Public Entities

Spieler v. Mt. Diablo Unified School District

September 21, 2012

The Spieler v. Mt. Diablo Consent Decree negotiated in 2000, represents the most sweeping school access settlement to date under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Consent Decree created equal access to school buildings, educational programs, and social programs. Mt. Diablo School District has committed $20 million over ten years to ensure equal access for … Continue reading “Spieler v. Mt. Diablo Unified School District”

Hayward Unified School District Structured Negotiations

September 21, 2012

The Hayward Unified School District has entered into a comprehensive agreement with nonprofit law firms Disability Rights Advocates and Disability Rights California (formerly Protection & Advocacy, Inc.) and several parents to expand its voter approved District-wide modernization and new building efforts into making all its schools accessible to students with disabilities. The agreement was negotiated … Continue reading “Hayward Unified School District Structured Negotiations”

Deaf Counseling, Advocacy and Referral Agency (DCARA), et al. v. San Francisco Airport (SFO)

September 21, 2012

In 2005, DRA reached a settlement with San Francisco Airport (SFO) that resulted in the installation of accessibility features such as visual paging, improved access to TTYs, improved signage, and numerous other features to make travel throughout the airport accessible for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. DRA represented the Deaf Counseling, Advocacy … Continue reading “Deaf Counseling, Advocacy and Referral Agency (DCARA), et al. v. San Francisco Airport (SFO)”

Farrell v. Allen

September 21, 2012

In 2004, the California Youth Authority (CYA), the state’s juvenile prison system, agreed to a major overhaul of the entire CYA system to address the inhumane and illegal conditions of confinement which affect young inmates in the CYA system. The case was brought under state law to stop the CYA from perpetuating illegal conditions within … Continue reading “Farrell v. Allen”

WRAP v. Newsom

September 21, 2012

DRA represented the Western Regional Advocacy Project and the Coalition on Homelessness in this lawsuit on behalf of people with psychiatric and mobility disabilities who experienced barriers in San Francisco’s homeless shelter system. DRA reached a settlement with the City that was approved by the court in August of 2010. During the course of the … Continue reading “WRAP v. Newsom”

United Spinal Association v. N.Y. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)

September 21, 2012

In July of 2011, DRA reached a settlement with the N.Y. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) that resulted in the installation of an elevator at the Dyckman Street subway station. DRA represented the United Spinal Association, whose members live with physical disabilities due to spinal cord injuries and disorders, in this lawsuit against the MTA. The … Continue reading “United Spinal Association v. N.Y. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)”

Barden v. Sacramento

September 21, 2012

This case set a nationwide precedent requiring cities and other public entities to make all public sidewalks accessible to people with mobility and vision disabilities. The court ruled that public entities must address barriers such as missing or unsafe curb cuts throughout the public sidewalk system, as well as barriers that block access along the … Continue reading “Barden v. Sacramento”

Tucker v. CA State Parks

September 21, 2012

In 2005, DRA reached a landmark statewide class action settlement with the California State Park System. Under the settlement, the state park agency agreed to improve access to its system of over 250 different parks through comprehensive barrier removal. The improvements include making a reasonable portion of the trail system accessible for people in wheelchairs, … Continue reading “Tucker v. CA State Parks”

UC Berkeley Accommodations Initiative Structured Negotiations

September 14, 2012

Nationwide, college students with print disabilities – individuals who can­not read standard print because of vision, physical, developmental, or learning disabilities –  face major barriers and disparities to academic success because colleges and universities fail to provide these students with text books, course readers, and library research materials in alternative formats they can read. These … Continue reading “UC Berkeley Accommodations Initiative Structured Negotiations”