To Attorney General Knudsen,

As attorney General of Montana your role in disability rights includes enforcing laws, creating standards, and reviewing practices.  It is your obligation to uphold the rights of all Montanans and protect them from potential legal threats that  ensure laws that protect their civil rights. As this is written, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a law that has protected people with disabilities for the past 50 years is in jeopardy in the state of Montana.
 In the current Texas v. Becerra court case a group of 17 states, including Montana, have sued the United States government to get rid of Section 504 and its new rules that protect people with disabilities from discrimination in health care, education and human services. The states arguments suggests  that Section 504 itself is unconstitutional. If successful, it would strip away important legal protections that ensure students, workers, and patients with disabilities have equal access to education, employment, and healthcare.

112,586 (9.9% of the state’s population) have disabilities, and the consequences of this lawsuit will directly impact them. Without Section 504:

-Montana students with disabilities could lose their legal right to 504 Plans, which provide accommodations in K-12 schools.
-Montana students in higher education may lose critical supports, such as accommodations that would allow for; note-taking services, accessible materials, extended testing time, and assistive technology in colleges and universities.
-Montanans with disabilities including veterans in the workforce may no longer be guaranteed equal access and reasonable accommodations to succeed in their jobs.
-Montanans with disabilities seeking medical care could face barriers to healthcare, including inaccessible medical equipment, lack of communication supports, and reduced access to necessary services.
People with a range of disabilities, including physical, sensory, intellectual, learning, and mental health disabilities, could lose protections that help them participate in daily life without discrimination.

As Attorney General, you have the power and responsibility to stand up for all Montanans by:

1. Publicly defending Section 504 and opposing this lawsuit’s attempt to dismantle it.

2. Filing an amicus brief in support of Section 504, demonstrating Montana's commitment to protecting its residents from disability discrimination.

We plead with you to act immediately. 112,586 Montanans depend on rights and protections Section 504 provides. They are counting on you to uphold their rights and protect equal access to education, employment, and healthcare.

Sign this petition and tell Attorney General Knudsen: Defend Section 504 for all Montanans.

In appreciation,

Meredith Scully, MSW, MEd, Founder Cottonwood Day School (Bozeman), Eagle Mount Board Member, Parent and Disability Advocate

Reference List:

Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse. (2024, September 26). Case: State of Texas v. Becerra. Retrieved February 15, 2025, from https://clearinghouse.net/case/45899/

 Erickson, W., Lee, C., & von Schrader, S. (2016). 2014 Disability Status Report: Montana. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Yang Tan Institute on Employment and Disability(YTI).from https://www.disabilitystatistics.org/StatusReports/2014-PDF/2014-StatusReport_MT.pdf​

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/MT/PST045224