The Issue:

Petition to California Attorney General Rob Bonta: Defend Disability Rights & Protect Section 504

To: California Attorney General Rob Bonta

California has long been a leader in civil rights and disability protections. However, a coalition of 17 states has filed a lawsuit, Texas v. Becerra, seeking to invalidate Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act—one of the most fundamental disability rights laws in the U.S. If successful, this case could eliminate protections for millions of people with disabilities in education, healthcare, employment, and beyond.

Why Section 504 Matters to Californians
Over 4 million Californians—nearly 11% of the state’s population—have disabilities (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023).

Section 504 is what ensures:

• Students with disabilities in K-12 and higher education receive accommodations like extra time on exams, accessible materials, and assistive technology.
• College students can access disability services, including note-taking assistance, priority registration, and modified course requirements.
• Employees with disabilities are guaranteed reasonable accommodations, allowing them to work without discrimination.
• Patients with disabilities can receive equal access to healthcare, including accessible medical equipment, sign language interpreters, and alternative communication supports.

Without Section 504, these rights and protections could disappear—leaving millions of Californians without the legal safeguards they rely on every day.

Why California Must Take Action:
This lawsuit is more than just a challenge to recent regulatory updates—it’s a direct attack on the constitutionality of Section 504 itself. The complaint states:

"Section 504 exceeds Congress’s Spending Clause authority and is unconstitutional." (Texas v. Becerra, 2024, p. 37)

If these states succeed, it would erase federal protections for people with disabilities nationwide—including in California. This legal attack must not go unanswered.

California Must Stand Up for Disability Rights
California has a strong history of fighting for inclusion, equity, and accessibility. As other states work to dismantle Section 504, California must take a stand to defend it.

We urge Attorney General Bonta to:

✅ File an amicus brief in support of Section 504, making clear that California opposes this attack on disability rights.
✅ Publicly affirm California’s commitment to protecting disability rights at the state and federal levels.
✅ Ensure California is part of the national effort to defend Section 504 and prevent the rollback of essential protections.

Sign This Petition to Tell Attorney General Bonta: California Must Defend Section 504!
 

Authors:

Mary Brinson, PhD - Assistant Professor, University of San Diego, Department of Communication; Casa De Amistad Tutor; CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate); Mentor, Girls Rising.

Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed. - Adjunct Faculty at San Diego State University, Founder at Beyond Awareness, Retired teacher at Chula Vista Elementary School District

Eric J. Adams - Associate Professor, Santa Rosa Junior College; Author & Filmmaker; Investigative Journalist; Board of Directors, International Center for Rights and Justice; Board of Directors, FiveAlive.

Kathleen Adams, MSW. LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Adina Batnitsky, Ph.D - Associate Professor, University of San Diego, Medical Sociology

Paul Bokota, JD - Attorney,  Former 12-year Trustee, Irvine Unified School District

Wendy Bokota, MBA - Community Advocate - Education and Mental Health Issues, Former IUSD PTA Legislative Action Chair, City of Irvine Children Youth and Families Advisory Committee and Irvine Public Schools Foundation Board

Todd Collins - Organizer, California Reading Coalition

John Corcoran - President of the non-profit John Corcoran Foundation

Linda Diamond - Author: Teaching Reading Sourcebook; Executive Director, Evidence Advocacy Center

Katie Hickerson, MSN, CRNA - Literacy Consultant and Disability Advocate 

Marvilene Hagopian - Retired Curriculum Specialist, California Technical Assistance Center for Reading First

Keida Mascaro - Producer, Our Dyslexic Children

Megan Potente, M.Ed. - Co-State Director, Decoding Dyslexia CA

Avi Spiegal, Ph.D - Associate Professor, University of San Diego, Department of Political Science & International Relations

Brian Stewart, MDR, MPP - Resident Director, Semester at Sea; Founder and CEO - A Good Steward; Advance Associate, DEIB & ADA Advocate

Kareem Weaver - Co-founder and Executive Director of FULCRUM, Oakland NAACP's 2nd Vice President and Chair of its Education Committee

Laura Wittenberg, MSW -  MA in Clinical Psychology, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy (MSW); Learning disabilities from birth. IEP qualified enabling me to get MA in Nursing Home Administration  

Sources & References:

Texas v. Becerra, No. 5:24-cv-00225-C (N.D. Tex. filed Sept. 26, 2024). Complaint. Retrieved from https://law.alaska.gov/pdf/press/240927-Complaint.pdf

Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse. (2024, September 26). Case: State of Texas v. Becerra. Retrieved from https://clearinghouse.net/case/45899/
U.S. Census Bureau. (2023). Disability Characteristics by State: California. Retrieved from https://data.census.gov

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