Mr. Paul Grossman, of Oakland, California, has distinguished himself as a leader during the tumultuous times disability rights advocates have faced since the inauguration of President Trump. Those of us involved in the quest for social justice, social equity, and inclusion of disabled people within the American culture understand, as do others, the quandary President Trump placed disabled Americans with his attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in American society, especially within the workplace and educational institutions. Such action is detrimental to the civil rights of Disabled People.
Mr. Grossman is a tireless and energetic spokesperson for disabled people on our college campuses and in America. He is a former Office of Civil Rights (OCR) attorney and law professor at the University of California College of Law, San Francisco. Mr. Grossman has “retired,” so to speak. Still, he remains active in keeping current with disability law and providing informed seminars on the state of disability law to such organizations as the California Association for Postsecondary Education and Disability (CAPED) and the Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD). Indeed, Mr. Grossman serves as legal counsel for AHEAD.
Mr. Grossman has kept us frequently informed of the rapidly changing landscape in America as it pertains to disability and DEI during these last chaotic six weeks. During his notices, he called for those involved in disability advocacy to stand firm and remain strong in advocacy for disabled students. I joined Mr. Grossman in that admonition.
George Fuller, Ed.D., CEO and President, Daniel Jonathan Fuller Memorial Fund