Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)

Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) Proudly doing disability rights since 1979.
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Are you an aspiring attorney who is passionate about advancing disability civil rights through legal advocacy, policy, a...
06/04/2026

Are you an aspiring attorney who is passionate about advancing disability civil rights through legal advocacy, policy, and systemic change, and would like support applying for a fellowship?

We’re seeking candidates to guide and ensure high-quality and well-informed application is Skadden, Equal Justice Works, and other public interest fellowship programs beginning in Fall 2027.

Fellows will then work closely with DREDF to develop projects addressing critical disability rights issues, including education, healthcare, housing, transportation, technology, self-determination, and more.

Application deadline: Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Sf5PNJ

For disabled tenants, broken elevators, ignored accommodation requests, and inaccessible services can become a daily ris...
06/03/2026

For disabled tenants, broken elevators, ignored accommodation requests, and inaccessible services can become a daily risk to health, safety, and remaining in their home.

DREDF and the Eviction Defense Now LLC have filed a lawsuit on behalf of three elderly disabled tenants at a San Francisco apartment building where the elevator was allowed to fail and later permanently shut down.

For years, these elderly tenants with mobility disabilities have been forced to climb multiple flights of stairs just to enter and leave their homes as they waited for the elevator to be repaired. Then the building’s new owners put the elevator out of service and later sealed the garbage chutes, forcing residents to carry bags down dangerous stairways to the basement to continue to dispose of trash.
Disabled people have the right to age safely in their homes with as much independence as possible.

Housing providers have a legal obligation to maintain access and reasonable accommodations for disabled tenants.

Read more: https://dredf.org/1086-post-press-release/

We are happy to uplift an upcoming event.Join emergency management, disability, aging, healthcare, public health, and co...
06/03/2026

We are happy to uplift an upcoming event.

Join emergency management, disability, aging, healthcare, public health, and community leaders from across the nation for the 5th Annual National AFN Symposium.

This free virtual event will explore innovative strategies, emerging issues, and promising practices for advancing inclusive emergency management and supporting the whole community before, during, and after disasters.

July 7-8, 2026
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific Time
100% Virtual and Free

Register today and be part of the conversation shaping the future of inclusive emergency management.:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiJYY7_UQatS1vjJ3f0I5ax-lb82EUkaSleP_bYRWdKe_RuA/viewform

06/03/2026

No one should lose healthcare because they managed to save a little money for an emergency.

California lawmakers are considering bringing back a $2,000 Medi-Cal asset limit that only applies to older adults and people with disabilities. That means someone could lose healthcare coverage simply because they have modest savings set aside for car repairs, housing costs, medical expenses, or other unexpected needs.

Disabled people and older adults should not be forced to choose between financial stability and healthcare.
If you live in California, now is the time to speak up. Contact your legislators and urge them to reject the return of the Medi-Cal asset test.

Take action:
• Send a letter: https://bit.ly/4vpVtsQ
• Call legislative leaders and share your opposition
• Join local advocacy events and rallies like the Defend Medi-Cal Action Hour

A rainy-day fund should not cost someone their healthcare.

DREDF was proud to stand alongside our partners and more than 500 advocates, community members, organizations, and elect...
06/03/2026

DREDF was proud to stand alongside our partners and more than 500 advocates, community members, organizations, and elected leaders as our community came together at the California State Capitol last week for the California Disability Leadership Alliance 2nd Annual Day of Action at the Capitol. Together, we celebrated disability pride, strengthened community, and advocated for policies that support access, inclusion, and the right of disabled people to live, learn, and work in our communities.

From protecting IDEA and civil rights, to defending Medi-Cal, community-based services, language access, and the rights of immigrants and LGBTQIA+ people with disabilities, the day reflected the power of a united disability movement.

Visibility is important in continuing to apply pressure on these critical issues, as highlighted in this segment from ABC10: https://bit.ly/4fRCz9A

Thank you to every advocate who shared their story, met with legislators, built new connections, and demonstrated what disability leadership looks like in action.

Together we are a powerful force for change.

Disability Rights California Cal Voices California Council of the Blind California Foundation for Independent Living Centers Choice in Aging The Coelho Center for Disability Law, Policy and Innovation DONetwork Family Voices of California National Federation of the Blind of California NorCal Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

In a time when attacks on both LGBTQIA+ and the disabled community are devastatingly common, pride is a radical act of r...
06/02/2026

In a time when attacks on both LGBTQIA+ and the disabled community are devastatingly common, pride is a radical act of resistance in a world that too often tells us to hide…to be less visible… less disabled… less queer… less ourselves.

