In September 2026, Daniel Valenzuela, a Deaf individual incarcerated in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), filed a federal lawsuit challenging IDOC’s failure to provide Deaf people equal access to its expanded telephone program. Mr. Valenzuela is represented by Disability Rights Advocates, Equip for Equality, and Much Shelist. Read the complaint. In 2025, recognizing the … Continue reading “Valenzuela v. Hughes”
In January 2026, DRA and The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley secured a landmark decision ensuring government agencies are held accountable when they improperly withhold materials essential to public accountability. The Supreme Court of California published its decision in City of Gilroy v. Superior Court, a case addressing the people’s right to access public records … Continue reading “Law Foundation of Silicon Valley v. City of Gilroy”
In September 2025, DRA and Latham & Watkins LLP filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of four Chicagoland residents with mobility disabilities against the City of Chicago, challenging its widespread and ongoing failure to make its sidewalks, curb ramps, and other public pedestrian rights of way accessible to people with mobility disabilities. Plaintiffs allege … Continue reading “Lane v. City of Chicago”
In May 2025, DRA, Relman Colfax PLLC, and The Washington Lawyers’ Committee filed a critical public safety class action lawsuit against the District of Columbia on behalf of the DC Council of the Blind (DCCB) and five named plaintiffs. The complaint highlights systemic barriers that prevent blind and low vision pedestrians from safely crossing the … Continue reading “DC Council of the Blind v. District of Columbia”
In March 2025, DRA and Brown, Goldstein & Levy LLP filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Brooklyn resident Albert Elia and the National Federation of the Blind – New York against the New York State Unified Court System and the Kings County Commissioner of Jurors challenging their systemic discrimination against blind individuals who report … Continue reading “Elia v. New York Unified Court System”
Disability Rights Advocates and Learning Rights Law Center filed suit to challenge an administrative law judge’s ruling that let a major school district off the hook for failing to ensure provision of special education services to a young student at one of its charter schools. After the plaintiff was wrongly exited from special education at … Continue reading “A.C. v. Los Angeles Unified School District”
In July 2024, on the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and four years before the Los Angeles Olympics, DRA filed a federal class action lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles for denying people with mobility disabilities full and equal access to the City’s newly constructed and renovated public park facilities, a … Continue reading “Griffin v. City of Los Angeles”
In May 2024, DRA filed a class action lawsuit along with The Legal Aid Society and Winston & Strawn LLP on behalf of incarcerated New Yorkers with disabilities against the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (“DOCCS”) and the New York State Office of Mental Health (“OMH”) for their ongoing violations of … Continue reading “Anthony v. New York State Department of Corrections & Community Supervision (DOCCS)”
In May 2024, DRA and Mental Hygiene Legal Services (MHLS) released a report titled “Denial of Fresh Air Access for Psychiatric Patients: A Report on NYC H+H Hospitals.” This report outlines findings from a months-long investigation into the denial of fresh air and outdoor access to individuals receiving psychiatric treatment in hospitals operated by NYC … Continue reading “Denial of Fresh Air to Patients at NYC City-Run Psychiatric Hospitals”
In August 2023, Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) and Disability Rights California (DRC) released a report, “Youth in Crisis: How Kings County Locks Up Youth With Disabilities.” This report outlines findings from a multi-year investigation of the conditions at the Kings County Juvenile Center. Read the full report with recommendations and images of the facility. DRA … Continue reading “Kings County Juvenile Center”