• Letter from the President & CEO
• DRA 2025 Celebrations
• DRA Team Updates
• Impact Report

Dear Friends and Supporters,

This month marks the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)—a transformative civil rights law that promised equal opportunity, accessibility, and protection against discrimination for millions of people with disabilities throughout the United States.

But promises don’t enforce themselves. That’s where Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) comes in.  For more than 30 years, DRA has used the power of the law—and the promise of the ADA—to break down systemic barriers in every facet of society. From education to emergency preparedness, employment to accessible technology, we’ve fought and won legal battles that make this country more just and accessible for the disability community.

A few examples from DRA’s more than three-decade history enforcing the ADA:

• We secured a legal precedent for students with learning disabilities in higher education (Guckenberger v. Boston University).
• We protected deaf workers from discriminatory job standards (Bates v. UPS).
• We opened sidewalks to disabled pedestrians (Barden v. Sacramento).
• We made the internet more accessible, starting with the first major case applying ADA protections to a commercial website (NFB v. Target).
• We defended the right to vote privately and independently at polling places for blind voters (California Council of the Blind v. Alameda County).
• We created a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan for people with disabilities in the country (BCID v. Bloomberg).
• We improved conditions and access to education for incarcerated youth with disabilities (T.G. v. Kern County).

As many of you loyal supporters know, the list of victories and improvements go on and on. And these victories didn’t just enforce the ADA—they helped define what the law means.

While we have made tremendous progress, our work is far from done. The world is changing at a rapid pace. Technology is evolving. Climate disasters are increasing. Healthcare systems are strained. Education systems are unequal. At every turn, disabled people are too often excluded or left behind. DRA is here to change that.

We will continue fighting for access, equity, and dignity—building on past victories and forging new ground in the courts to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. This work requires legal expertise, tenacity, and an unrelenting commitment to justice. It also requires you—our supporters, clients, partners, and donors—who make every victory possible.

We’re thrilled to welcome Melissa Jones of CSAA to our Board of Directors! Melissa brings a deep passion for disability rights and a wealth of experience—learn more about her work and why she joined our mission below.

We’re also proud to recognize the incredible talent within our team: Meredith Weaver has been promoted to Senior Counsel, and Andrew Trainor is now our Supervising Paralegal.

And in a full-circle moment, we’re excited to announce that Michael Nunez has rejoined DRA as a Senior Staff Attorney, bringing a decade of additional experience back home to our mission-driven work.

A Conversation with Melissa Jones

Why did you decide to join DRA’s board of directors?

I am deeply moved by the organization's mission and the impact it has on the lives of individuals with disabilities. I have a personal connection to the disability community, and I wanted to contribute my skills and resources to help advance the cause of disability rights. Being on the board allows me to be part of a team that is making a real difference in the world.

Read the rest of the conversation here.

Civics

In March, DRA filed a federal lawsuit against the New York State Unified Court System (NYSUCS) challenging the systemic discrimination against blind individuals who report for grand jury duty in New York. (Press release and CBS News coverage)

Criminal Legal System

In March, DRA reached a landmark settlement agreement with the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) that will provide for videophones, sign language interpreters, and other necessary accommodations for deaf prisoners incarcerated in TDOC facilities throughout Tennessee. (Press release and Nashville Tennessean coverage)

In June, DRA secured a court ruling granting class certification and denying the State’s motion to change venue in our landmark lawsuit challenging the unlawful use of solitary confinement on incarcerated New Yorkers with disabilities in state prisons. This follows a March court order that compels the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) to make transparent which provisions of the HALT Act they claim to have suspended in response to the illegal strike by correction staff at prisons across New York. (Press release and HuffPost coverage)

Education

In May, DRA filed a major lawsuit against Harvard University for its systematic discrimination against students with mental health disabilities. (Press release and MassLive coverage)

Healthcare

Patients with mobility disabilities in Chicago will soon have improved access to MRI services thanks to a settlement that DRA reached in April with Preferred Open MRI, a provider of MRI services with seven locations throughout the Chicago area. (Press release and Legal Reader coverage)

Pedestrian Access

In April, DRA reached a milestone settlement agreement with the City of Baltimore to increase access to the City’s curb ramps and sidewalks for people with mobility disabilities. (Press release and Baltimore Sun coverage)

In May, DRA filed a class action lawsuit against Washington DC challenging the lack of Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) for blind and low-vision pedestrians at signalized intersections throughout the District. (Press release and Washington Post coverage)

In May, a federal court ordered the City of Chicago to install thousands of Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) over the next 10 years, a historic win in DRA’s years-long legal battle to ensure safe streets for blind and low-vision pedestrians in Chicago. (Press release and CBS News coverage)

Transportation

In May, DRA filed a class action lawsuit against nationwide airport transportation provider SuperShuttle Express for discriminating against people with mobility disabilities by failing to provide services to wheelchair users. (Press release and San Francisco Chronicle coverage)