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)
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf proclaimed August 15 as Larry Paradis Day, in honor of DRA’s Cofounder and Executive Director who passed away on July 28, 2016. This proclamation is reproduced below: Office of the Mayor Proclamation Oakland, California In Recognition and Celebration of Disability Civil Rights Leader Larry Paradis Whereas, Larry Paradis spent his life … Continue reading “Oakland Mayor Proclaims August 15 as Larry Paradis Day”
Disability civil rights law has taken center stage at the Democratic National Convention. It is time that New York City puts disability civil rights at the forefront of its agenda, according to leading disability rights organizations in New York City. As Mayor De Blasio and New York City prepare to celebrate the 26th Anniversary of … Continue reading “New Report Shows NYC Lagging Behind the Nation on ADA Compliance”
August 2, 2016 – San Francisco, California – Today, Disability Rights Advocates (“DRA”) and San Francisco Federal Credit Union (“Credit Union”) announce a precedent-setting agreement which is expected to bring change across the online banking industry. The Credit Union agreed to work together with DRA to ensure its website, online banking services and mobile apps are … Continue reading “San Francisco Federal Credit Union Leads the Way to Transform Online Banking to Better Serve Customers with Vision Disabilities”
August 1, 2016—Berkeley, CA—Disability Rights Advocate’s (DRA) Co-Founder and Executive Director, Larry Paradis, passed away last week. DRA’s Co-Founder and Supervising Attorney Sid Wolinsky will continue with Director of Litigation Mary-Lee Smith to direct the work of the nonprofit legal center, started in 1993 to advance equal rights and opportunity for people with all … Continue reading “A Disability Rights Hero Lost”
July 28, 2016 – New York, NY – LinkNYC, touted as a “first-of-its-kind communication network,” has been rolled out on New York City’s sidewalks for use by all but the blind. Each individual “Link” promises residents and visitors in New York City the ability to surf the internet on a touchscreen tablet, to make local … Continue reading “On the 26th Anniversary of the ADA, New York City’s Free Tech Revolution Blatantly Excludes The Blind”
July 26, 2016 – Purchase, NY – A class action lawsuit filed today in federal court alleges that the State University of New York at Purchase College violates federal and state disability law by not providing students and visitors with mobility disabilities equal access to its educational and cultural programs. Specifically, the suit says that … Continue reading “SUNY Purchase College Ignores the Needs of Wheelchair Users”
Seattle, WA – July 21, 2016 – Northwest Hospital & Medical Center has been called to task for its systemic failure to provide effective communication to patients who are Deaf and hard of hearing. A class-action lawsuit was filed today in federal court by Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) and the Good Law Clinic on behalf of Abused … Continue reading “Northwest Hospital Sued for Discriminating Against Deaf and Hard of Hearing Patients”
July 19, 2016 – Monterey, CA – A lawsuit filed today challenges a nationwide, antiquated U.S. Army policy that prohibits staff in its Child, Youth and School Services (“CYSS”) programs from administering critical medications and providing vital support to children with diabetes in their care. As long as the policy is in place, children with … Continue reading “U.S. Army Excludes Children with Diabetes from Its Child, Youth and School Services”
New York, NY – June 28, 2016 – A class-action lawsuit filed today in federal court alleges the Metropolitan Transit Authority (“MTA”) and New York City Transit Authority (“NYCTA”) ignored the legal requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act when they completed a $21.85 million rehabilitation to the Middletown Road station in the Bronx, but … Continue reading “Bronx Subway Station Still Inaccessible For Wheelchair Users $21.85 Million Later”
June 9, 2016 — NEW YORK — Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) today sued the New York State Board of Elections and Department of Motor Vehicles over online voter registration that is inaccessible to people with disabilities. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Center for the Independence … Continue reading “Groups Sue New York Over Inaccessible Online Voter Registration for People With Disabilities”