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)
February 22, 2024—Berkeley, CA—Today, nonprofit law firm Disability Rights Advocates filed a class action lawsuit in the Northern District of California against national car rental company Hertz to end its systemic civil rights violations against people with disabilities who need hand controls to operate a rental car. While there are many configurations, hand controls generally … Continue reading “Hertz Sued for Discriminating Against Drivers With Disabilities”
January 22, 2024 – Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), the leading national nonprofit disability rights legal center, today announced that Shawna Parks will, on February 5th, take the mantle of Chief Litigation Officer, replacing Stuart Seaborn who will be retiring from the practice of law after 25 years of dedicated service. “After 25 years of practicing … Continue reading “DRA Welcomes Shawna Parks as Chief Litigation Officer”
September 5, 2023—Sacramento, CA—Disability Rights California (DRC) and Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) have released a report, “Youth in Crisis: How Kings County Locks Up Youth with Disabilities.” This report outlines findings from a multi-year investigation of the conditions at the Kings County Juvenile Center. DRC and DRA call on Kings County to reform the horrific … Continue reading “Disability Rights California and Disability Rights Advocates Investigation Finds Deficient and Discriminatory Conditions at Kings County Juvenile Detention Center”
The City of Berkeley fails to provide disability accommodations for Commission on Disability members to participate in the Commission August 24, 2023—Berkeley, CA—Three disabled members of the Berkeley Commission on Disability—Rena Fischer, Kathi Pugh, and Helen Walsh—have filed a lawsuit against the City of Berkeley for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to … Continue reading “Berkeley Commission on Disability Members File Lawsuit Against City of Berkeley for Disability Discrimination”
May 18, 2023 – Berkeley, CA – Today, four law school graduates with disabilities have filed a group complaint with the United States Department of Justice against the State Bar of California for consistently violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to provide accommodations on the California bar exam. Read the complaint. The State … Continue reading “Civil Rights Complaint Filed Against State Bar of California for Failing to Provide an Accessible Bar Exam”
View this press release in ASL. May 9, 2023—Sacramento, CA—A federal judge has preliminarily approved a class settlement that will bring crucial changes to the way the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) oversees the provision of services, through regional centers, to deaf Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities (“I/DD”). The settlement resolves claims that … Continue reading “Federal Court Preliminarily Approves Class Settlement to Improve Communication for Deaf Californians Who Receive Services from the State’s Department of Developmental Services“
May 8, 2023 — Philadelphia, PA — On May 2, 2023, a federal judge approved a class settlement between Philadelphians with disabilities and the City of Philadelphia to improve the accessibility of curb ramps throughout the city. Read the Opinion. This class action settlement resolves claims that the City’s pedestrian facilities contained barriers in violation … Continue reading “Federal Court Approves Settlement Agreement Between Community Members With Disabilities and the City of Philadelphia to Fix or Install 10,000 Curb Ramps Over the Next 15 Years”
April 25, 2023 – Brooklyn, NY – A federal court has approved a landmark settlement that will ensure children with diabetes in New York City receive the care they need to fully participate in school and school-related activities. This class action settlement resolves claims that New York City, the Department of Education, the Department of … Continue reading “Federal Court Grants Final Approval to Ground-Breaking Settlement That Will Ensure NYC Children with Diabetes Receive Appropriate Care in School”
April 24, 2023—New York, NY — Today both the Southern District of New York (the federal court) and the New York State Supreme Court (state court) have granted final approval to a settlement agreement that will make the New York City subway accessible for more than half a million people with disabilities who cannot use … Continue reading “State and Federal Courts Grant Final Approval to Historic Settlement to Make the NYC Subway Accessible to People Who Need Stair-Free Access”
April 24, 2023 – Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), the leading national nonprofit disability rights legal center, after a sweeping national search, today announced that Rebecca Williford has been named the President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are thrilled to announce, after a thorough national search yielding impressive disability rights leaders from across the country, that … Continue reading “Disability Rights Advocates Announces Rebecca Williford, Attorney and Advocate, as President & Chief Executive Officer”