The cruelty must end.
Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a 56-year-old blind man, was abandoned miles from home in winter by agents. His family searched for days. He was found dead Feb 24.
Tell Congress to halt funding to ICE & CBP:
https://tinyurl.com/ICEDefund
Read more:
Our disability rights advocacy is powered by strong infrastructure.
DREDF is hiring a Part-Time Development Associate to support donor stewardship, data management, and fundraising events.
Learn more and apply:
Large red and teal text reads “National Call-In Day” with the date March 5th 2026.Underneath, smaller text says “For special education and disability rights.” A black telephone handset is pictured on the left side against a textured background with red burst accents.
March 5 is a National Call-In Day to protect special education and disability rights.
Families and advocates are invited to contact Congress to support federal protections for students with disabilities.
Call the Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
Calling tips: https://bit.ly/IDEA-CALLING-TIPS
A recruitment graphic from DREDF inviting people to join its Board of Directors. The image shows a person sitting in front of a laptop. On the computer screen is a grid of diverse people in a virtual meeting. Below, large text reads “Join the DREDF Board of Directors.” Smaller text says “Expressions of interest due March 31, 2026.” The DREDF logo appears in the top left corner.
Are you a passionate, committed leader looking to make a difference for disability rights advocacy?
DREDF is seeking new members for our Board of Directors.
Board members help guide strategy, manage resources, and strengthen the organization.
Details: https://dredf.org/join-our-board-of-directors/
Promotional graphic for the film Life After. Top row shows three images: a person holding a sign reading “Assisted Suicide: the World’s Cheapest Healthcare,” two people smiling during an interview, and disability rights activists at the U.S. Supreme Court holding a pink banner reading “Not Dead Yet – We want to live.” Below text reads “LIFE AFTER” with a historic image of Elizabeth Bouvia and lawyers and 'March 19, 2026 screening and panel at the Ed Roberts Campus, hosted by DREDF and the CIL'
Explore assisted suicide laws through a disability rights lens and discuss what real choice means.
Join DREDF and the Center for Independent Living on March 19, 2026 at the Ed Roberts Campus for a screening of Life After and a panel discussion.
Register: https://life-after-at-erc.eventbrite.com
NEW: Independent research finds SSA changes in 2025 are creating widespread barriers to disability benefits: long delays, more denials, reduced access to support.
Advocates report worsening health, homelessness, and even deaths while waiting.
Read the report:
Justice Shorter, a Black woman wearing dark sunglasses and a white hoodie, smiles. Text reads “February 2026 Black History Month, Celebrating Black Disability Rights Leadership” with the DREDF logo in the corner.
This Black History Month is about protecting progress and building a future rooted in justice, access, and moving toward collective power. Get to know the work of modern disability rights leaders like Justice Shorter: https://justiceshorter.com/
Jenny Lu stands at an LG technology exhibit at CES 2026, facing a large curved digital dashboard display. She is interacting with an accessible automotive interface that allows music selection through eye-gaze controls. The futuristic screen glows with colorful graphics, and other attendees stand nearby observing the demonstration. The DREDF logo appears in the lower right corner
Proud of Jenny Lu for exploring accessible AI + autonomous vehicles at CES 2026
AVs could expand mobility and independence for millions of disabled people but only if accessibility is built in from the start.
Tell Congress: protect disability rights in AV policy: https://tinyurl.com/AVBill
A court has ruled LA cannot unlawfully expand RV seizures and destruction.
This protects thousands of unhoused Angelenos who rely on RVs as their only home.
Proud to stand with @legalaidla.bsky.social, @westerncenter.bsky.social, and ACLU SoCal.
Read on @laist.com:
For disabled people, an in-person dispensing requirement will create a barrier to mifepristone, an essential medication used for pregnancy termination and miscarriage management.
We stand with @aclu.org and the medical experts urging the court to reject this dangerous attempt to restrict access.
Content warning: Discussion of violence against disabled people.
March 1 is the Disability Day of Mourning.
We remember disabled people killed by parents, family or caregivers.
Their lives mattered.
Join DREDF and ASAN in the #DayOfMourning:
We’ve joined 130+ civil rights groups opposing the SAVE Act and other anti-voter bills that create barriers for millions, including people with disabilities.
A Senate vote could happen this week.
Tell Congress: Stop anti-voter bills now:
A graphic for Black History Month featuring bold text reading “BLACK HISTORY MONTH” with the subtitle “Continuing the Fight Together.” The DREDF logo appears in the top right corner. Below the text is an illustration of a diverse group of individuals standing together in solidarity, some raising their fists and others carrying flags. Warm tones of orange, red, green, and beige are used throughout the design, evoking unity and collective action.
