Disability Rights California

“The Form 990 draft is presented to the Finance Committee for review and to the full Board for review and approval prior to filing. Auditors, the Executive Director, and the Finance Director or designee are available to answer questions. Form 990 review materials are provided.”

“Conflict of interest policy, questionnaire and statement are completed by each board member annually, and reviewed by the executive director. The executive director, administrative directors, program directors, managing attorneys, office managers and other staff as determined by the executive director also annually and as determined necessary complete a conflict of interest disclosure form. A vendor list of major purchases/services is provided to staff.”

“The Board of Directors annually evaluates the Executive Director. The Board reviews external market comparability data, job performance, and job duties to determine appropriate compensation. Other Officers and Key Employee salaries are based on a Board approved competitive salary scale. Each position in the organization is placed on the salary scale which is based upon external market rates, job duties, and internal comparability. The scale is evaluated for market comparability and cost of living adjustments on a scheduled basis. Annual salary increases for staff are per the salary scale and based on the employees annual evaluation.”

“AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.”

“Other program services 4: other program services to promote the rights of, and advocacy for, persons with disabilities. Other programs include: protection & advocacy of individual rights, protection & advocacy for traumatic brain injury, protection & advocacy for beneficiaries of social security, protection & advocacy for assistive technology, protection & advocacy for voting access, state of california health & human services agency department of state hospitals, the state bar of california legal services trust fund program - iolta trust fund and the state bar of california legal services trust fund program - equal access, us department of education client assistance program, and state bar of california bank housing, work incentives planning and assistance.”

“Ubit - transportation fringe = -$94408”

“Disability Rights California (DRC) advocates, educates, investigates, and litigates to advance the rights, dignity, equal opportunities, and choices for all people with disabilities. We use all of our advocacy tools to ensure that all people with disabilities enjoy the power of equal rights and opportunities; freedom from abuse, neglect, and discrimination; dignity; and respect for their choices based on their own goals and values. As the federally mandated protection and advocacy system, we protect rights and access to services by filing lawsuits, representing clients at hearings, and advocating for policy changes. We conduct investigations and monitor service delivery to prevent abuse and neglect, and empower communities by providing culturally appropriate and accessible publications while promoting self-advocacy.We have more than 27 offices statewide and employ a diverse staff of over 250 dedicated, creative, and passionate attorneys, advocates, and support staff. More than 37% of our staff identify as having a disability, 61% of staff are from ethnic communities, and 12% identify as LGBTQ.”

“Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental DisabilitiesWe provide advocacy to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through our Office of Clients Rights Advocacy (OCRA) and staff in our Legal Advocacy Unit funded by the federal Protection and Advocacy for Developmental Disabilities (PADD grant) OCRA is funded through a contract with the Department of Developmental Disabilities and provides advocacy services to people with developmental disabilities who are consumers of the 21 regional centers. In 2018, OCRA resolved 10,190 issues for people with developmental disabilities.For example, OCRA helped Greg, who lives in a developmental center. He is working hard to meet his goals so he can transition to a less restrictive setting. Over the holiday season, Gregs brother passed away unexpectedly. Greg had great respect for his brother who was a Marine Corps veteran. It was very important to Greg and his mother that he get permission to go home and attend his brothers memorial services. Greg and his mother struggled to get staff at the developmental center to respond to their requests for Greg to attend the service. OCRA helped connect with the developmental center and the regional center to ensure Greg attended his brothers funeral services alongside his family. Greg found peace and closure after losing hisbeloved brother.OCRA also helped Haliah and her family who are refugees from the Middle East. As monolingual Dari speakers, they struggled to access any public benefit or service. Haliah has Down syndrome and her parents made multiple attempts to get a regional center eligibility evaluation. However, they never received a call back from the regional center. OCRA contacted the local regional center and requested Haliah be assessed for eligibility. The regional center contacted the family the next day and scheduled an intake visit for thefollowing week. OCRA also assisted DShaun, a first-grader placed in a classroom for children with severe autism. Most of his peers still needed support to pair socks and recognize colors. However, DShaun could read, add, and subtract nearly at grade level. DShauns mother had repeatedly asked that he be moved into a less restrictive setting. Her requests were ignored for most of the school year. OCRA attended DShauns next IEP meeting. OCRA assisted DShauns mother with compiling and presenting work samples to show DShauns readiness for a less restrictive placement. The district agreed to move DShaun into a less restrictive classroom setting and also developed a transition plan to support DShaun with the change. Our Legal Advocacy Unit, with the support of the Protection & Advocacy for Developmental Disabilities (PADD) grant, served 1,352 individuals with disabilities in fiscal year 2018 and impacted more than 600,000 people through systemic work which is discussed above.DRC helped Alvin, a 13-year-old Hispanic student who had undergone several facial surgeries in his young life to correct his congenital genetic condition. Because of his appearance, he is often the target of bullying. He has several disciplinary referrals in his record for fighting and other physical altercations with bullies. After one of these fights in the fall of 2017, the school district recommended Alvin for expulsion, and referred him the districts alternative school. Alvins father did not fully understand his rights, and consented to the alternative placement. He felt pressured to consent and was not aware of his sons right to an expulsion hearing. The family called DRC for assistance. After reviewing records and speaking to the family, DRC contacted the school district and its counsel to resolve the matter. The parties agreed to enter settlement negotiations, and quickly reached an agreement where Alvin could immediately return to school. The district has agreed to conduct a professional development training for its entire staff on how to identify and address bullying.Individuals with Mental Health Di”

