Press

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 […]

“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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

  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 […]

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 […]