAY for Disability Rights California’s fourth annual gala on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Click the link to learn more: disabilityrightsca.org/gala-26-ticket… We hope to see you at the beautiful Tsakopoulos Library Galleria in Downtown Sacramento for an evening celebrating the power of the disability movement together. Don’t miss out on this amazing event. #DisabilityRightsCalifornia #Gala #DRCGala2026 #SacramentoEvent #Healthnet #Microsoft

Do you rely on emotional support animals and/or service animals? We know the process of keeping one in your home can be stressful, so let’s make sure you’re in the know about all the necessary laws, regulations, and rights for having an assistance animal in your home or rental unit. This training is aimed at tenants with disabilities and will help ensure that all Californians have access to the assistance they need. Register at the link: disabilityrightsca.org/events/know-yo… Spanish interpretation will be offered. When: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 1:00pm #ServiceAnimal #DisabilityRightsCalifornia #ServiceDog . . . Image Description: Vibrant blue border. Top right, blue/green DRC logo. Left navy blue header reads: Webinar. Under, a photo of a female-presenting person in a wheelchair with a black dog partially on their lap. Under, text reads: Know Your Rights: Support Animals in Housing. When: March 24th, 2026 at 1:00pm.

A new video resource on CARE Court is now available for viewing. In this video resource, we offer a brief overview of CARE Court, SB 43, and the MHSA-to-BHSA transition, with tips for individuals directly impacted, guidance on supporting loved ones, and resources for community advocacy, featuring insights from disability justice advocates. Check out the video resource, with ASL, at the link: disabilityrightsca.org/events/mhpg-co… Learn tips for advocacy, explore alternative ways to support loved ones outside of the court system, and gain tools to address vicarious trauma. #DisabilityRightsCA #CAREcourt #SB43 #ASL #Court #VideoResource . . . Image Description: Header Text: Webinar. Blue/green DRC logo. Title Text: MHPH Community Conversations: Navigating CARE Court & SB 43. Boxed text: Video Resource Available at the Link! Cut out photo below of a gavel and base with a newspaper cut out with text: Mental health.