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)
Youth with Disabilities in Adult Prisons Entitled to Special Education, Lawsuit Contends January 11, 2017 – Newark, NJ – Adult prisons in New Jersey routinely violate the rights of high school students with disabilities by denying them education, according to a federal class action lawsuit filed today. Some students in these prisons receive no education … Continue reading “Incarcerated Students with Disabilities Sue New Jersey Over Denial of Education”
“Eagle Awardees model disability inclusion and integration: innovating and setting precedents benefitting the disability community.” ―Mary-Lee Smith, DRA Interim Executive Director San Francisco, CA—November 3rd, 2016—Today, Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), the leading national nonprofit disability rights legal center, announced its 2016 Eagle Awardees: Michael Argenyi and his legal team, Jessica Cox, Nyle DiMarco and the … Continue reading “Disability Rights Advocates Unveils 2016 Eagle Awardees”
New York, NY—October 27, 2016—Today, an unprecedented class-action lawsuit was filed in federal court alleging that New York City’s police precincts are largely inaccessible to people with mobility disabilities in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Disability Rights Advocates (“DRA”) filed the lawsuit on behalf of four individual plaintiffs who were unable to get … Continue reading “NYPD Ignores Equal Access for Wheelchair Users”
New York, NY—September 27, 2016—Today, Union Community Health Center (UCHC) and Bronx Independent Living Services (BILS) unveiled a comprehensive plan to provide accessible health care for patients with disabilities in the Bronx. The Bronx is New York City’s most medically underserved borough and people with disabilities especially feel the brunt of its inadequate health care … Continue reading “Community Health Center in the Bronx Adopts Innovative Plan to Improve Health Care Services for Patients with Disabilities”
September 15, 2016 – New York, NY – Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), a leading nonprofit law firm advancing disability rights nationwide, announced today the appointment of Michelle Caiola as Director of Litigation. Ms. Caiola will work in tandem with fellow Director of Litigation and Interim Executive Director Mary-Lee Smith. Sid Wolinsky, the founder of DRA, … Continue reading “Disability Rights Advocates Announces New Director of Litigation”
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”