Press

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

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DRA General Information Brochure (PDF)


Civil Rights Groups Charge that ICE Disregards Immigrants’ Medical, Mental Health Needs and Ignores Discrimination Against Immigrants with Disabilities

August 19, 2019

New Nationwide Class Action Lawsuit Highlights Abusive Isolation, Horrific Medical and Mental Health Care, and Denial of Accommodations to and Discrimination Against Detained Immigrants with Disabilities   August 19, 2019 – Los Angeles, CA –A nationwide class action lawsuit was filed today against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Department of Homeland Security … Continue reading “Civil Rights Groups Charge that ICE Disregards Immigrants’ Medical, Mental Health Needs and Ignores Discrimination Against Immigrants with Disabilities”

Federal Court Certifies Class of Children Systematically Denied Access to Special Education in Oxnard, California

July 31, 2019

Disponible en español abajo. July 31, 2019 – Los Angeles, CA – Federal Judge John A. Kronstadt of the Central District of California has certified a class of elementary and middle school children in a case charging that the mostly Latinx Oxnard School District does not provide special education evaluations or services for students who show clear … Continue reading “Federal Court Certifies Class of Children Systematically Denied Access to Special Education in Oxnard, California”

Judge Gives Final Approval to Settlement That Dramatically Improves New York City’s Sidewalks

July 23, 2019

July 23, 2019 – New York, NY – Today, Judge George B. Daniels of the Southern District of New York approved a historic class action settlement that establishes a comprehensive remedial plan to dramatically improve sidewalk accessibility for New York City’s disability community.  For decades, the disability community – as well as all New Yorkers – has … Continue reading “Judge Gives Final Approval to Settlement That Dramatically Improves New York City’s Sidewalks”

EEOC Finds That FDNY Discriminates Against Veterans with PTSD in Hiring Process

June 19, 2019

FDNY Firetruck, by Andrew Dallos, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 New York, New York—June 19, 2019—The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) has issued an important determination that the Fire Department of New York (“FDNY”) has unfairly discriminated against veterans with a history of post-traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”) in its firefighter hiring process.  Several members of the … Continue reading “EEOC Finds That FDNY Discriminates Against Veterans with PTSD in Hiring Process”

Uber Sued for Discriminating Against Wheelchair-Users

June 11, 2019

  Pittsburgh, PA (June 11, 2019)—Today, Carlson Lynch LLP and Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) filed a class action lawsuit against Uber, challenging the popular ride-sharing service’s failure to make wheelchair-accessible vehicles available in the Pittsburgh area through its rideshare service. The suit, brought by individuals in and around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, challenges Uber’s wheelchair-inaccessibility. The plaintiffs—four … Continue reading “Uber Sued for Discriminating Against Wheelchair-Users”

MTA is Not Above NYC Human Rights Law and Judge Rules They Can’t Discriminate Against People with Disabilities Who Use the Subway

June 5, 2019

  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”

People with Disabilities File Class Action Suit Challenging MTA’s Widespread Discriminatory Renovation Practices

May 15, 2019

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”

Disability Advocates and District of Columbia Reach Landmark Settlement to Protect the Lives of People with Disabilities when Disaster Strikes

May 7, 2019

    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”

County of Westchester Agrees to Make Website Accessible to People who are Blind and Low Vision

April 30, 2019

    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”

Passengers With Disabilities Challenge Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Long Island Rail Road’s Refusal To Build Station Elevators

April 23, 2019

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”