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The purpose of advocacy and self-advocacy is for you and your family to decide what it is you want, develop a plan, carry out that plan, and evaluate how you did. Find out how to achieve these goals.
Follow these organizations to read the latest on intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) rights.
The Arc | For People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Public Policy, Advocacy and Education – Autism Society of Los Angeles (autismla.org)
Disability Voices United
Disability Rights | Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (rac.org)
Jewish Day School Win
In Michelle Wolf’s article found in the Jewish Journal titled A Victory for Jewish Students who Need Special Education, the case Loffman v. California Department of Education, was brought by three Orthodox Jewish families, along with two Jewish day schools: Shalhevet High School and Yavneh Hebrew Academy. These schools expressed interest in providing special education services to students with disabilities. The defendants in the case were the California Department of Education and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The outcome of the case has created a new pathway for private religious schools — including Jewish day schools—to qualify for federal funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to ensure that children with disabilities have access to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), just like their nondisabled peers. Services covered under IDEA include speech and occupational therapy, assistive technology, and the development of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). This allows for students who prior to this case couldn’t receive a Jewish education the opportunity to access that with all of their supports in place as recognized in their IEPs.
Those living with disabilities have rights just like anyone else. Learn what’s covered under:
- The Americans with Disabilities Act, which became law in 1990
- The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), legislation which ensures equal educational opportunities
- The Landmark Agreement on the Rights of Parents with Disabilities Feds Reach ‘Landmark Agreement’ On Rights Of Parents With Disabilities — Disability Scoop by Michelle Diament | December 1, 2020
- In 2021, California passed SB 639, a law stating that individuals with disabilities will be paid on par with other workers for their labor. This ruling effectively updates the 1938 law that allowed businesses with special licenses to pay workers with disabilities sub-minimum wage. The law was part of the landmark Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), at the time seen as a protection for those with disabilities because there was a fear they would be out of work in high numbers if employers had to pay them the same wages as those without disabilities. View the complete text of the bill ending this practice.
- The Lanterman Act (AB 846, The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act): Passed in 1969, this California law ensured that people with developmental disabilities and their families receive the same services and supports they need to live like those without disabilities. Those services and supports are obtained through regional centers and service providers. Learn more about regional centers.
- Traveling can be challenging these days, and it is even more so for someone with a disability. The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) states that airlines must accommodate the needs of air travelers with disabilities as it is illegal for airlines to discriminate against passengers because of their disability.
2026 will bring changes that might affect people with a disability. Find out how these changes may affect you.
CalABLE Account Age Expansion: Previously, CalABLE accounts were only available to those whose disability occurred before age 26, but starting in 2026, individuals whose disability occurred after age 26 but before age 46 will be eligible to open ABLE accounts Home – CalABLE
Medi-Cal Asset Limits Return: Medi-Cal eliminated asset limits in 2024, but they’re about to be back. Starting January 1, 2026, Medi-Cal limit for one person is $130,000 and for each additional person is $65,000 for up to 10 additional persons. Asset Limits FAQs | Help Center | Medi-Cal
2.8% Increase for SSI and SSDI Recipients: Monthly benefit amounts for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) will rise by 2.8% due to the cost-of-living adjustment. In 2026, the highest SSI payment will be $994 per individual and $1,491 for married couples. 2026 Social Security COLA Increase: What Disability Beneficiaries Should Know | Disability Law Group
HUD Housing Program (HOTMA) Updates: The updated rules from the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act (HOTMA) change what counts as a family’s assets for people receiving Section 8 housing help. Some things no longer count as assets, like retirement accounts, federal tax refunds, and refundable tax credits. It is important to note that irrevocable trusts still do not count as part of your assets. PowerPoint Presentation
