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)
September 11, 2024—Nashville, Tennessee—A federal judge in the Middle District of Tennessee has substantially denied the State of Tennessee’s attempt to dismiss claims by multiple plaintiffs against the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging (DDA) (formerly the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) and the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (DMHSAS). … Continue reading “Federal Court Rules Case Seeking Access to State Services for Deaf People in Tennessee Can Proceed”
September 9, 2024—New York, NY—On Friday August 30, a federal judge in the Southern District of New York denied a motion from the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”) for summary judgment to dismiss claims brought by the disability community in long-running litigation regarding the MTA’s failure to maintain the few elevators that exist in New York City’s subway stations. The case is now … Continue reading “Disability Advocates’ Lawsuit Challenging the MTA’s Failure to Maintain New York City’s Subway Elevators Proceeding to Trial “
A settlement agreement with the California Department of Insurance and PSI Services LLC will ensure access for blind insurance license applicants who use screen reader software. September 5, 2024– Berkeley, CA—In August, three blind individuals and the National Federation of the Blind reached a settlement agreement with the California Department of Insurance (CDI) and their … Continue reading “Settlement Agreement Improves Accessibility for Blind Test-Takers of the California Insurance License Exam”
September 4, 2024 – Chicago, IL – Today, Chicago resident Ramon Canellada filed a federal lawsuit against Preferred Open MRI, Ltd., d/b/a Preferred Imaging Centers, challenging its illegal refusal to provide him with healthcare services because of his disability in violation of the ADA and other disability rights laws. Open MRI provides imaging services at seven locations across … Continue reading “Chicago Resident Sues Local MRI Provider for Denying Critical Healthcare Services Due to Disability”
September 3, 2024—New York, NY—On Friday, a federal judge in the Southern District of New York denied the City’s motion to free itself from its court-ordered obligation to make at least 50% of their iconic yellow taxi fleet accessible to people who use wheelchairs and granted disability advocates’ motion to enforce the obligation to make … Continue reading “Court Rules New York City Must Make All New Taxis Wheelchair-Accessible Until 50% of All Taxis Are Accessible”
July 31, 2024—Los Angeles, CA— On July 29, 2024, a federal judge ordered West Los Angeles College (WLAC), part of the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), to restore a transportation assistance system to provide access for two disabled student plaintiffs, Charles Guerra and Karlton Bontrager, to WLAC’s steep, hilly campus by the start of … Continue reading “Federal Judge Orders West Los Angeles College to Restore Campus Shuttle to Provide Equal Access to Students with Mobility Disabilities”
The City’s Parks Exclude Wheelchair Users by Not Meeting Federal and State Access Laws July 26, 2024 – Los Angeles, CA – Thirty-four years after the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and four years before the Los Angeles Olympics, three people with mobility disabilities and Communities Actively Living Independent and Free (“CALIF”) filed … Continue reading “People With Mobility Disabilities File Class Action Lawsuit Against City of Los Angeles Over Inaccessible Parks and Park Facilities”
July 11, 2024—Nashville, Tennessee—Earlier this week, a federal judge in the Middle District of Tennessee granted partial summary judgment to multiple plaintiffs finding that the Tennessee Department of Correction violated federal law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, by failing to provide sign language interpreters in connection with prison … Continue reading “Federal Judge Finds Tennessee Department of Correction in Violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act for Failing to Provide Sign Language Interpreters and Videophones to Deaf Prisoners”
May 14, 2024—New York, NY—In support of DRA’s unique approach to disability advocacy, the Ford Foundation has contributed $200,000 in general funding to support the organization’s high-impact legal work. This gift, along with other significant contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations, will help DRA to continue tackling the urgent, systemic, societal barriers to equal participation … Continue reading “Ford Foundation Gives $200,000 to Disability Rights Advocates”
In Violation of HALT, Hundreds of Individuals with Disabilities Languish in Solitary Cells for Up to 24 Hours Per Day May 8, 2024—New York, NY—The Legal Aid Society, Disability Rights Advocates, and Winston & Strawn LLP today filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of incarcerated New Yorkers with disabilities against the New York State … Continue reading “Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against DOCCS and NYSOMH for Illegally Subjecting Disabled New Yorkers to Solitary Confinement in NYS Prisons”