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 – November 8, 2012 – Late yesterday, a New York Federal Judge granted class action status to a lawsuit that challenges New York City’s failure to address the needs of people with disabilities in its planning for large scale disasters. The lawsuit, which has been pending since September 26, 2011, alleges … Continue reading “New York Federal Judge Approves Class Action Status In Emergency Preparedness Lawsuit”
San Francisco, CA – November 15, 2012 – A lawsuit filed today in Alameda County Superior Court challenges the County of Alameda’s systemic discrimination against men and women with disabilities who experience severe harm while incarcerated at Santa Rita Jail. The lawsuit alleges that the jail’s inhumane conditions and discriminatory treatment of people with disabilities … Continue reading “Adults with Disabilities Incarcerated at Santa Rita Jail Face Inhumane Conditions and Barriers to Rehabilitative Programs”
New York, NY – October 19, 2012 – In a major victory late yesterday for New Yorkers with disabilities who use wheelchairs and scooters or have vision impairments, Federal Judge Deborah Batts ordered the Board of Elections (BOE) to adopt a barrier removal plan proven effective in eliminating barriers to voting at poll-sites for people … Continue reading “Federal Court Orders NYC Board Of Elections To Adopt A Plan To Eliminate Voting Barriers For New Yorkers With Disabilities”
New York, NY – August 8, 2012 – In a major victory for voters with disabilities who use wheelchairs or have vision impairments, a Federal Court ruled today that New York City’s voter polling sites must be accessible for people with disabilities on Election Day. The groundbreaking decision is the culmination of over a decade … Continue reading “Landmark Decision: Voter Polling Sites Must be Accessible for People with Disabilities on Election Day”
Baltimore, Maryland – August 27, 2008 – The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and Target (NYSE: TGT) announced today that they have settled a class action lawsuit regarding access to the Target.com Web site by blind people. Dr. Marc Maurer, president of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “Access to Web sites is … Continue reading “National Federation of the Blind and Target Agree to Class Action Settlement”
New York, NY – June 28, 2012 – Today a Federal Court of Appeals panel overturned the ruling that New York’s taxi fleet is covered by the ADA and granted the City’s motion for summary judgment. The Federal Court Panel held: that “Title II(A) does not obligate the TLC to use its licensing and regulatory … Continue reading “Court of Appeals Decision in Noel v. TLC”
Berkeley, CA – August 30, 2010 – A group of disabled employees of the Social Security Administration has secured another victory in a class action before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. On August 25, 2010, the EEOC Office of Federal Operations affirmed the October 8, 2008 decision of the Administrative Judge to certify the … Continue reading “Class Action by Disabled Employees against the Social Security Administration Will Go Forward”
Oakland, CA – September 28, 2005 – Plaintiffs and Defendants announced today that they reached a settlement agreement that will improve access for soldiers and their family members with disabilities to housing and access at Fort Lewis in Washington, the West Coast headquarters of the U.S. Army. Plaintiffs in this case are seven families stationed … Continue reading “Unique Settlement Improves Housing and Access for Disabled Family Residents at Fort Lewis Army Base”
San Francisco, CA – December 14, 2005 – Deaf and hard of hearing travelers will receive equal communications access to San Francisco International Airport programs and services under a settlement announced by all parties involved. Plaintiffs in the case were represented by Disability Rights Advocates, a non-profit law center based in Berkeley, California, that specializes … Continue reading “Communications Access Improved At San Francisco International Airport For Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Travelers”
San Francisco, CA – January 29, 2008 – Golfers with disabilities have scored a major victory in a lawsuit against Marriott International, Inc. In a disability civil rights case with far reaching implications, a federal court in San Francisco has ruled that Marriott is obligated under federal law to make accessible golf carts available for … Continue reading “Golfers with Disabilities Reach Settlement over Accessible Golf Carts at Half Moon Bay Golf Links”