“Our systemic advocacy work advanced the civil rights of Californians with disabilities in critical areas to end discrimination and stop abuse and neglect, increase access to housing, healthcare, education, mental health services, and other benefits. Our most significant work this year included efforts to end abuse and protect rights in facilities and jails; ensure rights for youth in educational settings and immigration facilities; reduce discriminatory practices aimed at people experiencing homelessness; advocate for residents at risk of homelessness and institutionalization; and help individuals who are blind and visually impaired obtain access to information. Stopping Abuse and Neglect Matter Where It OccursOne of our initiatives is to stop abuse and neglect of people with disabilities who are in jails. Sadly, in many counties in California, significant numbers of people with mental health and other disabilities are housed in jails and too often receive inadequate mental health and health care. For example, DRC launched an investigation into the high rate of reported suicides at the San Diego County Jail, the highest in any California jail system over several years with more than 30 suicide deaths since 2010. The inmate suicide rate has been many times higher than the rate in similarly sized county jails in California, the State prison system, and jails nationally. DRC hired two prominent correctional suicide prevention experts to review records from the seventeen (17) suicides that occurred from 2014-2016. The experts prepared their own expert report, including forty-six (46) recommendations that were issued with our April 2018 report. DRC called for the creation of a new independent oversight entity to review such incidents and ensure accountability. Our report brought significant local attention to the conditions at the jail and how those conditions harm people with mental health needs. The local media continues to aggressively cover issues we raised in our report. Many deficiencies we found persist there were at least 4 suicides at the jail in 2018. It is a system DRC continues to monitor and advocate for meaningful reform.Our staff also represents five prisoners with disabilities through a class action lawsuit against Santa Barbara County Jail, claiming conditions do not meet minimum standards under federal law and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The lead plaintiff, Mr. Murray, is a U.S. Army veteran who requested, but received no meaningful treatment to help him manage his post-traumatic stress disorder. Mr. Franco, another class member, was denied prescribed psychiatric medications that he had taken prior to his arrest. Despite jail staff documenting his reports of an exacerbation of his mental health disability, his condition worsened and a few days later, Mr. Franco attempted suicide by cutting his wrist. The inmates are seeking an order from the court requiring Santa Barbara County officials to improve jail conditions to comply with constitutional and statutory standards. In June, the U.S. District Court granted DRCs motion for class certification. The county agreed to retain nationally recognized subject matter experts to conduct independent evaluations regarding jail conditions and the provision of mental health and medical care. As the federal case moves forward, we are also meeting with county officials regarding a potential settlement. DRC staff conducted monitoring visits of all 10 facilities housing immigrant youth in California in response to the U.S. federal immigration policy separating undocumented immigrant children from their parents. We also interviewed the one foster care service provider that placed immigrant youth in foster care homes. Agency staff confirmed that a number of youth had disabilities, including physical disabilities and hearing impairments. During these monitoring visits, our staff interviewed facility administrators about their programs and the youth served, and interview”