California passed a set of new laws designed to improve safety, transparency, and support for people with disabilities. The legislation requires Regional Centers to be more open about how they operate and spend money, and it updates the way the state reviews provider payment rates so the system stays fair and current. Schools are now banned from using dangerous prone restraints on students, and students with IEPs must begin planning earlier for life after high school to ensure they have enough time and support to prepare for college, work, or independent living. Additional measures aim to make schools more inclusive and ensure families can more easily access the services they need. Overall, the goal of these laws is to create a safer, more accountable, and more supportive system for Californians with disabilities. Read more about it here: Governor Newsom signs legislation to strengthen support, opportunities, and safety for Californians…
Recent legal developments affecting disability rights and accessibility. New federal guidelines require cities and transportation agencies to improve accessibility in sidewalks, transit stops, and other public rights-of-way. A recent court ruling determined that fully online businesses are not held to the same ADA standards as businesses with physical locations, though companies with brick-and-mortar sites must still ensure their websites are accessible. Multiple enforcement actions have also resulted in settlements requiring businesses to upgrade their facilities and provide staff training on ADA compliance. In addition, updated federal housing regulations now require improved accessibility features in federally funded housing. Overall, these changes signal increased attention to accessibility in public spaces, transportation systems, and housing, while emphasizing the ongoing responsibility of businesses to maintain accessible environments both physically and online. Read more about it here: Recent Changes in Disability Legislation and What They Mean for You in 2025 — A4EA
Several federal policy changes and funding cuts are putting disability rights and services at risk. Key agencies have reduced staff, removed accessibility resources, and cut funding for programs that support people with disabilities. Large proposed cuts to Medicaid and other safety-net programs could limit access to in-home care, medical equipment, and essential supports. Special education is also threatened by potential changes that would weaken legal protections and reduce school-based services. HPOD urges people with disabilities and their families to stay informed, understand the programs they rely on, prepare documentation, strengthen support networks, and engage in advocacy to protect their services. Learn more about it here: What to Know and Do about Ongoing Changes to U.S. Disability Law and Policy
Check out programs and services provided by Caring for Jews in Need partner organizations for children and adults with special needs throughout Los Angeles:
Learn more about our partner organizations
Words matter. The way we describe individuals affects their self-image and how society perceives them. It goes a long way to think before we speak — and emphasize the person before his/her disability. Next time, instead of saying, “Rachel is autistic,” try, “Rachel is a student with autism.” You’ll see how this small, thoughtful measure makes such a big impact!
Be sensitive and respectful. Follow these simple guidelines for how to treat and interact with Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). From proper terminology to etiquette, you’ll find useful tips — and that being inclusive is really quite easy. Learn more
JFEDLA welcomes the 3-0 ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in the Loffman v. CA Dept of Education case, which determined that California’s exclusion of religious schools from funding for special needs students in unconstitutional. This paves the way for families to access state-funded resources for students with special needs in Jewish day schools. JFEDLA is proud to have supported the plaintiffs through our partnership with @teachca. We look forward to working with local officials to ensure all families can access critical state resources at any school they choose to send their children.
The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) set the following priorities to advocate on behalf of people with disabilities. Working collectively with communities across North America, JFNA helps advance policy to promote inclusion and empower individuals with diverse abilities.
- Encouraging full inclusion of people with disabilities and physical accessibility for all aspects of Jewish communal life and in the workplace and ensuring that people with disabilities live in and receive supports that enable them to achieve maximum independence.
- Safeguarding and enhancing the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Advocating for Legislative Able Age Adjustment Act, a bill that increases the age threshold, from 26 to 46, for tax-favored ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts. (ABLE accounts are designed to enable individuals with disabilities to save for and pay for disability-related expenses).
- Pressing for a long-term extension of the Money Follows the Person Demonstration Project, offering states’ Medicaid incentives to transition those living in nursing homes and other institutions into less restrictive settings.
- Supporting job training and integrated employment for people with disabilities while promoting funding and policies for recruitment, hiring, retention, and promotion.
- Promoting accessible transportation and supportive services for people with disabilities, and respite care for caregivers.
