CORRESPONDENCE - 1E - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Demand to Stop the Unlawful Discrimination Against Individuals with Disabilities and Request for Reasonable Accommodation Page 6 of 11 for 17 years and housed for 15 years. But K.P. still continues to visit the center to help manage the symptoms of her disabilities and the case managers continue to help her if she needs additional services. Without the center, K.P.'s disabilities would be severely aggravated. Summary of Relevant Laws A. Violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Our clients are people with mental health disabilities who are longtime residents of Orange County and who are currently experiencing homelessness. As such, the South Main Street Site is a crucial resource for our clients because they can manage the symptoms of their disabilities by having access to necessary mental health treatment, including medication and therapy services, to address their disabilities. In addition, to maintain their mental health, individuals are able to have their life -sustaining needs met by the Site's services that allows individuals to store essential property, access to accessible shower facilities, laundry services, and accessible bathrooms. Without the South Main Street Site, our clients would lose access to crucial mental health services and their mental health stability would be placed at risk. Not only are the City's attempts to shut down the South Main Street Site a disservice to people with mental health disabilities in the Orange County community, but they also constitute unlawful discrimination — both through intent and effect — under federal and state laws. Specifically, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Civil Code §§51 and 54, and Government Code § 11135. These laws require that the City provide meaningful and equal access to its "services, programs, or activities" and prohibit it from engaging in discrimination on the basis of disability, whether through intent or actual effect. 42 U.S.C. § 12132; 29 U.S.C. § 794; 28 C.F.R. § 35.130(b)(1); 28 C.F.R. § 35.130(b)(8); Civ. Code § 51(f); Civ. Code § 54(a); Gov't Code § 11135. In seeking to shut down the South Main Street Site, the City is discriminating against our clients by denying them the benefits of the services provided by one of the only facilities in Orange County that is tailored to meet the needs of people with mental health disabilities. Without this critical institution, people