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October 26, 2020 – Contact Your Senators Now: Tell Them to Vote No on Amy Coney Barrett
On Monday, October 26th, the full Senate will vote on Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Supreme Court. Judge Barrett’s confirmation to the Supreme Court would pose a serious threat to the rights of people with disabilities. Judge Barrett has stated that she believes the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is unconstitutional. Millions of Americans with disabilities stand to lose their health care coverage if Justice Barrett becomes a deciding vote to strike down the law. If she is confirmed on Monday, she would join the Court in time to participate in the November 10th arguments in the case challenging the ACA.  Please tell your Senators to vote no on her nomination! Read the full alert (PDF).

October 22, 2020 – Senate Judiciary Vote This Afternoon: Call Your Senators Today & Tell Them to Vote No on Amy Coney Barrett
The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote this afternoon on Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Supreme Court. Judge Barrett’s confirmation to the Supreme Court would pose a serious threat to the rights of people with disabilities. Judge Barrett has stated that she believes the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is unconstitutional. Millions of Americans with disabilities stand to lose their health care coverage if Justice Barrett becomes a deciding vote to strike down the law. If she is confirmed on the schedule currently set, she would join the Court in time to participate in the November 10th arguments in the case challenging the ACA.  Please tell your Senators to vote no on her nomination! Read the full alert (PDF).

October 5, 2020 – Bazelon Center and More Than 50 Other Disability Organizations Send Letter to Senate in Opposition to Nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett
Today, the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, together with more than 50 other organizations representing people with disabilities, sent a letter to the Senate leadership, urging them to reject the nomination of Judge Barrett to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The coalition also states that Congress should not act on any nomination to the Supreme Court until it has passed and the President has signed a COVID-19 relief bill. Read the letter (PDF).

May 21, 2020 – Bazelon Center Opinion Piece Featured in The Hill on Necessity of Reduction of Population in Psychiatric Hospitals
Today, Bazelon Center Legal Director Ira Burnim had his Opinion piece, “COVID-19 spreading quickly through psychiatric hospitals: Reduction of population a must,”published in The Hill. Read the op-ed.

May 15, 2020 – Bazelon Center and Partners Release Guidance on COVID-19 Hospital Visitation Policies
Today the Bazelon Center and partners have released a guide setting forth what hospitals and doctors’ offices must do to comply with the ADA and other disability rights laws when there are no-visitor policies in place due to COVID. The guide explains the requirement to make reasonable modifications to such policies and to allow a person to bring someone else to support them when necessary to accommodate the person’s disability. Read the guide (PDF).

May 13, 2020 – Bazelon Center and Eighteen Other Leading National Disability Rights Organizations File Amicus Brief in California v. Texas, Defending the Affordable Care Act
Today the Bazelon Center and eighteen other leading national disability rights organizations represented by the Center filed an amicus brief in the upcoming Supreme Court case, California, et. al. v. Texas, et. al, defending the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The brief outlines the ACA’s critical importance to people with disabilities, providing access to needed health care coverage and services that allow people to live healthy and independent lives. Read the full amicus brief (PDF).

May 8, 2020 – Bazelon Center Joins Connecticut Legal Rights Project in Federal Class Action Lawsuit Addressing the Spread of COVID-19 in Two Connecticut Psychiatric Hospitals
Yesterday the Bazelon Center joined the Connecticut Legal Rights Project in a federal class action lawsuit addressing the spread of COVID-19 in two Connecticut psychiatric hospitals, where patients face grave risks to their health and safety as a result of the facilities failure to take adequate measures to protect residents, in violation of the Constitution, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other laws.  The plaintiffs ask the state to take steps to ensure the safety of patients in two state psychiatric hospitals by discharging individuals to community services and ensuring adequate safety measures for those remaining in the hospitals. Read the complaint (PDF).