“Protecting ADA and Other Access RightsDRC filed a class action lawsuit in U.S. District Court on behalf of nine named plaintiffs in San Diego that alleges that the plaintiffs had been discriminated against and subject to wrongful ticketing for living in their vehicles. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction in August 2018 halting all ticketing and enforcement of a San Diego ordinance affecting homeless people, many with disabilities, who use their RVs or other vehicles as shelter. DRCs class action lawsuit, Bloom et al. vs. City of San Diego, seeks to end the ticketing and impoundment of vehicles of homeless people. The court ruled San Diegos Vehicle Habitation Ordinance does not clearly state what is required to violate the ordinance. The court also found the city arbitrarily enforced the ordinance against homeless people. Recently, the City unanimously voted to repeal its homeless ticketing ordinance.DRC and its co-counsel represent a coalition of blind advocates in a federal class action lawsuit challenging the failure of the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and three counties to provide Medi-Cal notices in accessible formats, such as Braille. The complaint alleges that when blind individuals request accessible versions of Medi-Cal notices, DHCS and its county agents either fail to provide accessible versions or fail to do so in a timely manner. For example, plaintiff Lena Hinkle waited more than eight months to receive a Braille version of a Medi-Cal notice containing time-sensitive information. These delays may cause blind Medi-Cal consumers to lose their benefits. Providing information to blind individuals in alternative formats such as Braille or large print is required by federal and California anti-discrimination laws. To solve the problem, DHCS, counties, and Medi-Cal health plans need to (1) identify people who need communication in Braille or other accessible formats, and (2) respond appropriately to requests for accessible formats. Our goal is to ensure that DHCS and California counties institute a comprehensive plan to properly identify and accommodate blind Medi-Cal recipients.Preventing the Use of Restraints in Schools Absent an EmergencyDRC used a multi-disciplinary approach to address the serious injuries that can occur to students with disabilities when they are inappropriately restrained in school. For example, DRC helped Aaron, a student with Autism, who was in elementary school when his family first contacted DRC for help in 2014. Aaron was placed in a non-public school (NPS) that was part of the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) that subjected its students to numerous and unnecessary restraints. DRC quickly helped negotiate a change in placement for Aaron. DRC filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights against both the NPS and OUSD. Because of DRCs advocacy, the school district entered into a settlement agreement with the Office of Civil Rights in June 2016 and agreed to no longer refer children with disabilities to schools that use prone restraints. In addition, OUSD agreed to provide Aaron an evaluation to determine what services he would need to compensate him for the injury and trauma he experienced. After some delays with the evaluation, DRC helped Aarons family negotiate with the district for compensatory services recommended in the evaluation. OUSD ultimately agreed to fund Aarons compensatory services over the next six years. Aaron and his parents get to choose his service providers and the district has agreed to contract with and pay the providers directly. Aaron starts high school this fall at a prestigious, college preparatory school for students with neurocognitive disabilities. His compensatory services will give him a strong start.DRC also sponsored AB 2657, authored by Assembly Member Dr. Shirley Weber. Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation limiting the use of restraint and seclusion in schools. It grants students the ri”

“Largest Programs $ - Office of Clients Rights Advocacy: $6,997,694$ - Protection and Advocacy for Developmental Disabilities - $3,649,750$ - Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness - $3,028,565 Overview of WorkIn 2018, DRC staff directly served 26,266 individuals with disabilities and our systemic advocacy work impacted millions more. We conducted over 1,771 outreach and training events to over 51,000 Californians. We developed or revised 53 publications and 38 of these publications were translated into at least one other language. Our disability-related information about rights as well as tools to enforce them, are powerful tools that helped tens of thousands of Californians advocate for themselves or their family members. Many of our publications are posted online at: https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/publications. Publications are available in English as well as the following 12 threshold languages: Armenian, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Laotian, Hmong, Tagalog, Cambodian, Russian, Spanish, Korean, and Farsi. We have an active online presence that includes our new, fully accessible website www.disabilityrightsca.org, with 792,495 page views. As of December 2018, DRCs Facebook page had 7,125 likes with 7,095 followers, and 6,560 followers on Twitter.”