Press
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
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Recent Press Releases
EEOC Finds That FDNY Discriminates Against Veterans with PTSD in Hiring Process
June 19, 2019
FDNY Firetruck, by Andrew Dallos, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 New York, New York—June 19, 2019—The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) has issued an important determination that the Fire Department of New York (“FDNY”) has unfairly discriminated against veterans with a history of post-traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”) in its firefighter hiring process. Several members of the […]
Uber Sued for Discriminating Against Wheelchair-Users
June 11, 2019
Pittsburgh, PA (June 11, 2019)—Today, Carlson Lynch LLP and Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) filed a class action lawsuit against Uber, challenging the popular ride-sharing service’s failure to make wheelchair-accessible vehicles available in the Pittsburgh area through its rideshare service. The suit, brought by individuals in and around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, challenges Uber’s wheelchair-inaccessibility. The plaintiffs—four […]
MTA is Not Above NYC Human Rights Law and Judge Rules They Can’t Discriminate Against People with Disabilities Who Use the Subway
June 5, 2019
New York, New York (June 5, 2019) – Today, Justice Shlomo Hagler of the Supreme Court of New York, New York County, denied the request of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”) and the City of New York (“the City”) to dismiss a civil-rights lawsuit filed by the disability community. The lawsuit alleged that the […]
People with Disabilities File Class Action Suit Challenging MTA’s Widespread Discriminatory Renovation Practices
May 15, 2019
New York, NY—May 15, 2019— A civil rights class action lawsuit was filed today in New York against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), challenging its prevalent, discriminatory practice of renovating New York City subway stations without installing elevators or other stair-free routes in blatant violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This ongoing illegal […]
Disability Advocates and District of Columbia Reach Landmark Settlement to Protect the Lives of People with Disabilities when Disaster Strikes
May 7, 2019
MAY 7, 2019 – Washington, DC – Disability advocacy groups and the District of Columbia have reached a groundbreaking settlement agreement after years of negotiations that will result in significant improvements to the District’s emergency preparedness and response programs for thousands of people with disabilities who live in, work in, or travel to the nation’s […]
County of Westchester Agrees to Make Website Accessible to People who are Blind and Low Vision
April 30, 2019
Redesigned site will be compatible with screen reader software used by blind and low vision visitors April 30, 2019 – White Plains, NY –As a result of advocacy by the Westchester Council of the Blind of New York (“WCBNY”) and Disability Rights Advocates (“DRA”), the County of Westchester has agreed to make its […]
Passengers With Disabilities Challenge Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Long Island Rail Road’s Refusal To Build Station Elevators
April 23, 2019
Parties call for MTA to install elevators as legally required New York, New York–April 23, 2019—Today, three Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) passengers with disabilities, together with Suffolk Independent Living Organization (SILO), filed suit against the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the LIRR for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Despite the MTA […]
DRA Demands Access To Crucial Subway Accessibility Documents
April 22, 2019
New York City (April 22, 2019)–Today, Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) demands access to the MTA’s frequently referenced, but not produced, accessibility survey documents. DRA filed an Article 78 petition in New York State Court seeking access to the MTA’s ongoing, multi-million dollar global accessibility survey of the New York City subway system. The MTA has […]
After Years of Failed Attempts to Get the San Jose Sharks to Comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Blind Fans Resort to Lawsuit
March 26, 2019
Photo by duluoz cats, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Berkeley, CA (March 26, 2019)—As the San Jose Sharks clinch their fourth-consecutive berth to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, blind hockey fans take aim at the NHL team’s failure to ensure equal access to the digital fan experience. The San Jose Sharks + SAP Center mobile application—a key digital piece […]
Lyft Sued for Illegally Excluding Bay Area Wheelchair-Users
March 20, 2019
For Immediate Release Berkeley, CA (March 20, 2019)—Today, Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) filed a class action lawsuit against Lyft, challenging its failure to make its popular, on-demand ridesharing service available to people who need wheelchair-accessible vehicles in the Bay Area. The plaintiffs include Community Resources for Independent Living, Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco, and […]