{"id":8622,"date":"2025-03-16T09:18:02","date_gmt":"2025-03-16T14:18:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=8622"},"modified":"2025-03-16T09:18:04","modified_gmt":"2025-03-16T14:18:04","slug":"defending-disability-rights-the-threat-to-section-504-and-why-it-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=8622","title":{"rendered":"Defending Disability Rights: The Threat to Section 504 and Why It Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--powerpress_player--><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_3269\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-8622-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/blindabilities\/KaleighBrendle31625.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/blindabilities\/KaleighBrendle31625.mp3\">https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/blindabilities\/KaleighBrendle31625.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Podcast Summary:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This podcast episode highlights the alarming legal challenge to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a foundational disability rights law in the United States. Kaleigh Brendle, a student advocate, explains that 17 attorneys general have filed a lawsuit arguing that Section 504 is unconstitutional. If repealed, this could strip away protections for millions of disabled Americans, impacting education, employment, healthcare, and accessibility. The conversation emphasizes the lack of media coverage on the issue and urges public action to defend disability rights. The discussion also connects this case to broader civil rights issues, stressing the potential consequences of dismantling federal oversight on disability protections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here is a link to the article with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2025\/03\/12\/texas-lawsuit-students-disabilities-protections\/79085182007\/\">Kaleigh Brendle on USA Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Full Transcript<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<!--powerpress_player--><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_3271\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-8622-3\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/blindabilities\/KaleighBrendle31625.mp3?_=3\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/blindabilities\/KaleighBrendle31625.mp3\">https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/blindabilities\/KaleighBrendle31625.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><p>https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/blindabilities\/KaleighBrendle31625.mp3 Podcast Summary: This podcast episode highlights the alarming legal challenge to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a foundational disability rights law in the United States. Kaleigh Brendle, a student advocate, explains that 17 attorneys general have filed a lawsuit arguing that Section 504 is unconstitutional. If repealed, this could strip away [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8622","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bapresents"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6rcRg-2f4","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9449,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9449","url_meta":{"origin":8622,"position":0},"title":"Honor Judy, Protect 504: Why Awareness and Advocacy Matter Right Now","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"March 7, 2026","format":"audio","excerpt":"Podcast summary: What happens when the foundation of disability rights is challenged? In this powerful conversation, Jeff Thompson welcomes back disability advocate and Villanova graduate Kaleigh Brendle to talk about the growing legal challenge to Section 504\u2014one of the most important civil rights protections for people with disabilities. Kaleigh explains\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4390,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=4390","url_meta":{"origin":8622,"position":1},"title":"Discrimination and Disability Rights: Knowing Your Rights and Receiving the Advocacy  That Just May Right the Way For Your Success &#8211; Meet Heather Gilbert (transcript provided)","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"January 19, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Full Transcript Show Summary: Heather Gilbert, an Attorney from Gilbert Law, is a Disability Rights Advocate for United Blind of Minnesota. Heather, having a background in disabilities, realized that Minnesota was under represented in the Disability Rights Lawyer field. She decided to take on a second career and got her\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3468,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=3468","url_meta":{"origin":8622,"position":2},"title":"Defiant Lives: The Rise and Fight of the Disability Rights Movement. Meet Film Maker Sarah Barton","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"April 7, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Sarah Barton is a Film Maker, Activist and has been involved in creating documentaries and shows with Disabilities in mind. Starting after Film School and with much success, Sarah has released her latest project, Defiant Lives. A documentary on decades of Disability Activists. Bringing awareness to the fight for rights,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"defiant Lives in white letters on pink background","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/DefiantLivesImage.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/DefiantLivesImage.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/DefiantLivesImage.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/DefiantLivesImage.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/DefiantLivesImage.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/DefiantLivesImage.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6238,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=6238","url_meta":{"origin":8622,"position":3},"title":"Into Adulthood: Voting Rights for Youth with Disabilities","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"September 21, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Full Transcript Show Summary: Justin and Cindy from the Minnesota Disability Law Center joined Jeff Thompson in the Blind Abilities studio for a discussion on voting rights for youth with disabilities. We also get to talk to Nate and Nikki, 2 young adults, about their experiences voting accessibly using the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6586,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=6586","url_meta":{"origin":8622,"position":4},"title":"Racial Disparities in School Discipline of Students with Disabilities.","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"March 12, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Show Summary: Japricia shares her experience from Elementary school with discipline, race, and her Individual Education Plan (IEP) that inspired the goals she has for college. In this interview,\u00a0Beau RaRa a staff attorney for the Youth Law Project and Minnesota Disability Law Center, sits down with\u00a0Japricia, a recent high school\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4068,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=4068","url_meta":{"origin":8622,"position":5},"title":"Self-Advocacy, Self-Awareness and the ADA &#8211; A Visit with PACER Center\u2019s Transition Coordinator Deborah Leuchovius (Transcript provided)","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"November 13, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Full Transcript Below Show Summary: In partnership with State Services for the Blind of Minnesota we are proud to present, PACER Center - Champions for Children with Disabilities: Self-Advocacy, Self-Awareness and the ADA - A Visit with PACER Center\u2019s Transition Coordinator Deborah Leuchovius Deborah sits down with Jeff Thompson of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8622","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8622"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8622\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8623,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8622\/revisions\/8623"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8622"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8622"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8622"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}