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Last week at the California State Capitol, Julie Schurman, Esq., Director of Public Policy for The Arc & UCP California Collaboration, joined Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas and legislative leaders in support of SCR 89: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
The resolution reaffirms the California Legislature’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at a time when federal executive actions are attempting to dismantle DEI efforts nationwide.
Opening the press conference, Senator Smallwood-Cuevas underscored why this moment matters: “When enforcement weakens, discrimination thrives. This is precisely why civil rights protections and modern governance tools like DEI remain necessary today.”
Representing Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and the workforce that supports them, Julie made it clear: for the disability community, equity is not abstract. It is practical.
“Equity recognizes that not everyone starts at the same place,” she said. “Some people need additional supports to participate fully in society. That is not special treatment. That is fairness.”
Julie spoke directly to the real-world consequences of recent federal actions that threaten access to basic needs. Proposed work requirements tied to food assistance and Medi-Cal may appear neutral on paper, but in practice, they disproportionately harm people with disabilities — particularly those working part-time, in shift-based employment, or in nontraditional work arrangements with unpredictable hours.
Many individuals with disabilities want to work, and do work. But forcing people to either meet rigid hourly thresholds or certify themselves as “unable to work” creates a harmful ultimatum that undermines decades of progress toward workforce inclusion.
The resolution affirms that California will not retreat from its commitment to equity-driven governance and calls for embedding equity considerations formally into legislative processes.
It reinforces that diversity, equity, and inclusion are about removing barriers so that merit can speak for itself, not creating new ones.
As SCR 89 moved to the Senate Floor later that day, disability advocates stood alongside leaders from across California’s diverse communities to affirm a simple truth: a stronger California includes everyone.
Watch the full press conference here: https://sd28.senate.ca.gov/video/state-leaders-call-legislature-support-scr-89-diversity-equity-inclusion