The civil rights movement was built on the understanding that racism, ableism, and poverty are deeply connected.
Freedom has never been siloed. Justice only works when it works for everyone.
Disabled immigrants are facing harm as civil rights enforcement is weakened.
New Mother Jones investigation featuring DREDF details how DHS cuts make disabled people vulnerable to discrimination & abuse: /tinyurl.com/MJICEArticle
DREDF’s resources: dredf.org/immigrant-rights-and-ice-out/
Graphic featuring a map of the United States with nine states highlighted in red: Alaska, Montana, South Dakota, Kansas, Missouri, Indiana, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. Black lines point from the 9 states to a callout box that reads, “9 states are attacking the right of people with disabilities to live in the community.” The headline reads, “Texas v. Kennedy (2026): The renewed attack on Section 504 and Olmstead. Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 10:30 am PT | 1:30 pm ET.” REGISTER"
Nine states are targeting the integration mandate that protects disabled people from forced institutionalization.
Learn what’s at stake and how to fight back.
Feb 25 | 10:30am PT / 1:30pm ET
Register: https://dredf-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Q1oN3icfRrCY36saLlwgJA#/registration
A graphic with the words “love OR SURVIVAL” at the topOn the left, a hand holds a pin or needle pointed toward a red, heart-shaped balloon being held up by the hand on the right. Below the image text reads, “The choice too many disabled people must make,” with the DREDF logo beneath it.
On Valentine’s Day, we celebrate the right to build a life of love, connection, and commitment.
Marriage should not require disabled people to sacrifice essential supports.
Policies must change. Learn more about the fight: patricethemovie.com
Watch at https://www.hulu.com/movie/patrice-the-movie/
Brad Lomax, a Black man and manual wheelchair user holds a microphone and smiles. He is in a retro suit. Text reads “February 2026 Black History Month, Black Disability Rights Leadership” with the DREDF logo in the corner.
Black history is disability rights history.
Black disabled leaders like Brad Lomax helped shape the civil rights movement and the 504 Sit-In.
Brad Lomax's legacy of that is in @pbs.org American Masters Special: https://tinyurl.com/2kpwnbmk
Disability civil rights don’t enforce themselves. With federal guidance limited, state leadership matters more than ever. This toolkit helps advocates push for Section 504 implementation.
Lois Curtis, Elaine Lewis, and their lawyer sit at a table smiling. Text reads: Background. The Supreme Court’s decision in Olmstead v. LC says that people with disabilities have a right to live in the community. Arrow point to Lois and Elaine saying ‘plaintiff.’
Text reads: The ‘integration mandate’ of the Olmstead decision required states to take action to help people with disabilities get out of institutions and into the community. A visualization of how Olmstead helps keep people out of institutions. A person with an intellectual disability on track to go to an institution, but an arrow navigates around the institution, instead going to a home in the community.
Text reads: Summary of the Report. This report looks at how the Olmstead decision brought about positive change in three states: Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. The report describes how each state utilized Olmstead as a tool to improve access to community living for people with disabilities, including improving housing affordability, supportive housing, and home and community-based services.
Text reads: The report’s authors interviewed people for their input and expertise. Here’s what they had to say. Quote 1: I think that Olmstead has been one of the most powerful tools to increase the availability of affordable and accessible housing.” Quote 2: I’ve seen many examples where Olmstead litigation has led states to pretty significantly increase availability of accessible integrated housing with supportive services for people with disabilities…”
New Report 📝 Olmstead’s Effects on Housing Affordability, Supportive Housing, and Home and Community-Based Services: A Three-State Study
This report and its associated case studies were conducted by the @dredf.bsky.social, in partnership with the CLPC.
Read online: TinyURL.com/OlmsteadReport2026
Take action today to tell congress that FEMA funding should not be used as a political bargaining chip to allow ICE and CBP to continue their ongoing and imminent threats to the areas where they operate.
Learn more and see how you can take action: https://ow.ly/2gAk50Y9KGS
Large text reads: “Webinar: Using Disability Law and Domestic Abuse Protections to Avoid Eviction - Practical Tools for Advocates and Legal Service Providers” Thursday, February 19 at 12:00 - 1:00 pm PT. The DREDF and FVAP logos are at the top with a close up photo of a hand posting an eviction notice to the front of a door.
For people with disabilities and survivors of violence, eviction often stems from circumstances beyond their control.
Join our webinar on Feb 19 @ 12 pm PT to learn how disability law and survivor protections can work to stop evictions.
