Members of the media who are interested in accessing the extensive disability-related knowledge of Disability Rights Florida attorneys, policy specialists, or staff are encouraged to contact our Communications Director at 800-342-0823 ext 9762 or press@DisabilityRightsFlorida.org to schedule an interview at least 24 hours in advance.

When reporting on people with disabilities, consider disability-inclusive and sensitive language.  For instance, statements like “people with disabilities” and “uses a wheelchair” are preferred instead of “the disabled” or “wheelchair bound.” For more information, see Communicating About People with Disabilities from the National Disability Rights Network and review the National Center on Disability and Journalism’s Style Guide.

 

DOJ Reaches Settlement with Pasco County School District Following Investigation into Disproportionate Expulsion and Use of Baker Act on Students with Disabilities

Friday, March 08, 2024

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) found that Pasco County School District discriminated against students with disabilities through its use of school discipline, threat assessment practices, and referrals of students to law enforcement. The DOJ will monitor…

DRF Joins National Partners in Opposing the Ensuring Medicaid Continuity for Children in Foster Care Act

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Disability Rights Florida joined national, state, and local medical, legal, service provider, child advocacy, individuals with lived experience, and disability rights partners in submitting comments to Congress opposing the Ensuring Medicaid Continuity for Children in Foster…

Contact Your Representatives to Pass Supported DecisionMaking: HB 73 and SB 446

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Two bills that would recognize Supported Decision-Making as an alternative to guardianship in Florida law are currently making their way through the Florida legislature.   HB 73 (the House bill) - Supported Decision-Making Authority (Representatives Tant…

Stop These Bills That Allow Vehicle Owners to Identify People with Disabilities on Vehicle Registrations

Friday, February 02, 2024

What do these bills do? HB 341 and SB 288 allow the owner of a car or other motor vehicle to share on their motor vehicle registration whether they have any of the following disabilities, or if they…

DRF Submits Comments Opposing AHCA's Language Changes to the Developmental Disabilities Individual Budgeting (iBudget) Waiver

Monday, January 08, 2024

The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) has proposed significant language changes to its Medicaid Developmental Disabilities (“iBudget”) Waiver. These proposed changes include: Changing the title of the iBudget Waiver from the “Developmental Disabilities…

DRF Commends the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Effort to Enhance Nursing Home Care Quality through Minimum Staffing Standards & Medicaid Payment Transparency

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Disability Rights Florida submitted comments to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in November regarding their initiative to set minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities and bring transparency to institutions' Medicaid payment…

DRF Joins National Partners in Support of Implementing Section 504 Regulations on Discrimination in Health and Human Service Programs or Activities

Friday, December 08, 2023

On November 13, 2023, Disability Rights Florida joined national, state, and local partners in commenting on the proposed rule, Discrimination on the Basis of Disability in Health and Human Service Programs or Activities. This long-awaited…

Appeals Court Reviewing Florida's Wet Signature Voter Registration Rules

Thursday, December 07, 2023

Earlier this year, Disability Rights Florida and three other disability voting rights organizations, including Vote.org, the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans, and the Florida State Conference of the NAACP, filed a lawsuit challenging Florida's "wet…

Disability Rights Florida Solidarity with LGBTQ+ Community

Wednesday, November 08, 2023

Disability Rights Florida strongly condemns discrimination and bigotry against the LGBTQ+ community, including individuals with disabilities identifying as LGBTQ+. We believe that protecting the civil and human rights of all people is of utmost importance,…

DRF Endorses Federal Legislation Protecting the Critical Needs of Disaster-Impacted People With Disabilities

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Disability Rights Florida (DRF), Florida’s designated protection and advocacy agency, joins with other disability and aging leaders and community stakeholders in calling on the federal government to address the critical needs of disaster-impacted people with…

The First Disabled & Deaf Trans People's Survey (DTPS) Now Live 

Friday, October 27, 2023

The Disability Project at the Transgender Law Center has launched the very first survey that specifically collects stories and data from disabled and Deaf trans people—particularly Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), low-income, and rural…

Disability Rights Florida Commends the Introduction of Florida Medicaid Buy-in Bill

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Disability Rights Florida commends the introduction of Senate Bill 212 by Senator Joe Gruters to establish and implement a Medicaid Buy-in program for Floridians with disabilities. If passed by the 2024 Florida Legislature, this legislation…

DRF Joins 370 Organizations In Support of SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act

Wednesday, October 04, 2023

Disability Rights Florida is proud to join 370 other organizations dedicated to improving the lives of older adults and people with disabilities to support the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act. This Act would increase the amount of…

Department of Labor to Review Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act that Allows Subminimum Wage

Tuesday, October 03, 2023

On September 26, 2023, the United States Department of Labor announced that it will undergo a thorough review of Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act to determine if the program can continue. Since…

NIH Officially Recognizes Disability as a Health Disparity

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

On Tuesday, September 26, 2023, The National Institutes of Health (NIH) officially recognized people with disabilities as a population with health disparities, which is a significant step forward in acknowledging the health inequalities that our…
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