Press Releases

Reproductive Rights are Disability Rights

Friday, June 24, 2022 the Supreme Court of the United States decided in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to overturn the previous court decision in Roe v. Wade. 

The Roe decision provided legal protections for reproductive health, rights, and autonomy for every individual on a federal level. Dobbs v. Jackson concluded that the protections provided through the Roe v. Wade decision were not provided within the text of the constitution and therefore removed protections for reproductive health at the federal level. Disability Rights Iowa is greatly concerned for the thousands of Iowans with disabilities and the implications the Dobbs decision has on their bodily autonomy and medical rights.

Disability Rights Iowa to open to the public for the 32nd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

DES MOINES, Iowa — July offers our community a time to celebrate the promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), to reflect on the advancements of Disability Rights and to discuss opportunities for further advancement and protection of Disability Rights. The ADA was signed into law on July 26, 1990 by President George H.W. Bush and prohibits discrimination against a person with a disability. To celebrate this time in Disability Rights history, DRI will host an Open House on July 25th, from 2-4pm in their offices and open to the public permanently starting the day after. DRI invites everyone from our community to join us during the open house. Once there, guests can tour offices, meet the DRI team, the new executive director, celebrate the signing of the ADA, and experience the “F E E L” exhibit from Jill Wells – on tour at the DRI offices.

Disability Rights Iowa’s First Annual National Mental Disability Rights Iowa releases Public Survey asking – ‘how can we best serve you?’

Iowa — Disability Rights Iowa releases a public survey every other year and asks Iowans “What should we focus on to best serve your community?” This year the survey includes a question on how Disability Rights Iowa can maximize its resources to provide assistance across the entire state of Iowa. In other words, should Disability Rights Iowa focus on helping to remove large barriers and discriminatory practices that impact a large group of individuals?0 Fixing and/or removing the barrier and discrimination would help all individuals that are experiencing or may experience this problem in the future. Disability Rights Iowa is a small agency with limited capacity – i.e. not all individual requests for services can be accepted or taken on.

Disability Rights Iowa’s First Annual National Mental Health Awareness Event with Keynote Speaker Dior Vargas

DES MOINES, SIOUX CITY, MASON CITY, DUBUQUE, FAIRFIELD, DAVENPORT, and COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa. — 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. In person satellite viewings of Dior’s Keynote take place in Sioux City, Mason City, Dubuque, Fairfield, Davenport, and Council Bluffs. Dior Vargas is a queer Latina feminist mental health advocate from New York who has been repeatedly recognized as one of the most prominent Latinx mental health advocates in the country. She 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. To register to attend any viewing location, follow our event updates, access a full list of co-sponsors, or watch the Livestream from home – please visit the event website.

State announces closure of Glenwood Resource Center

GLENWOOD, Iowa. — Governor Reynolds announced today that Glenwood Resource Center, a well-known institution for Iowans with developmental disabilities will begin the process to be fully closed by 2024. This comes as a direct result of the DOJ Report from December 8^th, 2021 that condemned the treatment of individuals with disabilities within institutions like Glenwood.

Disability Rights Iowa writes Amicus brief in 8^th Circuit Court of Appeals Case

DES MOINES, Iowa. — People with disabilities have long fought for their right to reasonable accommodation. In a case that has been appealed to the 8th Circuit, an Iowan woman is requesting a reasonable accommodation that her landlord accept a Housing Voucher to pay her rent in full, due to her inability to work caused by her disability.

FEDERAL APPEALS COURT DECISION ENSURES IOWA SCHOOLS CAN REQUIRE MASKING TO PROTECT STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

DES MOINES, Iowa — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit today ruled that the Rehab Act requires schools to impose universal masking rules where necessary to ensure students with disabilities have access to public school education. 

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.