My name is Victoria Catano and I struggle with high-functioning autism, auto immune and high anxiety disorder. It affects every part of my life and I’ve always just felt a bit “different.”

In 2021, I was 18 years old and just starting college at Mount San Antonio College (MT SAC). I had my whole life ahead of me and I had big dreams!

Only one week before classes were to begin in the fall of 2021, they announced that covid vaccines would be mandatory. I had no time to apply anywhere else because it was too late. I was already enrolled and registered all my classes. Unfortunately, my autoimmune disorder makes vaccinations and testing impossible for me according to my doctors. In addition, they’re something I strongly object to on religious grounds.

I tried very very hard to work with the college to see how they could accommodate me with my disabilities. I really wanted to be able to continue my education just like everybody else.

But they said there was no way for them to accommodate me, so after weeks of going to class in person without incident, I was suddenly cut off and dropped from all of my classes without notice. I was given no good explanation and the staff refuse to talk to me or reply to my emails.

This was devastating to me. I went though a lot. My mother would often find me in a dark closet or behind the bed in the fetal position covering my head. I would not respond to her calling out to me because I was so internalized that I could not hear her or anything in the outside world. I felt hopeless, rejected and different. It was obvious that because of my disabilities that they were treating me like this.

That is when I knew I had to stand up for myself. What they did to me was very wrong. They discriminated against me due to my disabilities and religious beliefs and then just kicked me out of college completely. That is why, with the help of Lex Rex Institute, a lawsuit was filed against MT SAC in January 2022.

You can see the complaint here https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f2b72996bf7494df1ed8b8d/t/61d43229e39dc6162aecd1c3/1641296522525/Catano+Complaint+-+Smaller.pdf

I have found out since then that the online students that had not tested and didn’t covid vaccines were allowed to come to campus without issues to do their business like rent laptops, buy books, pay their fees and so on. But I was banned from campus and threatened that I may be arrested for trespassing if I came to campus or tried to attend any of my classes.

They said I was a direct threat to others by being is class, but the other students were not? Really? How is that fair? Is this still America? I couldn’t believe this was actually happening.

A year after filing the case, the judge decided to throw out my case stating he didn’t believe my religious beliefs were sincere and he didn’t believe I actually have any disabilities. That is not true and very unjust. I never had my day in court to be able to have a jury of my peers to hear and make a decision.

In addition, MT SAC told me they will be asking the judge to grant them $8k to $10k or more in attorneys fees against me. Knowing how unfair this judge is, I will not be surprised if he grants it to them and orders a judgement against me. Does all this sound fair to you? This is not the world I want to live in so I have to take action!

Therefore, at this point my only option is to appeal. I only have until February 12th and the attorney needs at least 10 days to prepare the documents so really I have less time then that to raise enough funds.

If you believe in my cause and want to help me fight against this type of discrimination and tyranny so no other student will have to go through what I went through, please find it in your heart to donate towards my legal costs. I am hoping if I win, it can help set president for other cases for people in similar situations.

But time is short and if I do not raise enough money, I may not be able to afford to move forward. Anything helps. And please share this link with anyone or any company or organization you think might be interested in this case. Thank you for reading this and for your time and consideration.

You can read more about this case here https://www.lexrex.org/articles/college-violating-rights

And see a video clip with Brad Dacus of Pacific Justice Institute here https://youtu.be/O_1ubjkXj98

Love Victoria

This campaign is unpublished.

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