Our Mission
With offices in California and New York, Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) is one of the leading nonprofit disability rights legal centers in the nation. Its mission is to advance equal rights and opportunity for people with all types of disabilities nationwide.
Contact for Press Inquiries
Email: communications@dralegal.org
Phone: (510) 665-8644
Links
DRA General Information Brochure (PDF)
New York, New York (June 5, 2019) – Today, Justice Shlomo Hagler of the Supreme Court of New York, New York County, denied the request of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”) and the City of New York (“the City”) to dismiss a civil-rights lawsuit filed by the disability community. The lawsuit alleged that the … Continue reading “MTA is Not Above NYC Human Rights Law and Judge Rules They Can’t Discriminate Against People with Disabilities Who Use the Subway”
New York, NY—May 15, 2019— A civil rights class action lawsuit was filed today in New York against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), challenging its prevalent, discriminatory practice of renovating New York City subway stations without installing elevators or other stair-free routes in blatant violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This ongoing illegal … Continue reading “People with Disabilities File Class Action Suit Challenging MTA’s Widespread Discriminatory Renovation Practices”
MAY 7, 2019 – Washington, DC – Disability advocacy groups and the District of Columbia have reached a groundbreaking settlement agreement after years of negotiations that will result in significant improvements to the District’s emergency preparedness and response programs for thousands of people with disabilities who live in, work in, or travel to the nation’s … Continue reading “Disability Advocates and District of Columbia Reach Landmark Settlement to Protect the Lives of People with Disabilities when Disaster Strikes”
Redesigned site will be compatible with screen reader software used by blind and low vision visitors April 30, 2019 – White Plains, NY –As a result of advocacy by the Westchester Council of the Blind of New York (“WCBNY”) and Disability Rights Advocates (“DRA”), the County of Westchester has agreed to make its … Continue reading “County of Westchester Agrees to Make Website Accessible to People who are Blind and Low Vision”
Parties call for MTA to install elevators as legally required New York, New York–April 23, 2019—Today, three Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) passengers with disabilities, together with Suffolk Independent Living Organization (SILO), filed suit against the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the LIRR for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Despite the MTA … Continue reading “Passengers With Disabilities Challenge Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Long Island Rail Road’s Refusal To Build Station Elevators”
New York City (April 22, 2019)–Today, Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) demands access to the MTA’s frequently referenced, but not produced, accessibility survey documents. DRA filed an Article 78 petition in New York State Court seeking access to the MTA’s ongoing, multi-million dollar global accessibility survey of the New York City subway system. The MTA has … Continue reading “DRA Demands Access To Crucial Subway Accessibility Documents”
Photo by duluoz cats, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Berkeley, CA (March 26, 2019)—As the San Jose Sharks clinch their fourth-consecutive berth to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, blind hockey fans take aim at the NHL team’s failure to ensure equal access to the digital fan experience. The San Jose Sharks + SAP Center mobile application—a key digital piece … Continue reading “After Years of Failed Attempts to Get the San Jose Sharks to Comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Blind Fans Resort to Lawsuit”
For Immediate Release Berkeley, CA (March 20, 2019)—Today, Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) filed a class action lawsuit against Lyft, challenging its failure to make its popular, on-demand ridesharing service available to people who need wheelchair-accessible vehicles in the Bay Area. The plaintiffs include Community Resources for Independent Living, Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco, and … Continue reading “Lyft Sued for Illegally Excluding Bay Area Wheelchair-Users”
March 19, 2019 – New York, NY – Today, Honorable Judge George B. Daniels of the Southern District of New York issued preliminary approval of a historic class action settlement that establishes a comprehensive remedial plan for drastically improving sidewalk accessibility for all members of New York City’s disability community. For years, the disability community – as … Continue reading “Judge Approves Settlement that Dramatically Improves Accessibility of New York City’s Sidewalks”
Access Barriers Will Be Removed, Comprehensive Emergency Plan Implemented March 18, 2019 – Sacramento, CA – Disability advocates and the County of Sacramento have reached a groundbreaking settlement agreement following years of litigation that will result in significant changes to the emergency preparedness plan at Sacramento International Airport (SMF), all of which will help ensure … Continue reading “Sacramento County and Disability Advocates Reach Landmark Settlement on Accessibility of Sacramento International Airport”