April 15, 2020 – Bazelon Center Urges Decrease of Number of Individuals in Psychiatric Hospitals during COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has created enormous health risks for people confined in psychiatric hospitals. Today, the Bazelon Center released a statement urging states and localities to decrease the number of individuals in psychiatric hospitals during this pandemic by reducing admissions and accelerating discharges. Read a copy of the statement (PDF).

April 6, 2020 — Bazelon Center Statement on the Urgency of Reducing the Jail Population During the COVID-19 Crisis
Today the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law released a statement urging all jurisdictions to: (1) Immediately release a majority of the individuals with mental illness held in jails, and (2) Take immediate steps to divert from jail the majority of individuals with mental illness who are arrested. Read the statement (PDF).

March 20, 2020 – Disability Groups Urge HHS to Take Steps to Prevent Discriminatory Rationing of Coronavirus Treatment
Today the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), the largest coalition of national organizations working together to advocate for Federal public policy that ensures the self-determination, independence, empowerment, integration and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities, sent the following letter to the Department of Health and Human Services. Jennifer Mathis, the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law’s Policy Director & Deputy Director of Litigation & one of the co-chairs of the Rights Task Force, helped lead CCD’s effort to urge Secretary Azar and Roger Severino, Director of the Office of Civil Rights, to ensure that if the current pandemic results in decisions to ration treatment, decisions about how medical treatment should be allocated are made without discriminating based on disability. Read the letter (PDF).

September 9, 2019 – Bazelon Center Statement on the Passing of Marca Bristo
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law mourns the passing of Marca Bristo, the longtime disability rights leader who founded and for decades led Access Living, the Chicago-based independent living center, and served as chair of the National Council on Disability. Read the statement (PDF).

August 5, 2019 – Bazelon Center Statement on the Recent El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio Shootings
Once again, as on far too many past occasions, our hearts break for the victims of mass violence, their families and friends, and their communities. This time, those communities were El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. In one of these incidents, the shooter appears to have acted out of hatred and fear of immigrants. Read the full statement (PDF).

July 26, 2019 – Bazelon Center Statement on Celebrating the 29th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act 
This week marks the 29th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, or the ADA. One of America’s most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation, the ADA is a landmark civil rights law for people with disabilities. Read the statement (PDF).

January 18, 2019 – Bazelon Center Statement on the Passing of Judge Patricia Wald
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law mourns the passing of Judge Patricia Wald, who died on Saturday, January 12 at age 90. Judge Wald was a pioneer of public interest law and one of the Bazelon Center’s founders.  She made tremendous contributions to disability rights, including through groundbreaking litigation that secured children with disabilities the right to a public education — ultimately leading to the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  Read the statement (PDF).

December 18, 2018 – Bazelon Center Statement on the Federal School Safety Commission Report
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law expresses serious concerns about the Trump Administration’s Federal School Safety Commission’s report, and condemns the Commission’s recommendation that the U.S. Department of Education rescind its 2014 school discipline guidance. The Bazelon Center urges the Department to retain the guidance and to stop engaging in harmful and discriminatory stereotypes about children with mental health disabilities. Read the statement (PDF).

December 15, 2018 – Bazelon Center Statement on the Texas v. Azar Decision 
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law is disappointed and disturbed by yesterday’s ruling in Texas v. Azar invalidating the Affordable Care Act. Judge O’Connor’s decision ignores Supreme Court precedent and the intent of Congress. This decision should and will be appealed. We expect that the Affordable Care Act will be upheld and plan to support the appeal. Read the statement (PDF).

November 16, 2018 – Bazelon Center Statement on the Department of Health and Human Services’ Recent Proposal to Increase Institutionalization
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law condemns the Department of Health and Human Services’ announcement earlier this week that it plans to approve new mental health Medicaid demonstration waivers to fund the institutionalization of people with psychiatric disabilities. Read the statement Read the statement (PDF).

