In the News

Disability Rights Iowa plans statewide mental health presentation on May 10

from: Business Record

“Disability Rights Iowa announced it will host an in-person presentation on May 10 in Des Moines featuring Dior Vargas, a nationally prominent mental health advocate. Vargas, a native New Yorker who specializes in working with universities and corporations to discuss self-care advocacy, wellness accessibility and diversity within mental health, will share her story of growing up at the intersection of being a queer Latina feminist while experiencing mental health symptoms for the first time without community or family support…”

DISABILITY RIGHTS IOWA TO HOST FIRST ANNUAL NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS EVENT WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKER DIOR VARGAS

from: 93.1 the Buzz

“Eighteen co-sponsors representing State-wide Disability Rights, Latinx, LGBTQ, and mental health organizations are partnering with Disability Rights Iowa to host an in-person presentation in Des Moines from Dior Vargas on Tuesday, May 10th, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. …”

Advocates react to Glenwood Resource Center closing in 2024

by: Calyn Thompson

“WHO 13 NEWS – A troubled state-home for Iowans with intellectual and developmental disabilities is slated to close. Gov. Reynolds made the announcement Thursday, saying the Glenwood Resource Center will permanently shut down in June of 2024. …”

Iowa leaders pay $4.9 million to lawyers in Eldora Boys School case, wonder why suit wasn’t settled

by: Tony Leys and Daniel Lathrop

” Top Iowa officials agreed Tuesday to pay $4.9 million to lawyers for former students at the state’s school for troubled boys, amid questions about why state lawyers pushed the issue to an expensive trial instead of agreeing to fix problems the young men’s lawsuit raised …”

Iowa to pay $5M in legal fees in school abuse case

by: David Pitt

“Iowa officials agreed Tuesday to pay a group of attorneys nearly $5 million in a case that showed staff wrongly kept boys at a state-run school in isolation chambers and restraints….”

Iowa gets rid of restraint device and cut seclusion at Boys State Training School

by: Erin Jordan

“A restraining device called ‘the wrap” is gone. Staff at the Boys State Training School in Eldora are now using seclusion rooms only in cases when a boy is at risk of seriously harming himself or others. And the school has hired more mental health counselors…”

Clarification: The 8th Circuit Court Decided on January 25th that universal masking is a reasonable accommodation any student with a disability can request should they require it to attend school. This allows for all students to have equal access to education. The 8th Circuit added that if there isn’t a student who has a qualifying disability that would require a mask, that school or building would not need to institute a mask mandate.

Judge who blocked Iowa’s school-mask ban went too far, 8th Circ says

by: Barbara Grzincic

” Advocates and parents of disabled children can block the state of Iowa from banning mask mandates in public schools to limit the spread of Covid-19 – but, for now, only in the 10 school districts the plaintiffs are actually suing, a federal appeals court held Tuesday…”

Iowa will not enforce school mask mandate ban for now, Attorney General’s Office says

by: William Morris

“The families and disability rights advocates who sued to allow their school districts to require masks can continue pursuing their suit, a federal appellate court ruled Tuesday, but an order allowing all schools to put in place masking rules has been struck down…”

At least 3 Iowa school districts drop mask mandates after latest ruling

by: Cleo Krejci and William Morris

“A decision on mask policies in schools from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit threw Iowa’s education community into a tailspin Tuesday…”

Which central Iowa schools will keep mask mandates in place?

by: Samantha Hernandez

“Masking in Iowa schools continues to be this week as school officials weigh how to handle a U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit’s decision. ..”

Appeals court rules that some Iowa schools can impose mask mandates

by: Clark Kauffman

“Some Iowa schools can require face masks to comply with federal protections for students with disabilities, according to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals…”

8th Circuit rules for parents seeking school mask mandates because of their children’s disabilities

by: Debra Cassens Weiss

“A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that an Iowa law banning mask mandates at public schools shouldn’t be read to prevent masks when needed to accommodate children’s disabilities…”

Appeals court limits scope of preliminary injunction against Iowa’s school mask ban

by: Paul Brennan

“The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Tuesday that a preliminary injunction stopping the Reynolds administration from enforcing a ban on face masks in Iowa schools is too broad, and should only apply to the 10 school districts named in the lawsuit. The Iowa Department of Education (IDOE) will now be able to enforce the mask ban in the state’s other 317 school districts, although the department must allow schools in those districts to require masking around some students with disabilities, according to the three-judge panel…”

