{"id":9449,"date":"2026-03-07T10:54:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-07T16:54:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9449"},"modified":"2026-03-07T10:54:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-07T16:54:16","slug":"honor-judy-protect-504-why-awareness-and-advocacy-matter-right-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9449","title":{"rendered":"Honor Judy, Protect 504: Why Awareness and Advocacy Matter Right Now"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--powerpress_player--><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_894\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-9449-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/Section504Kaleigh2026.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/Section504Kaleigh2026.mp3\">https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/Section504Kaleigh2026.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Podcast summary:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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 how recent lawsuits could weaken the requirement that people with disabilities receive services in the most integrated settings, a principle that helps keep people living, learning, and working in their communities rather than being pushed into institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In response, Kaleigh founded Judys League, an organization dedicated to defending disability rights and raising awareness about what\u2019s at stake. Throughout the conversation, she shares why Section 504 is the foundation for laws like the ADA and why public awareness and advocacy matter more than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This episode is a call to action: stay informed, share the story, and remember that every voice can help protect the rights and opportunities that generations fought to achieve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Find out more about Judys League on the web at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.judysleague.org\/\">JudysLeague.org<\/a>&nbsp;and all the socials at JudysLeague. Connect up by sending an email to&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:JudysLeague@gmail.com\">Judys League<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>thanks for listening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?page_id=9446\">Full Transcript<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<!--powerpress_player--><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_896\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-9449-3\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/Section504Kaleigh2026.mp3?_=3\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/Section504Kaleigh2026.mp3\">https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/Section504Kaleigh2026.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><p>https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/Section504Kaleigh2026.mp3 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 how recent lawsuits could [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9311,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"audio","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-9449","post","type-post","status-publish","format-audio","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bapresents","post_format-post-format-audio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6rcRg-2sp","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":8622,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=8622","url_meta":{"origin":9449,"position":0},"title":"Defending Disability Rights: The Threat to Section 504 and Why It Matters","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"March 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"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,\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":5872,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=5872","url_meta":{"origin":9449,"position":1},"title":"Student Takes Action Against College Board\u2019s Decisions that Leave Blind and Deaf Students Without Adequate Accommodations for the Advanced Placement Exams. Meet Kaleigh Brendle.","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"May 14, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Full Transcription Show Summary: Kaleigh Brendle joins Jeff Thompson in the Blind Abilities Studio to talk about the decisions College Board has made in regards to accommodations not being provided even though the accommodations had been in place. Kaleigh has stepped up and is making her voice heard so that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;College&quot;","block_context":{"text":"College","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=263"},"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":9449,"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":4390,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=4390","url_meta":{"origin":9449,"position":3},"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":6586,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=6586","url_meta":{"origin":9449,"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":6238,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=6238","url_meta":{"origin":9449,"position":5},"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":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9449","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=9449"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9449\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9450,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9449\/revisions\/9450"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}