Cases

HBO Max Structured Negotiations

October 19, 2020

In a landmark agreement, advocates for people who are blind have obtained WarnerMedia’s pledge to increase the accessibility of HBO Max—the much-anticipated online streaming platform that was launched in May 2020. Among other commitments, the agreement provides that WarnerMedia will provide audio description on at least 1,500 hours of new and existing programming on HBO … Continue reading “HBO Max Structured Negotiations”

Westchester County Emergency Preparedness

October 15, 2020

Disability Rights Advocates, Westchester Disabled on the Move, Inc., and Westchester County have reached a settlement agreement that will result in significant improvements to the County’s emergency preparedness and response programs for people with disabilities who live in, work in, or travel to the County. The agreement was reached through structured negotiations without any lawsuit … Continue reading “Westchester County Emergency Preparedness”

Chiappetta vs. New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services

October 14, 2020

In October 2020, Disability Rights Advocates filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of blind New Yorkers and the American Council of the Blind, New York against New York state entities, challenging the inaccessibility of “NY-Alert,” a Mass Notification System intended to warn New Yorkers and visitors of emergencies and other critical information in a … Continue reading “Chiappetta vs. New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services”

Access to Long-Term Care Facilities for Patients on Medication for Opioid Use Disorder

October 9, 2020

The Legal Action Center and Disability Rights Advocates are investigating discrimination by nursing homes or other long-term care facilities in NYC and NYS, against people receiving medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). MOUD is the use of methadone, buprenorphine (often goes by the brand name Suboxone), or injectable naltrexone (Vivitrol) to treat opioid use disorder. … Continue reading “Access to Long-Term Care Facilities for Patients on Medication for Opioid Use Disorder”

LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired v. ADP TotalSource

September 23, 2020

In September 2020, DRA filed a class action suit on behalf of San Francisco’s LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired and two of its employees against payroll processing and HR giant, ADP TotalSource and its parent company Automatic Data Processing, Inc. for failing to make their industry-leading products and services accessible to blind managers and … Continue reading “LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired v. ADP TotalSource”

Fust v. First Urology

August 13, 2020

First Urology is a full-service urological medical and imaging practice with roughly twenty locations in Kentucky and Indiana. First Urology is required by law to buy equipment and train its staff to help people with disabilities lift onto examination and imaging tables. Instead, First Urology has a written policy stating that patients requiring assistance to … Continue reading “Fust v. First Urology”

North Carolina Council of the Blind v. North Carolina State Board of Elections

July 27, 2020

On July 27, 2020, disability organizations filed a lawsuit against the North Carolina State Board of Elections for excluding North Carolinians with disabilities from their Absentee Voting program. The lawsuit charges the state agency with discrimination against voters who are unable to independently and privately mark a paper ballot due to vision disabilities. All North … Continue reading “North Carolina Council of the Blind v. North Carolina State Board of Elections”

Remote Learning in Higher Education

June 26, 2020

Disability Rights Advocates is investigating the experiences of higher education students who are denied disability-related accommodations for remote learning. We would greatly appreciate if you would complete the following survey if you have confronted access barriers in remote learning. If you would prefer to share your experiences via email or phone, please contact Amy Ollove … Continue reading “Remote Learning in Higher Education”

Herrera v. New York State

June 10, 2020

On June 10, 2020, Disability Rights Advocates filed a Charge of Discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against the State of New York and several of its agencies. The Charge challenges the State’s bright-line rule disqualifying anyone with binocular vision lower than 20/40 from being hired as a Mental Health Therapy Aide Trainee (MHTAT), … Continue reading “Herrera v. New York State”