Iowa won’t close institutions for people with disabilities as mission shifts

by: Tony Leys

“Iowa has no immediate plans to close either of its institutions for people with intellectual disabilities but could scale back after a federal report accusing the state of violating people’s rights by relying too heavily on such facilities, the state’s top human services official suggested Monday…”

Iowa must pay $4.9 million to lawyers in Eldora boys’ school ‘torture’ case, appeals court rules

by: Tony Leys

“Iowa must pay $4.9 million in fees and expenses to lawyers who successfully sued the state over mistreatment of students at the Boys State Training School in Eldora, an appeals court ruled Wednesday…”

Theatre Cedar Rapids installs coil system to enhance sound for patrons with hearing aids

by: Malcolm MacDougall

“Theatre Cedar Rapids expanded their accessibility options recently with the installation of a hearing induction loop in their auditorium. Hearing induction loops are a type of assistive hearing device that uses a copper wire installed around the perimeter of the auditorium to beam magnetic signals directly to patrons’ hearing aids. The installation was made possible by a donation from long-time supporters of Theatre Cedar Rapids, Myron and Ethel Wilson…”

Disability Rights Iowa to stage town hall event in Sioux City

by: Clark Kauffman

“Disability Rights Iowa is staging a town hall in Sioux City on Wednesday for residents to meet the agency’s new executive director…”

Disability Rights Iowa holds a town hall to understand accessibility issues in northwest Iowa

by: Kendall Crawford

“Sioux City residents got the opportunity to share their concerns surrounding accessibility at a town hall hosted by Disability Rights Iowa on Wednesday…”

Advocates react to federal report that says Iowa is violating rights of disabled people

by: Calyn Thompson

“WHO 13 NEWS – After uncovering the horrors of human sexual experiments at the Glenwood Resource Center last year, federal officials have kept investigating Iowa’s state-run facilities that house people with intellectual and developmental disabilities…”

Disability Rights Iowa hosts first town hall in Sioux City

by: Taylor Deckert

“Disability Rights Iowa has a new executive director, she made a stop in Sioux City for her first town hall on Wednesday…”

Department of Justice investigation prompts Hy-Vee to make changes to online COVID vaccine portal

by: William Morris

“Iowa’s largest pharmacy chain will make changes to its COVID-19 vaccine scheduling system after federal investigators found the company’s online web portal excluded some users with disabilities…”

Federal court will decide the fate of mask mandates in Iowa schools

by: Stephen Gruber-Miller

“A federal appeals court is set to decide whether to keep in place an injunction blocking Iowa’s ban on school mask mandates…”

Eldora boys’ school violence continues, but monitor says mental health care is improving

by: Tony Leys

“Iowa’s school for troubled boys continues to be plagued by violence, but its supervisors and staff have strengthened mental health treatment and behavior modification methods, a national consultant reported Friday…”

Iowa schools can again mandate masks after a federal Iowa ban on mask mandates at schools overturned by federal judge

by: Charles Davis

“A federal judge has sided with parents of disabled children, issuing a ruling that temporarily overturns an Iowa law that had prohibited schools from requiring masks during the pandemic…”

Decorah schools mask mandate effective Sept. 27

by: Kate Klimesh

“The Decorah Middle School Auditorium was buzzing with anticipation Monday night as the DCSD School Board held a meeting to discuss masking during school hours. The meeting was held in response to a federal judge recently approving a temporary restraining order on the enforcement of the Iowa State Law banning mask mandates in schools…”

When Schools Call Police on Kids

by: Corey Mitchell

“In Vermont, students with disabilities accounted for 48% of students referred to law enforcement in 2017-18. That’s the highest among all states and more than twice their share of the overall student population…”

Lawsuit: Iowa’s school mask mandate ban violates disability rights

by: Katie Akin

“Eleven families have partnered with a disability rights group to sue the state of Iowa over a law that prevents school districts from requiring face coverings…”

Vaccine clinics planned for Iowans with disabilities

by: Clark Kauffman

“Disability Rights Iowa is staging two vaccine clinics geared specifically to people with disabilities.

People with disabilities face higher risks related to COVID-19 than the general population. A study published in March by researchers at Thomas Jefferson University looked at more than 64 million patients and found that having an intellectual disability was the single strongest independent risk factor for contracting the virus. Intellectually disabled people who are hospitalized with the virus are also six times more likely to die than non-disabled COVID patients, the study found…”

Parents of kids with disabilities sue over Iowa’s mask mandate law

by: Sue Danielson

“Eleven parents are going to court over Iowa’s law which prohibits schools from imposing mask mandates. The parents have children with special needs, and say the law violates the American With Disabilities Act.

