Introduction
California has long led the nation in policies that advance civil rights and equity. However, for the 7.6 million disabled adults[1] and 1.4 million disabled children[2] in the state, equity remains out of reach. When compared to other states, California has among the highest housing and health care costs, with low disability employment and high rates of poverty among disabled people.[3] Disabled people lack equal access to civic engagement opportunities, with inaccessible voting systems, inadequate transportation, and lack of accommodations for public participation in government meetings.[4]
To claim the title of leader, California must assess its gaps in disability rights, both in statute and enforcement. From disaster preparedness to policing, California policies need to not just catch up, but step ahead of the norms and embrace disability equity.
By providing a high-level overview of these gaps, this report identifies the many issue areas in which lawmakers, state agency leaders, and advocates may collaborate to introduce and enact disability-specific legislation and rules that advance disability community interests. We view this report as a tool for organizing the array of public policy reforms needed to address the complex problems facing disabled Californians.
While the overview here covers many broad issue areas, our recommended approach is relatively simple. First, listen to disabled Californians when developing solutions for policy problems that affect them. Second, center the valuable lived experience of disabled Californians to find solutions to the problems. Through the direct engagement of disabled people, both within leadership and in communities throughout the state, we can create a disability-inclusive California.
[2] “Children with Special Health Needs: California.” Kids Data, Population Research Bureau, 2022.
[3] Hurst, Andrew. “Best States for Living with a Disability” Policygenius, 17 Apr. 2024
[4] Hassan, Zeenat. “Letter in Support of an Opinion from the Attorney General on Remote Participation in Brown Act Meetings as a Reasonable Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act.” 1 Feb. 2024. Received by Catherine Bidart, Deputy Attorney General.