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Members of the media who are interested in accessing the extensive disability-related knowledge of Disability Rights Florida attorneys, policy specialists, or staff are encouraged to contact our Communications Director at 800-342-0823 ext 9762 or press@DisabilityRightsFlorida.org to schedule an interview at least 24 hours in advance.
When reporting on people with disabilities, consider disability-inclusive and sensitive language. For instance, statements like “people with disabilities” and “uses a wheelchair” are preferred instead of “the disabled” or “wheelchair bound.” For more information, see Communicating About People with Disabilities from the National Disability Rights Network and review the National Center on Disability and Journalism’s Style Guide.
URGENT: DRF needs to hear from families of medically complex children and young adults
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Your experience can help shape DRF’s advocacy in mediation about access to private duty nursing and other Medicaid services that children and young adults under 21 rely on to live safely at home. Note that,…UPDATED: Tell Florida: Stop Threatening the Right to Live in the Community
Thursday, September 24, 2026
September 24, 2026, Update Court Removes Parts of 2024 Section 504 Rule on Community Living On September 23, 2026, a federal judge signed a final order in Texas v. Kennedy. The court removed several parts…UPDATED: Disability Rights Florida's Statement on US v. Florida
Thursday, September 17, 2026
September 17, 2026, Update On September 15, 2026 the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals entered an order in U.S. v. Florida directing the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the State of Florida to participate in…Civil Rights Groups Sue Florida Department of Children and Families for Unlawfully Trapping People With Mental Illness in Jail for Months
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Disability Rights Florida (DRF), Florida Justice Institute (FJI), the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), and Terris, Pravlik & Millian, LLP (TPM) filed a federal lawsuit against the Florida Department of Children…Disability Rights Florida Responds to Federal Legal Memorandum That Threatens Landmark Olmstead Decision
Monday, July 13, 2026
In 1999, the Supreme Court affirmed the right of those with disabilities and mental health conditions to full integration in their communities. In the decades since the landmark Olmstead v. L.C. decision, courts throughout the…Closure of Alligator Alcatraz Does Not End Need for Oversight, New Disability Rights Florida Report Finds
Thursday, July 09, 2026
Investigation documents dangerous conditions, medical neglect and disability rights violations affecting detainees before transfers to facilities across the country TALLAHASSEE, FL — Although Florida's Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention facility has closed, thousands of detainees have been…Disability Rights Florida Announces New Legal Leadership
Thursday, June 18, 2026
TALLAHASSEE, FL— Disability Rights Florida (DRF), the state’s Congressionally mandated protection and advocacy system for individuals with disabilities, is pleased to announce the appointments of Caitlyn Clibbon as director of litigation and Tony DePalma as…HUD Emotional Support Animal Policy Change Raises Housing Access Concerns for Floridians with Disabilities
Monday, June 01, 2026
Disability Rights Florida is monitoring a recent policy change from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that may affect people with disabilities who use emotional support animals in housing. On May 22, 2026,…Disability Rights Florida Warns Against Broad Medicaid Fraud Claims That Could Put Home and Community-Based Services at Risk
Friday, March 13, 2026
Disability Rights Florida is urging policymakers to protect home and community-based services as Congress holds a hearing March 17, 2026, on Medicaid fraud. The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations announced a…Disability Rights Florida Joins 173 Organizations Urging HUD to Preserve Key Protections Against Housing and Lending Discrimination
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Fair Housing Alliance® (NFHA™), leading a coalition of 174 civil rights, fair housing, fair lending, and social justice organizations, filed a comment asking the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)…Disability Rights Florida: Preventable Deaths Continue in State Mental Health Hospitals
Monday, February 23, 2026
A new report from Disability Rights Florida raises urgent concerns about patient safety inside Florida’s state-run mental health treatment facilities, concluding that staff negligence played a significant role in at least six patient deaths over…What the End of the Government Shutdown Means for People with Disabilities
Monday, November 17, 2025
The recent government shutdown has ended, and funding for vital programs is back in place. This is a relief for many people with disabilities and their families who rely on federal programs to meet their…Osceola County families, students, and school staff: Disability Rights Florida wants to hear from you
Friday, November 07, 2025
Disability Rights Florida is watching recent changes in Osceola County schools with concern. This summer the district announced a restructuring of special education that moves many specialized classrooms into a smaller number of hub schools…Update: Government Shutdown and Essential Benefits
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
The federal government shutdown is now in its fourth week, with no clear end in sight. As we explained earlier, Congress has not passed a funding bill, leaving millions of people without access to critical…Disability Rights Florida Signs Coalition Statement Urging Reversal of Department of Education Layoffs
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Disability Rights Florida has joined a broad coalition of national, state, and local disability, civil rights, and education organizations today in signing a joint statement calling for an immediate reversal of recent layoffs at the…