With Olympics coming, disabled UCLA Students sue Regents over accessibility

Warning that their campus will host the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in two years, an attorney for disabled UCLA students sued the University of California Regents on Tuesday, claiming widespread accessibility barriers and discriminatory practices on their campus.

Their attorney said the lawsuit was intended to make the campus safer and more accessible.

"In 2028, UCLA plans to host athletes from around the world for the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. This complaint should serve as a loud wake-up call," said Peiffer Wolf partner Cat Cabalo in a press statement.

"Our clients have alleged a widespread, systemic failure to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. UCLA needs to get to work immediately to eliminate policy and physical access barriers, properly staff the teams who are tasked with working with disabled students and create an environment that considers the needs of disabled people," Cabalo continued.

Filed in the U.S. Central District of California, the complaint claims seven causes of action, including violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. It says the university has failed to provide disability-specific emergency evacuation protocols and evacuation chairs.

It says that plaintiff Jake Bertellotti would be unable to use his wheelchair to evacuate should an earthquake or fire cause debris to fall in his path. He would need to be pushed, and his wheelchair is too heavy to be easily lifted over debris.

"Despite Jake's repeated requests for information, UCLA has never provided him with clear or consistent information regarding what he should do in the event of an emergency, and UCLA has failed to collaborate with Jake to create an individualized plan for him to safely evacuate his dormitory in an emergency," the complaint states. Bertellotti et al v. Regents of the University of California et al., 2:25-cv-03069 (C.D. Cal., filed April 8, 2025).

UC Regents representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The plaintiffs' firm's press release mentioned that the other plaintiff, Taylor Carty, is a fire survivor.

"The human toll of the recent Palisades and Eaton fires, particularly the deaths of Anthony Mitchell Sr. and his son Justin, both wheelchair users who died while waiting for first responders, highlight the devastation that can result when people with disabilities are not accounted for in emergency evacuation plans," Carty is quoted as saying.