Press Releases

Department of Justice Report Findings: Iowa is in Violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

DES MOINES, Iowa. — The Department of Justice filed a report on Wednesday stating that the State of Iowa is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Within the ADA is the integration mandate which states that the State must provide “community based services to people with disabilities when: a. such services are appropriate; b. the affected people do not oppose community-based services; and c. community-based services can be reasonably accommodated…”[1] The integration mandate of the ADA requires the State to reasonably modify its service system to provide meaningful alternatives to institutional care.

[1] Olmstead vs. L.C., 527 U.S. 581, 607 (1999)

Get to Know Your Rights: A Conversation on Equal Access to Healthcare and Special Education

Dubuque, Iowa. — Disability Rights Iowa with Mental Health and Disability Services, Dubuque County Health Department, Visiting Nurses Association, and Dubuque County Emergency Management is hosting an in-person Accessible COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic alongside an Equal Access to Healthcare and Special Education presentation. This event is a part of an initiative to inform individuals with disabilities of health information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. This clinic is free and open to the public.

Disability Rights Iowa Announces Changes in Leadership

After nearly a decade of protecting and advocating for the rights of Iowans with disabilities, Jane Hudson is retiring as the executive director of Disability Rights Iowa on June 17, 2021. Catherine Johnson will be starting on June 15, 2021.

Disability Rights Iowa Urges State to Develop System to Vaccinate Homebound Iowans

(March 19, 2021 – Des Moines, IA) – Iowa currently does not have a system for vaccinating Iowans with disabilities who cannot leave their homes to get vaccinated. Disability Rights Iowa – the federally mandated protection and advocacy system for Iowans with disabilities – urges the state to immediately implement a system for reaching out to homebound Iowans and give them the opportunity to get vaccinated.

First Monitor’s report Shows Substantial Progress toward Compliance with Court-Ordered Reform Plan for Iowa Boys’ State Training School

(February 3,2021 — Des Moines, IA) – An independent Monitor today filed the initial report on Iowa’s efforts to imporve conditions and services at the Boys State Training School in Eldora, Iowa, noting that the State has made progress in accordance with a Court order to reform the School’s practices.

Disability Rights Iowa Completes Inclusive Disability Mural for New Offices

(February 19, 2021 – Des Moines, IA) Disability Rights Iowa recently moved to new offices in the central downtown area. As a result, DRI had the unique opportunity to create a welcoming, inclusive, and representative mural in our lobby. This mural will help usher in the next chapter for DRI as we continue to advocate for Iowans with disabilities and mental illness. The mural depicts important progress in the disability rights movement as we dedicate our work to ensure the disability community has equal access in all aspects of their lives.