Disability Rights California’s Post

The University of Kansas Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies, funded by the Administration for Community Living's National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), is seeking adults with disabilities to complete the 2023 National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD). The NSHD gives voice to the concerns of people with disabilities and documents their experiences with a variety of issues, including access to health care, insurance coverage, housing, transportation, Long COVID, employment, education, and more. The survey is open to U.S. adults 18 and older with any disability and/or health condition. It is important for the experiences of individuals with Down syndrome to be included in this survey. To take the survey, follow this link - 

"Saying that we want to do it is very different from actually delivering." - Xavier Becerra, US Secretary of Health and Human Services. Think about these words when organizations trot out "DEIA Commitment" statements. SHOW how you deliver, the time for talking about disability rights and access as a concept is long gone. The ADA is 34. WCAG could rent a car now. (hat tip to Nicolas Steenhout for that analogy) Get started, show your progress. But saying things, often on repeat, does not manifest something into reality. Glomming onto 'miraculous instant solutions' is the reason the saying "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" exist. Deliver! Share your plan that is disability led and advised. Work that plan, show your progress and how you've validated the needs of disabled people. Admit when you hit a bump, and what you learned. Keep going. Compliance and minimum legal requirement are the starting block, not the finish line. Saying that we want to do it is very different from actually delivering. Image from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) statement updating the Rehabilitation Act regarding accessibility in healthcare, services, and communications. Image Description: A Black woman ASL Interpreter, Latino man: Xavier Becerra, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services at a podium,  and Black man who uses a wheelchair: Theo Braddy National Council on Independent Living Executive Director and member of the National Council on Disability in front of flags and signs for the US Department of Health and Human Services. Open captions read: "that we want to do it is very different from actually delivering." #accessibility #disability #DEIA #inclusion #access #equity

Did you know that in 2023, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario passed a bill that establishes July as Disability Pride Month? Our latest blog discusses the history of this month https://lnkd.in/eWVHS28c 

The social and human rights models of disability: towards a complementarity thesis "This article aims to reorient thinking about the relationship between the long-standing social model of disability and the rapidly emerging human rights model. In particular, it contests the influential view that the latter develops and improves upon the former (the improvement thesis) and argues instead that the two models are complementary (the complementarity thesis)." https://lnkd.in/epWHqNsC

Persons with Disabilities are more likely to be poorer and have less resources than the average American. Who are already strapped for resources. Imagine then having to start a lawsuit everytime you were not given rightful accommodations like no accessible bathrooms or no ramp (which is incredibly likely, I’ve been denied them countless times). PwDs should have the right to have testers of compliance with the ADA, a heavily flawed and outdated law.

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark decision in #Olmstead vs. L.C! In their ruling, the Supreme Court affirmed the right of people with disabilities to live and receive care in their communities. States are now mandated to no longer segregate people with disabilities unnecessarily. Learn more about the decision and its legacy in this article from The Arc: https://lnkd.in/e84ZCAns.

This article shares an important perspective on the continuing struggles that people with disabilities face when seeking fair access and treatment in public accommodations, transportation, work, healthcare, and so forth. https://lnkd.in/gh3ceEe9

The Canadian Human Rights Commission remains deeply concerned by reports that people with disabilities are choosing medical assistance in dying (MAiD) because they cannot access the basic supports and services they need to live with dignity. Experts and advocates both here at home and internationally continue to sound the alarm about the significant human rights concerns posed by the proposed and ongoing expansion of MAiD.  We urge the Government to conduct a thorough and critical examination into these concerns. MAiD cannot be a default for Canada’s failure to fulfill its human rights obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, or human rights legislation. In an era where we recognize the right to die with dignity, we must do more to realize the right to live with dignity. Read the full statement ➡️: https://bit.ly/3OYPSH5

Activ Foundation welcomes the release of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA 's latest report – Tapping the talent pool of people with disabilities. We were proud to have Activ customers share their own stories and experiences during CCIWA’s research phase, and knowing their lived experience fed directly into the report makes us even more comfortable in its findings as it promoted a well-rounded approach. The report echoes Activ’s position that the case for employing people living with disabilities is “compelling and multifaceted”. According to ABS data, around 1 in 5 West Australians live with disability, which makes up a large proportion of the talent pool, but sadly a small amount of the workforce. The report outlines the state of disability employment in WA and barriers often faced, yet it also includes strategies and initiatives to improve outcomes for people living with disability to gain meaningful employment. We remain hopeful that findings like this report will help to guide WA business towards a more inclusive future for all. If you would be interested in discussing how employing a person living with disability can enhance your workforce, we would be more than happy to chat. You can view the full report here: https://bit.ly/3Uu827k

At ECRI, we are dedicated to advancing effective, evidence-based healthcare globally for all individuals. As we celebrate Disability Pride Month, we honor the history, achievements, and experiences of the disability community. With over 1.3 billion globally living with disabilities, they constitute the largest minority group worldwide. Ensuring equitable care for those with physical and intellectual disabilities is one of our Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns this year. Health inequities arise from unjust conditions faced by people with disabilities, including stigma, discrimination, poverty, exclusion from education and employment, and barriers faced in the health system itself. This month marks the 34th anniversary of the American Disabilities Act, a landmark policy that prohibits discrimination. Since then, dedicated advocacy for people with disabilities has paved the way for systematic advancements in accessibility and inclusion. At ECRI, we strive to foster a culture of acceptance, inclusion, and belonging every day. Our commitment to equality and accessibility in healthcare extends to all individuals, ensuring that each person has equitable opportunities and support. Read more about our Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns of 2024 here: https://hubs.la/Q02J5c2c0 #DisabilityPrideMonth #OneECRI #Disability #DisabilityCommunity #Inclusion #Accessibility #ADA #ADADay #HealthEquity #ECRITop10