In her poem ‘You Get Proud by Practicing,’ disability rights activist and poet Laura Hershey reminds us that pride is not something given to us by others but it is something we can actively build with small but powerful actions. She writes:

"Remember, you weren’t the one who made you ashamed, but you are the one who can make you proud. Just practice."

Hershey's poem reminds us that pride grows through action: speaking our truth, finding community, challenging injustice, expressing love, and refusing to disappear.

This Pride Month, we join our community in practicing pride through advocacy, connection, visibility, and the ongoing work of creating a more inclusive world.

How do you practice pride?

Read more about Pride as a protest: https://dredf.org/pride-is-a-protest/

Right now, Congress is considering another $71 billion for ICE and CBP instead of investing in healthcare, food assistan...
06/02/2026

Right now, Congress is considering another $71 billion for ICE and CBP instead of investing in healthcare, food assistance, housing, and community supports.

People with disabilities, caregivers, direct support professionals, teachers, and families are being harmed by detention, raids, family separation, and aggressive immigration enforcement.
DREDF and other partners have issued a letter calling on Congress to reject funding the violence and detention of ICE and to instead direct funding towards care, access, dignity, and community.

Read the letter: https://dredf.org/disability-organizations-call-on-congress-to-prioritize-care-access-representation-and-basic-dignity-not-violence-and-detention/

Accessible parking is essential for millions of disabled people to safely access work, healthcare, businesses, and commu...
06/02/2026

Accessible parking is essential for millions of disabled people to safely access work, healthcare, businesses, and community life.

A new Florida law lets people without disabilities use already limited accessible parking spaces, worsening an accessibility crisis that disabled Floridians already face every day.

Learn the facts about why DREDF joined United Spinal Association and others in challenging this harmful law in court with this image carousel.

Disabled immigrants have rights.If you or someone you support has a disability, knowing your rights to reasonable accomm...
06/01/2026

Disabled immigrants have rights.

If you or someone you support has a disability, knowing your rights to reasonable accommodations during immigration proceedings under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act can be critical for appropriate support and access to assistance to participate in proceedings.

You do not need to be a U.S. citizen or have immigration status to be protected by disability rights laws.

Our new Know Your Rights guide explains accommodations in immigration court, interviews, hearings, detention, and more.

Read and share the resource: https://dredf.org/kyr-ras-immigration-procedures-and-proceedings/

Access, communication, and dignity matter in every system.

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Los inmigrantes con discapacidades tienen derechos.

Si tú o alguien a quien apoyas tiene alguna discapacidad, conocer tus derechos a recibir adaptaciones razonables durante procesos migratorios conforme a la Sección 504 de la Ley de Rehabilitación puede ser fundamental para poder recibir el apoyo adecuado y acceder a la ayuda necesaria para participar en dichos procesos.

No necesitas ser ciudadano americano ni tener estatus migratorio para estar protegido por las leyes de derechos para personas con discapacidades.

Nuestra nueva guía Conoce Tus Derechos explica las adaptaciones disponibles en la corte de inmigración, entrevistas, audiencias, detención y más.

Lee y comparte este recurso: https://dredf.org/kyr-ras-immigration-procedures-and-proceedings/

El acceso, la comunicación y la dignidad importan en todos los sistemas.

When encountering immigration enforcement, preparation, community support, and accessible information can be critical fo...
05/29/2026

When encountering immigration enforcement, preparation, community support, and accessible information can be critical for immigrants with disabilities.

Our new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) resource explains disability rights during encounters with ICE, immigration detention, and immigration proceedings - including the right to reasonable accommodations and effective communication under Section 504.
Please share this resource widely with families, advocates, caregivers, disability organizations, and immigrant communities.

Read the FAQ here: https://dredf.org/faqs-disability-immigration-and-encounters-with-ice/
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Cuando una persona se encuentra con autoridades de inmigración, la preparación, el apoyo de la comunidad y la información accesible pueden ser fundamentales para los inmigrantes con discapacidades.

Nuestro nuevo recurso de Preguntas Frecuentes (FAQ) explica los derechos de las personas con discapacidades durante encuentros con ICE, detención migratoria y procesos migratorios, incluyendo el derecho a adaptaciones razonables y a una comunicación efectiva conforme a la Sección 504.

Por favor, comparte este recurso con familias, defensores, cuidadores, organizaciones de personas con discapacidades y comunidades inmigrantes.

Lee las preguntas frecuentes aquí: https://dredf.org/faqs-disability-immigration-and-encounters-with-ice/

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3075 Adeline Street, Ste 210
Berkeley, CA
94703

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Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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