November 8, 2018 – Bazelon Center Statement on Adoption of Medicaid Expansion by Three New States 
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law celebrates the passage of Medicaid expansion ballot initiatives in three states: Proposition 2 in Idaho, Initiative 427 in Nebraska, and Proposition 3 in Utah. Read the statement (PDF).

October 26, 2018 – Bazelon Center Statement on the Trump Administration’s Reported Plan to Redefine Sex 
The Judge David L. Bazelon Center joins numerous civil rights and medical organizations in condemning the Trump administration’s reported plan to redefine sex in Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in order to remove transgender and intersex individuals from civil rights protections. Read the statement (PDF).

October 25, 2018 – Bazelon Center Releases New Report on Advances in Employment Policy for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness
In recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Bazelon Center is releasing a new report, Advances in Employment Policy for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness, offering recommendations to address employment barriers and encourages state mental health agencies to expand supported employment. Read the statement (PDF).

October 6, 2018 – Bazelon Center Statement on October 6 Vote to Confirm Judge Kavanaugh
The Bazelon Center condemns the vote to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to be an Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court. We are extremely disappointed that Judge Kavanaugh has been confirmed despite an extensive record demonstrating his disregard for the self-determination and humanity of people with disabilities. Read the statement (PDF).

July 26, 2018 – Bazelon Center Review of Disability-Related Cases Involving Judge Brett Kavanaugh 
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law strongly opposes the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. The appointment of Judge Kavanaugh would threaten hard-won rights and protections for people with disabilities. A summary of his record is provided (PDF).

July 26, 2018 – Bazelon Center Statement on Celebrating the 28th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act 
Today marks the 28th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, or the ADA. One of America’s most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation, the ADA is a landmark civil rights law for people with disabilities. Read the statement (PDF).

July 9, 2018 – Bazelon Center Statement on the Nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court of the United States 
The Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law is extremely concerned that if the Senate confirms any jurist who has not demonstrated a strong and unwavering commitment to civil rights and civil liberties, it will signal a devastating blow to the rights of people with disabilities. Read the statement (PDF).

June 20, 2018 – Bazelon Center Statement on the Forced Separation of Children and Families 
The Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law strongly condemns the Trump administration’s policy of separating children from their families at the United States-Mexico border. Read the statement (PDF).

June 4, 2018 – Bazelon Center Statement on Supreme Court ruling in Masterpiece Cakeshop
Today, the Supreme Court issued a narrow decision in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. While the Bazelon Center is disappointed that the Court ruled against the plaintiffs based on the specific facts of this case, we are reassured that the Court has affirmed. Read the statement (PDF).

March 27, 2018 – Bazelon Center Statement on the Passing of Linda Brown 
The Bazelon Center joins the in mourning the passing of Linda Brown, whose right to attend an integrated school was at the center of the Supreme Court’s 1954 landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education. Read the statement (PDF).

February 23, 2018 – Bazelon Statement on Institutionalization Proposals
The Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law condemns President Trump’s recent claim that the forced institutionalization of people with mental health disabilities will promote community safety. Read the statement (PDF).

February 16, 2018 – Bazelon Statement on the Shooting in Parkland, Florida
On Wednesday, February 14, as on far too many days this year – and in past years – there was a school shooting. Our hearts break for the victims, their families and friends, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School community, and the community of Parkland, Florida. Read the statement (PDF).

February 15, 2018 – Bazelon Statement on the Passage of H.R. 620
The Bazelon Center condemns the passage by the House of Representatives of H.R. 620, the so-called ADA Education and Reform Act. The House today passed the bill by a vote of 225 to 192. Read the statement (PDF).

January 19, 2018 – Bazelon Statement on Work Requirements in Medicaid
Last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released new Medicaid guidance allowing states to impose work requirements as a condition of Medicaid eligibility.  The Bazelon Center condemns this Administration’s approval and promotion of Medicaid work requirements. Read the statement (PDF).