The lawsuit is asking the district court to block the provision of the law prohibiting mask requirements at school as a violation of federal law (ADA and the Rehabilitation Act) and to order the state to allow school districts to adopt mask mandates for their students and staff…”

Parents of disabled children sue over Iowa ban on mask mandates

by: Andrew Mollenbeck

“A group of parents of disabled students filed a lawsuit Friday seeking to strike down Iowa’s law banning schools from requiring masks, arguing it endangers their health and denies equal access to education.

The lawsuit, backed by the American Civil Liberties Union and disability rights organizations, adds to the legal pressure facing the law as virus cases and hospitalizations climb in Iowa to their highest levels since last winter…”

Parents of students with disabilities sue over Iowa’s COVID mask mandate ban in schools

by: Stephen Gruber-Miller

“Parents of students with disabilities and disability rights groups are suing Iowa, claiming a law that bans mask mandates in schools discriminates against students with disabilities who are at higher risk for COVID-19…”

Iowa’s mask mandate ban faces federal civil rights inquiry

by: Amanda Rooker

“The U.S. Department of Education is investigating the Iowa Department of Education over the state’s ban on mask mandates.

Iowa’s director of education, Ann Lebo, received the letter Monday morning. The U.S. Education Department says the state’s law could amount to discrimination against students with disabilities or health conditions. Four other Republican-led states received the same letter…”

Disability groups agree to limited use of cells at Eldora home for troubled youth

by: Clark Kauffman

“Advocates for disability rights have agreed to let the state-run Boys State Training School in Eldora reopen the controversial locked unit that once was used to house children in isolation as a form of punishment…”

Citing a surge in violence, DHS wants court’s OK to lift restrictions at Eldora school

by: Clark Kauffman

“Faced with a major increase in violent behavior at the state-run Boys State Training School in Eldora, state officials are asking a federal judge to let the agency keep students overnight in a unit once used to isolate youths as a form of punishment…”

New Disability Rights Iowa director sees herself as a ‘coalition builder’

by: Clark Kauffman

“The new executive director of Disability Rights Iowa says one of the challenges she faces in her job is that relatively few Iowans see themselves as disabled…”

Surging violence at Iowa’s Eldora boys school sparks ‘profound fear’ amid shift away from harsh discipline

by: Tony Leys

“The Iowa Boys State Training School has been gripped with violence and fear in recent months, as staff members implement court-ordered changes to discipline practices, a new report says…”

Disability Advocacy Organization Opens Exclusive Spanish Intake Hours

by: Kassidy Arena

“Disability Rights Iowa (DRI) provides advocacy and legal assistance to people with disabilities. In an effort to reach all of Iowa’s populations, they have added an exclusive schedule solely for Spanish speakers: Tuesdays 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursdays 4 p.m. to 6 p.m…”

Reynolds asks all Iowans to be vaccinated but won’t require it of state-employed caregivers

by: Clark Kauffman

“After repeatedly urging all Iowans to get their COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Kim Reynolds reiterated Tuesday that she will not be requiring health care workers in state-run care facilities to be vaccinated…”

Advocacy groups say homebound Iowans have been ‘forgotten’ by state vaccination system

by: Katie Akin

“Phyllis Mussman of Cedar Rapids spent 2020 painting, writing poetry and staying home.

Mussman, 84, has no car and has been largely homebound. She uses supplemental oxygen, making travel difficult and rendering her more vulnerable to respiratory illness brought on by the COVID-19 virus…”

Mediapolis hits pause on taking action against HCBS home residents until city attorney completes an investigation

by: Michaele Niehaus

“The city of Mediapolis does not plan to take any action against the owner of a home- and community-based services (HCBS) waiver home until an investigation into the matter is complete.

City attorney William Jahn Jr. told The Hawk Eye that, since receiving a copy of a letter from the Department of Human Services sent in May to Connie Schwartz, who owns the home in question at 312 North St., zoning violation citations will not be issued to Schwartz without the issue first being put to vote by the city council…”

More than 700 state-employed caregivers continue to refuse COVID-19 vaccine

by: Clark Kauffman

“More than 700 public employees who help care for Iowans in state-run facilities are still refusing the coronavirus vaccine.

According to the latest data from the Iowa Department of Human Services, of the 660 employees at western Iowa’s Glenwood Resource Center for profoundly disabled individuals, 323 — or 49% of the home’s workforce — have refused the vaccine…”

Iowa Secretary of State wins award for helping voters with disabilities vote

by: Sam Sanderson

“Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is earning national recognition for helping improve accessibility for Iowans with disabilities.

