DRA’s Anniversary and the Next 25 Years
On October 25th, 2018, we celebrated Disability Rights Advocates’ 25th anniversary at the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco. Thanks to everyone who attended, sponsored, and supported.
We learned how DRA has transformed the landscape for people with disabilities—creating equal access to transportation, healthcare, emergency planning, employment, technology, and so much more for people with disabilities across the country.
We celebrated DRA’s 2018 Eagle Awardee, Jenny Lay-Flurrie of Microsoft, whose remarks about Microsoft’s cutting-edge efforts to promote people with disabilities in all areas of business were insightful, inspiring, and witty.
We discussed the profound work still ahead for DRA to promote equal opportunities for people with disabilities in all key areas of life—especially as society and technology continue to evolve at rapid pace.
And, importantly, DRA’s Co-Founder and Managing Director, Sid Wolinsky, announced that he will retire from the organization at the conclusion of 2018. Sid’s contributions to DRA and the broader civil rights movement are innumerable. A prominent warrior for justice, the organization and the world will be forever changed because of Sid’s tenacious legal advocacy.
Sid described confidently passing the leadership torch to DRA’s capable, existing Management Team: Stuart Seaborn, who leads litigation in DRA’s California Office, Michelle Caiola, who leads litigation in DRA’s New York Office, and Kate Hamilton who oversees the organization’s operations and development. According to Sid, DRA has never been stronger. Its team of skilled advocates continues to take on targeted, cutting-edge litigation that benefits groups of persons with disabilities nationwide.
Finally, DRA called for support to ensure the critical, precedent-setting legal work, started by Larry Paradis and Sid Wolinsky in 1993, continues for the next 25 years and beyond. Last night, DRA raised $83,000 towards the Larry Paradis Legacy Fund. Funds donated to the Legacy Fund go directly to support the highest risk, highest impact cases which will be carried out in Larry’s honor.
We invite you to see the video about Larry and the Legacy Fund, to make a gift to support DRA’s future, and to contact us if you have other thoughts to share as DRA boldly enters our next quarter century.
DRA wishes to thank all of our generous sponsors.