January 11, 2018 – Bazelon Statement on the Recent Press and Public Discourse About the Mental Health of Public Figures
Over the last few weeks, an increasing number of people from all points on the political spectrum have started to discuss, most often in a disparaging way, President Trump’s mental health. The press and the public alike have thrown around words like “unhinged,” “crazy,” and “unstable.” Behind these provocative words lies the all too common assumption that a person who has a mental health disability cannot possibly be trusted, let alone successful. Unfortunately, this assumption seems prevalent even among psychiatrists who should professionally be most aware of this falsehood. Read the statement (PDF).

January 8, 2018 –  Statement on the Withdrawal of Guidance and Technical Assistance Documents Concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act
The undersigned members and allies of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) and the Collaboration to Promote Self Determination (CPSD) write to express concern about the Justice Department’s recent withdrawal of a number of guidance and technical assistance documents concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Read the statement (PDF).

August 28, 2017 – Bazelon Center Statement on Transgender Individuals in the Military
The Bazelon Center condemns in the strongest terms President Trump’s executive memo banning transgender individuals from enlisting in the United States military and denying medically necessary care for transgender individuals already serving. Read the statement (PDF).

August 16, 2017 – Bazelon Center Statement on Charlottesville
The Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law stands alongside our disability and civil rights allies to condemn the racism, hatred, and violence displayed in Charlottesville this past weekend and to extend our support to the family of Heather Heyer, as well as to the other victims. Read the statement (PDF)

July 24, 2017 – Vote Scheduled for Tomorrow (Tuesday, July 25)
While we still do not know which health care bill the Senate will consider on Tuesday, we have gotten confirmation this weekend that a vote will happen on Tuesday. There are different versions of various bills under consideration. Read the statement (PDF)

July 14, 2017 – New Healthcare Bill, Same Medicaid Caps/Cuts
Senate Republicans yesterday released a new version of the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), the bill to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act. The Medicaid caps and cuts in the new version and the repeal of the Medicaid expansion remain the same. There are now additional harmful provisions that will eliminate access to mental health benefits for millions of Americans who rely on private health insurance. Read the alert (PDF)

July 12, 2017 – National Disability Call-In Day
The Senate is planning a vote on a revised version of the Better Care Reconciliation Act next week. This week, we need to tell them that any bill that caps Medicaid and repeals the Medicaid Expansion is unacceptable. In partnership with the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities and other disability advocacy groups, we are proud to co-sponsor the National Disability Call-In Day! Read the alert (PDF)

June 28, 2017 – People’s Filibuster Week of Action – Day 3
Yesterday (Tuesday, June 27, 2017), Senate Majority Leadership announced that they were delaying the vote on the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA). You and your calls and your advocacy did this. Thank you for all of your work on this incredibly important issue for people with disabilities! Read the alert (PDF)

June 27, 2017 – People’s Filibuster Week of Action – Day 2
Last night, the Congressional Budget Office released a score, or financial analysis, of the Senate healthcare bill, the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA). The score confirmed our analysis of the bill—that it retains massive cuts to the Medicaid program, specifically $772 billion in the first 10 years and then even deeper subsequent cuts, and will cause millions of people, 22 million to be specific, to lose healthcare coverage. Read the alert (PDF)

June 26, 2017 – Join the People’s Filibuster Week of Action
Last week, the Senate released their healthcare bill, the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA). This bill is as bad or worse than the House healthcare bill, especially for people with disabilities.  Despite releasing the bill a few days ago, the Senate is rushing to vote on the bill this Thursday. We urge you to participate in a People’s Filibuster Week and take action. Read the alert (PDF).

June 20, 2017 – Senate Planning Vote on Healthcare Bill – Call Your Senator Today!
The Senate is putting the final touches on its own version of the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which passed the House in May. Unfortunately, our best understanding at this moment is that the Senate bill makes an even deeper cut to Medicaid, while maintaining the other harmful provisions.  Learn more and find out how you can help (PDF).

