Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund event

Tuesday May 1, 2012, 5:30–8PM
Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline Street, Berkeley, CA


GUESTS OF HONOR

Congressman George Miller,
U.S. House of Representatives, 7th District, CA

Judith E. Heumann,
Special Advisor, International Disability Rights, U.S. Department of State

John Wodatch,
Chief, Disability Rights Section, Civil Rights Division, U. S. Department of Justice (ret.)

In conversation with Arlene B. Mayerson,
DREDF Directing Attorney

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Lewis, Feinberg, Lee, Renaker & Jackson P.C.

In honor of the firm's commitment to protecting the rights of people with disabilities, their skill as esteemed co-counsel, and their deep friendship over many years.

DREDF IS DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO OUR EARLY SPONSORS

Clif Bar Family Foundation
Rosen, Bien & Galvan, LLP

Individual Sponsorships: Please RSVP by April 23 to ensure recognition in our program
Leader: $1,000 – attendance for 4
Benefactor: $500 – attendance for 2
Advocate: $325 – attendance for 1

Individual Tickets: Please RSVP by April 27
$200 individual $95 non-profit individual

Print and Mail/FAX Form:
Individual Tickets and Sponsorships

Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities
or contact Ingrid Tischer at itischer@dredf.org

THE START OF SOMETHING BIG
In 1977, our three honorees helped start something big when they were part of a landmark disability rights event that began in San Francisco and ended in victory in DC. Working in concert with grassroots and government allies, they forced the issuing ofthe regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the first federal civil rights protections for persons with disabilities in the history ofthe United States. A precursor to the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 united and ignited the disability community, mobilizing it to work with allies in the legislature and administration, and establish legal public interest watchdogs. Our honorees will talk about their respective roles in that process as elected official, citizen advocate, and policy architect, and how they have continued to do disability justice together. Join DREDF in celebrating disability rights pioneers who aren't afraid to start something big.

More information at the DREDF website HERE.

House Education Bill: Civil Rights, Disability, Education, and Business Groups Call Miller Amendments “A Significant Step in the Right Direction to Up

For Immediate Release
Contact: Scott Westbrook Simpson, 202.466.2061, simpson@civilrights.org
February 28, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, a coalition of 31 groups from the civil rights, disability, business, and education communities released the following statement regarding Ranking Member George Miller’s amendment to Chairman John Kline’s Student Success Act, which would amend and reauthorize Title I and other parts of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA):

“Together, we represent parents, educators, employers, and millions of students from low-income homes, students of color, students with disabilities, English language learners, and children of migrant workers.

Read more of the press release at The Leadership Conference HERE.

Miller: “There Is No Room for Torture and Abuse In America’s Schools”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, introduced The Keeping All Students Safe Act, bipartisan legislation to prevent schoolchildren from being abused as a result of inappropriate uses of restraint and seclusion, often involving untrained staff. According to government investigations, these abusive practices were used disproportionately on children with disabilities. The legislation first passed the House a year ago with bipartisan support.

Read more on Rep George Miller's website HERE.

Federal Bill on Restraint, Seclusion Resurrected

Since the "Keeping All Students Safe Act" was passed in the U.S. House more than a year ago, a new report says there have been dozens of cases in which restraints or seclusion or both have been used on students with disabilities.

The report, called "The Cost of Waiting," also includes examples from a previous report by the National Disability Rights Network called "School is Not Supposed to Hurt" and references a Government Accountability Office study of the use of these practices.

On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., reintroduced the bill, which had passed 262 to 153 and had bipartisan support. (This link points to the bill passed in 2010; I haven't found the text of the new one, which will be H.R. 1381.)

"In the year since this legislation passed the House but failed to become law, more children were abused in school. The investigations and news reports about harmful restraint and seclusion show children being tied up with duct tape, sat on by untrained staff, locked in rooms for hours at a time—this behavior looks like torture. This legislation makes it very clear that there is no room for torture and abuse in America's schools," Rep. Miller said in a statement.

Read more of Nirvi Shah's On Sepcial Education article HERE.