Register now: https://tinyurl.com/3964xeyv
A bold graphic reads “Celebrating Black History Month” with the DREDF logo above. Surrounding panels feature Pan-African or Afro-American flag colors of green, red and black with decorative patterns, including zigzags, curved lines with yellow stripes, silhouettes of raised fists holding signs, and two hands reaching toward each other.
Black disabled people have always been at the heart of the disability rights movement: organizing, resisting + building care. This #BlackHistoryMonth, we continue to protect the hard-fought rights and build a future of equality.
@ndrnadvocates.bsky.social's series: https://tinyurl.com/ymhwyrhp
A simplified map of the southeastern United States highlighting Virginia in blue, North Carolina in gray, and Georgia in purple. Below the map is the report title: “Olmstead’s Effects on Housing Affordability, Supportive Housing, and Home and Community-Based Services: A Three-State Study.” Logos appear at the bottom for Brandeis University’s Heller School/Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, the Community Living Policy Center (CLPC), and the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF).
Graphic explaining Olmstead v. L.C. Text states that the Supreme Court ruled people with disabilities have the right to live in the community. Below is a photo of plaintiffs Lois Curtis and Elaine Lewis seated at a table, identified by arrows and labels.
Text explaining the Olmstead integration mandate. Text states that states are required to help people with disabilities move out of institutions and into the community. Simple icons show a person moving from an institution building to a house labeled “Community Living.”
a smartphone displaying the cover and table of contents of a report titled “Olmstead’s Effects on Housing Affordability, Supportive Housing, and Home and Community-Based Services: A Three-State Study.” The cover shows a map highlighting Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia, with logos for Brandeis University, the Community Living Policy Center, and DREDF. A purple banner below the phone reads “TinyURL.com/OlmsteadReport2026.”
Integration works.
It expands dignity, access, and opportunity.
New research from @brandeisuniversity.bsky.social and DREDF affirms the positive impact when states embrace the right of people with disabilities to integration - a right we must continue to protect: https://tinyurl.com/4u9938a9
A key advisory board for funding autism research is now filled with anti-vaccine activists and promoters of dangerous, debunked “treatments."
Autistic people deserve authentic representation and research that centers us.
@autisticadvocacy.org's full statement:
A close-up photograph of a wheelchair positioned on a snow-covered sidewalk or path. The wheelchair’s front caster and large rear wheel are visible, dusted with snow, emphasizing difficult winter conditions. On the left side of the image, bold text reads “Severe Weather Resources.” The overall image highlights how winter weather can create accessibility barriers for people with disabilities.
Severe storms are putting disabled people at greater risk—especially when medical equipment, care, or medications are disrupted.
Know your rights, be prepared, severe weather resources widely, and check on disabled neighbors, elders, and others who may need support.
Resources: https://bit.ly/3NX4WHz
Graphic with a teal background and overlapping speech bubbles. A large white speech bubble contains the text “Help Shape Our Communications” and the DREDF logo.
Help shape how DREDF communicates. We’re launching our 2025 Communications Survey to learn how you want to hear from us and how we can do better. Your feedback matters! Take the survey now: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SFBX699
Black-and-white image of a manual wheelchair user, seen from behind, positioned in a doorway that opens to the community outside. The setting appears institutional, with worn walls and a narrow passage. Large text at the top reads, “Stop the Attack on Section 504” in bold and urgent font.
Nine states are attacking Section 504 and the right of disabled people to live in the community. This lawsuit threatens decades of disability rights upheld by the Supreme Court in Olmstead.
Stop segregation and institutionalization.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/section-504-attack
At the top, a photo shows a child seated at a table with two caregivers and an educator, reviewing paperwork together in a classroom setting, suggesting an IEP meeting. Below, text reads: “DREDF Training Series: Writing SMART Goals in the IEP. Virtual Training. Monday, February 9, 2026. 7:00–8:45 pm PT.” A red “Register” button appears at the bottom.
Are your child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals designed for success?
Join us for Part 6: Writing SMART Goals in the IEP to learn what the law requires and what it takes to make strong goals.
Register for the training: https://dredf-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4oMpifxNT7mAvGHMQPM01w
A silhouetted hand reaches through vertical metal bars toward bright sunlight, suggesting confinement and the desire for freedom. The sky beyond is clear and blue, contrasting with the dark foreground. Bold white text at the bottom reads “NEVER AGAIN,” conveying urgency, resistance, and a warning against returning to histories of detention, institutionalization, and dehumanization.
Nearly 1 in 3 unhoused people have a disability. Proposals for cruelty, dehumanization + isolation are a page from the Ugly Laws and institutionalization playbook.
Join the @homelesslaw.bsky.social on Jan 29 to say No Federal Funds for Homeless Detention Camps: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
