About Us

How We Work

See All

Direct Services

Public Counsel provides free direct legal services and support or matches clients with pro bono advocates, ensuring they have a partner standing with them, their families, and our communities as they pursue justice.

Learn More

Policy Advocacy

Public Counsel addresses the root causes of inequities in our society by advocating for inclusive policy solutions in collaboration with grassroots coalitions and the communities most impacted by systemic oppression.

Learn More

Impact Litigation

Public Counsel files strategic impact litigation so entire communities get the justice they deserve. By setting legal precedents and challenging unjust laws, our cases spark large-scale change in our society.

Learn More

Pro Bono Partnerships

Since its inception, Public Counsel has relied on pro bono attorneys, law students, paralegals, and other legal professionals to partner with us in supporting clients, taking on high-impact cases, and strengthening our advocacy efforts.

Learn More

Social Work Integration

Public Counsel values an interdisciplinary approach to law and social work that strengthens trauma-informed legal advocacy and advances effective outcomes across its work. 

Learn More

Resource Library

Popular Resources

See All

Guide

06/12/26

Navigating the Title IX Process: A Guide for Student Survivors of Sexual Violence in College Settings

Navigating the Title IX complaint process can be both emotionally taxing and empowering. This guide aims to make that process more navigable and less daunting. You can use this guide...

Learn More

Guide

06/10/26

Eligiendo La Entidad Juridica De Su Negocio

Al comenzar un negocio, es común tener preguntas como cómo proteger sus activos personales (por ejemplo, su hogar), cómo paga impuestos el negocio y cómo obtener dinero para hacer crecer...

Learn More

Report

06/05/26

Combating Notario Fraud in California: A Call to Action

Notario fraud, or the unauthorized practice of immigration law, causes grave harm to countless immigrants and is pervasive across California and the U.S. Too often, individuals who are not authorized...

Learn More

How We Work

See All

Direct Services

Public Counsel provides free direct legal services and support or matches clients with pro bono advocates, ensuring they have a partner standing with them, their families, and our communities as they pursue justice.

Learn More

Policy Advocacy

Public Counsel addresses the root causes of inequities in our society by advocating for inclusive policy solutions in collaboration with grassroots coalitions and the communities most impacted by systemic oppression.

Learn More

Impact Litigation

Public Counsel files strategic impact litigation so entire communities get the justice they deserve. By setting legal precedents and challenging unjust laws, our cases spark large-scale change in our society.

Learn More

Pro Bono Partnerships

Since its inception, Public Counsel has relied on pro bono attorneys, law students, paralegals, and other legal professionals to partner with us in supporting clients, taking on high-impact cases, and strengthening our advocacy efforts.

Learn More

Social Work Integration

Public Counsel values an interdisciplinary approach to law and social work that strengthens trauma-informed legal advocacy and advances effective outcomes across its work. 

Learn More

Popular Resources

See All

Guide

06/12/26

Navigating the Title IX Process: A Guide for Student Survivors of Sexual Violence in College Settings

Navigating the Title IX complaint process can be both emotionally taxing and empowering. This guide aims to make that process more navigable and less daunting. You can use this guide...

Learn More

Guide

06/10/26

Eligiendo La Entidad Juridica De Su Negocio

Al comenzar un negocio, es común tener preguntas como cómo proteger sus activos personales (por ejemplo, su hogar), cómo paga impuestos el negocio y cómo obtener dinero para hacer crecer...

Learn More

Report

06/05/26

Combating Notario Fraud in California: A Call to Action

Notario fraud, or the unauthorized practice of immigration law, causes grave harm to countless immigrants and is pervasive across California and the U.S. Too often, individuals who are not authorized...

Learn More

Disability Rights

Report

05/25/22

Examining Racial and Ethnic Inequities Among Children Served Under California’s Developmental Services System: Where Things Currently Stand

Download as PDF

Inequitable access to developmental services through California’s regional center system continues to plague communities of color. Despite California investing $66 million in the past six years on programs intended to reduce disparities between racial and ethnic groups, significant gaps in funding between children of different racial and ethnic groups persist.

California Department of Developmental Services (DDS), the state agency with oversight over the regional center system, has developed a set of measures containing targets to monitor the regional centers’ improvement in reducing disparities. These disparity measures do not track for improvement for Asian children and children of “other ethnicity” and DDS has not provided any explanation for their exclusion.

Our analysis of public data indicates that DDS’ measures are inadequate and largely have not been met. Disparities in services between racial and ethnic groups continue to fester.

Similar Resources

See All