According to a release from the Office of the Iowa Secretary of State, Pate received the 2020 Clearie Award for Improving Accessibility for Voters with Disabilities…”

Court-appointed monitor says conditions at Eldora home are improving

by: Clark Kauffman

“A court-appointed, independent monitor says the state-run Boys State Training School in Eldora is improving its treatment of the troubled youth who live there…”

Iowa gets rid of restraint device and cut seclusion at Boys State Training School

by: Erin Jordan

“A restraining device called ‘the wrap” is gone. Staff at the Boys State Training School in Eldora are now using seclusion rooms only in cases when a boy is at risk of seriously harming himself or others. And the school has hired more mental health counselors…”

Letters: H.R.1 could level the election playing field

by: The Register’s Readers, including Jane Hudson

“As we think back on 2020, we can recall many concerning ways that people were shut out of the election process. Many of our elected representatives heard these concerns, and introduced H.R.1, the “For the People Act,” in the House of Representatives. H.R. 1 addresses many of the concerns we heard about, or raised ourselves. H.R. 1 fights big money in politics by limiting the power of super PACs and ensuring access to the polls. It also creates a publicly financed matching system to build the power of small donors in our elections…”

Judge: State must pay $4.9 million in legal fees tied to Eldora ‘torture’ case

by: Clark Kauffman

“Iowa taxpayers will have to pay almost $5 million in legal expenses tied to the “torture” and abuse of children housed at the state-run Boys State Training School in Eldora…”

Iowa ordered to pay $4.9 million in attorney fees after lawsuit on ‘torture’ at Eldora Boys State Training School

by: Tony Leys

“A federal judge who ruled last year that state employees inflicted “torture” on teens at Iowa’s training school for delinquent boys now says the state must pay the former students’ attorneys more than $4.9 million…”

Advocacy group ‘very concerned’ about Glenwood’s current leadership

by: Clark Kauffman

“Disability Rights Iowa says it remains “very concerned” about leadership at a troubled state-run home for people with disabilities, noting that state officials have ignored past complaints about resident deaths and inadequate medical care…”

Thousands of families in special education limbo

by:  Cayla Bamberger, Sarah Butrymowicz, Jackie Mader, and Caroline Preston

“Eli Clark has been waiting nearly a year for help. A good student with dreams of working in neuroscience, Eli, a 17-year-old junior who uses the pronouns they and them, did very well in middle school and was accepted to a competitive magnet high school…”

‘A major leap forward’: Iowa Board of Education votes to limit student seclusion, restraint

by: Shelby Fleig

“The Iowa Board of Education has rescinded its current rules on student seclusion and restraint and replaced them with a more limited set of circumstances in which children can be confined at school…”

Board Revisiting Rules For Seclusion Rooms In Iowa Schools

by: Grant Gerlock

“The State Board of Education is reconsidering changes to the way schools use seclusion rooms to isolate students acting in a threatening way. The latest revisions come after several meetings were held across the state taking additional input on how to limit the use of the small rooms while allowing teachers discretion in managing their classrooms…”

Polling places accommodated for people with disabilities

by: Marci Clark

“Polling places are making sure they are accessible to everyone this upcoming election day.

Disability Rights Iowa, an advocacy group in Des Moines, gave every polling location in Iowa a booklet for poll workers. Included is information on making sure people with disabilities are accommodated and welcomed at the polls.

“There’s 300,000 Iowans with disabilities of voting age. That’s quite a chunk of the population. So it’s really important we include that population so everyone can vote because in a democracy you want to hear everybody’s voice,” says Annie Matte, Communications and Voting Outreach Coordinator for Disability Rights Iowa…”

Advocates want change to allow blind people to vote by mail

by: Matt Kelley

“Advocates for Iowa’s 50,000 blind and visually-impaired residents are asking state officials to let them vote by mail independently, using assistive technology for absentee ballots…”

Blind Iowans Ask State To Make Voting By Mail Accessible

by: Katarina Sostaric

“More Iowans are voting by mail during the coronavirus pandemic than ever before, and blind and visually impaired voters have been asking state officials to allow them to do the same…”

An accessible absentee ballot is crucial for blind and disabled Iowa voters, advocates say — especially in COVID-19 era

by: Isabella Rosario

“Don Wirth has been legally blind for 25 years. At 70 years old, he’s at higher risk for COVID-19, so instead of going to the polls and using an accessible voting machine, he voted absentee during the primaries. His wife filled out the paper ballot for him…”