May 26, 2017 – Bazelon Center supports the Raise the Wage Act of 2017.
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law strongly supports the Raise the Wage Act of 2017, which was introduced today by Senators Patty Murray and Bernie Sanders and Representatives Bobby Scott and Keith Ellison. Read more about the Act and how it helps people with disabilities (PDF).

May 24, 2017 – Bazelon Center Responds to Senator Request for Stakeholder Input.
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law recently wrote a response to Senator Orrin Hatch’s request for stakeholder input on healthcare reform following the passage of the American Health Care Act (AHCA). Read the letter (PDF).

April 27, 2017 – House Considering Vote on Harmful Health Care Bill – Call Congress Now.
A new amendment to the American Health Care Act (AHCA) is winning the support of the House Freedom Caucus making it more likely that a vote by the House of Representatives could happen as early as this weekend. Action is needed immediately to stop the AHCA from being approved by the House of Representatives.  This is the bill that proposes to gut the Medicaid program through per capita caps and block grants and repeal many provisions of the Affordable Care Act that are critical to people with disabilities. Learn more about the bill (PDF).

March 22, 2017 – Contact Your Representative and Tell Them to Vote No on the American Healthcare Act.
The House will vote tomorrow, March 23, 2017 on whether to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. The House bill proposes to cut 25% of Medicaid’s budget, eliminate the guarantee that Medicaid will provide the health and supportive services (including mental health and substance use disorder services) that people need, and kick 14 million Americans off of Medicaid. Read more about the vote (PDF).

March 7, 2017 – Tell Your Elected Officials to Oppose the American Health Care Act!
House Republicans introduced the American Health Care Act, a bill that repeals crucial parts of the Affordable Care Act for people with mental illness. Read more about the bill (PDF).

February 15, 2017 – Tell Your Senators to Preserve Critical Protections for Students with Disabilities!
The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to overturn the Department of Education’s regulation implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act’s (ESSA’s) core requirement that schools be held accountable for the performance of historically marginalized students, including students with disabilities. The Senate will vote soon on whether to follow the House and overturn the regulation. We ask you to call your Senators today and vote “no” and protect students with disabilities. Read more about how you can be proactive (PDF).

February 8, 2017 – Tell Your Senator to Vote No on Jeff Sessions and Tom Price.
President Trump has nominated Senator Jeff Sessions to be United States Attorney General. Mr. Sessions’ long history of opposing key protections for people with disabilities suggests that under his leadership, the Justice Department would not vigorously enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and other important disability rights laws. The President has also nominated Congressman Tom Price to serve as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. As a member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Price has sought to dismantle critical programs providing services to people with disabilities, including the Affordable Care Act and the Medicaid program. We ask you to call Senators today to tell them to vote “no” on both the nomination of Jeff Sessions for Attorney General and Tom Price for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Read more on how you can contact your Senators today (PDF).

February 1, 2017 – Bazelon Center Opposes Supreme Court Nomination of Neil Gorsuch
The Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, a national legal advocacy organization advancing the rights of people with mental disabilities, opposes President Trump’s nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court.  The Bazelon Center believes appointing Judge Gorsuch to the high court would result in significant harm to the lives of people with disabilities. Read more how this will affect the lives of people with disabilities (PDF).

January 24, 2017 – Tell Your Senator to Vote No On Betsy DeVos
President Trump has nominated Elizabeth “Betsy” DeVos to be Secretary of Education.  The Department of Education is responsible for ensuring that all children, including children with disabilities, receive a quality education, free from discrimination.  Ms. DeVos’s record and testimony at her Senate confirmation hearing disqualify her from leading the Department in this critical mission.  We ask you to call Senators today to tell them to vote “no” on her nomination for Secretary of Education. Read the alert here (PDF).

July 5, 2016 – Bazelon Calls for Comments Against New Social Security Administration Rule on FBI Background Check Database
The Bazelon Center urges people to submit comments opposing the Social Security Administration’s proposed rule to report individuals with a representative payee due to a mental impairment to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System gun database. Read the background check system debate (PDF).